December Already!

I am amazed at how fast this year is flying by!  Today was interim day for second quarter already. 

Last week the kids designed rubber stamps, carved them, and printed a "product."  Most of them turned out really well.  A lot of the kids made cards but some went to town using their stamps to create gift wrap, toys, and other fun things.

Today we took those stamps and made lasting impressions!  I gave the students about a pound and a half of clay and they made Santa cookie trays, decorating them by pressing the self-made stamps into the moist clay.  They are already anxious to have them dry enough to fire in the kiln so they can do the glazing.  It was fun to see the light bulbs as they realized their stamps could be tools for more than one thing. Already they were talking about how they could use the trays now and when they grow up could use them for their kids. Coolness, for sure.  Making memories and planning for future ones.

I love teaching clay.  I remember in seventh grade getting my tiny ball of clay and being told to make a "pot."  No other instructions were given.  I guess the teacher figured we ought to be able to wing it.  I thought it was so much fun and we all thought our work was magnificent.  For a few weeks the teacher kept telling us they weren't ready yet then finally just quit talking about them. We must not have done a very good job because none of us ever saw them again.  In high school we were given more clay, more time and better instructions. I was proud to take those home.  I still have those huge, beautiful pots. 

When I am teaching clay, I like to explain the process while I am demonstrating it.  It seems to make more sense to me.  I also like to have them make something useful as well as beautiful.  More of them go home that way instead of being homeless on my shelves at the end of the year. 

So, even though the year is going fast, I am afraid the next few days will seem to slow down a lot. After all,  I am watching clay dry.

'til later,
Lady P

Chalking it up to the week of Thanksgiving

Today was one of those days that just flew by!

This morning before school I had a "surprise" conference with parents, the student, and his team of teachers.  He is one of the kids I am really hoping doesn't fall through those proverbial cracks so it was nice to put some faces on his parents.  They didn't show for the regularly scheduled conferences so for me, it was a welcome surprise.  Pretty enlightening as well.  Really glad to have had the chance to visit with them and give them some words of encouragement.

The kids are beginning to have Turkey Fever, full of excitement about having five days of fun heading their way. The conversations were more animated (and a little louder) than usual but entertaining, for sure.  There was lots of movie talk today...girls with Twilight conversations and lots of the guys had been to see the new Adam Sandler movie.  At this time of year I kept thinking about Adam's days on Saturday Night Live and his Ode to "Han-uhh-kuh," and kept finding myself giggling about how he rhymed it with "ya-mah-kah."  Figured it was too long a story to share with the kids so I kept them wondering what I found so funny.

We started a new project today...chalk pastel drawings!  We have been working hard on different ways to create the illusion of depth.  Today's topic was masking areas to create backgrounds then unmasking those areas to work on the foreground and details.  So far they are turning out great!  The morning classes worked on sheep in pastures and the afternoon folks created snow covered birch woods.  I love how they start out saying there is no way I can do that and just minutes later they are looking at their drawings with pride and delight!  Lots of, "Wow!  Look at MINE!" around the room today.

During my plan bell I met with my awesome principal for yet ANOTHER formal review.  I think this makes seven observations so far this year.  Some of my past schools only reviewed once or maybe twice a year and teachers grumbled about that.  It seems like I have somebody in my room at least once a week who is watching and writing or typing, looking at everything with a fine toothed comb.  Last week I had three different folks coming in to observe. 

One of those times I was sitting on a table reviewing what we were going to do that day when the assistant principal walked in, clipboard in hand.  My first instinct was to hop down and look more professional.  Instead, I figured this is me, it is the comfortable atmosphere I have worked so hard to create with the kids, so I stayed put and class went on as usual.  The kids asked great questions and were eager to get to work.  When we got started I hopped down as usual and started making one of my thousands of circles through the room, weaving in and out of the tables, giving encouragement and one-on-one attention everywhere I can. 

I welcome having visitors in my room. I love having them watch the kids in action and getting real-time feedback from them.  Sometimes they go out with remnants of the art room and don't even realize it. (I am used to having paint or glue or clay or chalk on my clothes.  I guess by now I have learned to expect my wardrobe has that "I live in the Art Room" look.)  I am glad the kids like me...several told me today I had blue or hot pink chalk stripes on my face.  I felt a little like Willliam Wallace in Braveheart. 

As if school hadn't been enough to claim this as a great day, I got a call this evening to let me know my mortgage company reviewed my loan and is lowering my rate. I will be getting a refund due to the reconfiguring.  I kept waiting for there to be a catch.  But, no, it is legit.  Score!

So, this year, I am chalking up two other things to be thankful for... a job I love with some really great kids and a good surprise.

How can I not be thankful when I get to color all day?

'til next time,

Lady P

Where did the first quarter go?

So sorry I have let this slide for a while.  I am REALLY going to try to do better.  The past few weeks have flown by, for sure.

I think I am finally into the swing of things in my new school.  I am sad I don't get to keep this group of kids all year, especially now I know all their 187 of their names and  a little something about each of them.   It is always amazing to me when I think about getting a new batch.  I just never know which ones will work their way into my heart to stay there forever.  Just when I think it can't get any better...it does.  That's one of the great parts of being a teacher.  There are new memories to be made every day.

I have one student who comes to mind as I stop and think about each class.  At the first of the year this student did everything possible to figure out ways to leave class.  "I need to go get a drink of water."  "I need to get something out of my locker."  "I need to go to the bathroom."  There was always somewhere else to go.  Then, all of a sudden, this student quit asking to leave.  Work took a definite change for the better.  This student started coming by between classes just to say, "Hi."

Yesterday afternoon this student brought a friend into my room after school to show off their project I was getting ready to put on display.  Gleaming with pride, the student told the friend, "You know, she never gets mad at us and I really tried.  She is funny, too. She makes me love Art and I always hated it before.  We learn some cool stuff in here.  You are going to like being in this class next semester." 

And with that, they said goodbye and were gone.

I am so blessed to have a job where I get to do art all day, be around young folks, listen to music, laugh and make some new memories.  Doing something I love...Coolness times ten. 


Hope y'all had a great day!

Excellent Anxiousness

It's Sunday morning and my latest list of things to do before school starts has already grown significantly.  I figure I better get as much done today as possible because tomorrow is going to be one of those 7am to 10pm kind of days with all day in-service ... then TWO open houses and prep for Tuesday morning.  So much for those "awesome teacher hours" folks tell me they wish they had.  Even so, I am pumped to get back and "do my thang" once again.

I have been going through my class lists over and over trying to get familiar with my 180+ new names for this semester.  As I read through them, not knowing even one of them, I wonder what they are like and what kinds of hidden talents will be discovered this year.  The on-line grading system my new school uses has photos for some of these folks but I think they must  have used everyone's second grade pictures.  I have a hard time imagining ninth graders coming in with wiggly baby teeth and asking about the tooth fairy. Even for the few who have more recent photos, I bet they have grown two or three feet over the summer.  Teenagers tend to do that. 

Getting started in a new school with new guidelines, new rules, new grading system, new email accounts, new co-workers, a zillion new passwords for all kinds of things, new bosses and new kids and parents causes some folks to glaze over.  I have taken almost a notebook full of notes complete with codes, letters and ultimately phone numbers of who to call when I can't remember what all those codes and letters mean.  I have a keyring full of mystery keys and many drawers and doors with locks.  I figure those will match up soon enough. 

For now, my priority is the kids.  For me, it is always about the kids.  I always start believing the best about each one.  I really hope they understand if I learn to believe differently it is up to them.  I know they have lots to offer.  I know they have greatness somewhere inside them.  I expect them to exceed my expectations.  We are going to laugh and encourage each other.  We are going to get some paint on our clothes.  We are going to listen to music they might not hear anywhere else.  I am going to share stories about my boys, villages in the depths of Africa, kids I have taught before and so much more.  I am going to let them know there are possibilities for them to experience recognition and rewards for the work of their hands.  They will be challenged to use their talents for others. I am going to remind them every chance I get that art is like hope.  It comes from the heart. 

I'll keep you posted.
Lady P

It's Almost Time!

Today is my last "official" day of summer and I have to say, I am really excited to start a new year with a new group of students.  I have so many great things I want to do with them!