Two weeks left!

I have two weeks left at my elementary school and I have already cried about it this week. I really love the school I am in, I'd like to take more than my fair share of kids home, annnd I have an amazing group of educators around me that I love to learn from. I just really can't imagine not seeing these people everyday and being a creature of habit doesn't help me anticipate the change that is going to come.

One of my favorite things about having students in the art room is just allowing them to be them! I try really hard to let their creative juices flow freely and cater to their needs. I love listening to their stories and watching them interact. I have a few students who really stick to the individuality in fact one declared herself just E. So of course I had to go with it because who hasn't thought about trying a new name before? I also love that the students are able to feel like they can be an individual in our room because all artwork is unique!

This week we had a few fun station days to relieve some of the stress around parent teacher conferences. One of the items students could work with was modeling clay. We had some extruders out that when you pushed the clay through it made "hair." One of my little girls was asking another student to use it and calling a wig maker. She is very petite and her voice is very small so hearing her say "Can I use the wig maker now?" was too much for me and I couldn't help but laugh. I will certainly be using that technical name in my future classroom!

This week I shoot some images of student artwork so you can see what we have been working on.

:)

Get that ball rollin'!

Man, once the ball starts rollin' it keeps on going! I have successfully taken on full days of teaching. It has been so much fun! I am really hitting that comfort spot and realizing that this time is not going to last forever. Sad but true, so here is to the good times! (and a longer post next week)

Sorry Michelangelo I had to censor this for my classroom! This was so hilarious to me!

Teacher Teacher!

Last week's post was minimal at best. I hit a hard spot in my teaching where I really felt like I was going backwards. I wasn't prepared for class, I didn't feel like I was doing my best, things had just started to come loose. Luckily I have an amazing support group behind me and they started steering me back on the right path.

Monday! What a Monday indeed. There were some issues with students but my lunch crowd always makes me smile. I have a friend who always starts off with "I have something to tell you, it's actually a long story so you may want to sit down." Then he comes up with something a little silly to say and we go about our lunch. Lunch also brings so meaningful hugs. It's like we all know we are half way through the day and these hugs say "You can do it!"

Teaching Tough on Tuesday! Holla! Tuesday I turned it around. I was pretty timid in the morning...still trying to build myself up but that afternoon I wrangled first grade and Kindergarten. Kindergarten brought out the teacher in me. I had total control of the room. We painted, cleaned up, and read a story. When one of my friends decided they didn't need to join us I didn't let that stop me I took charge and showed them I was capable of managing the classroom! I felt like Rocky at the top of stairs afterwards just pumping my fists! I am so thankful I had this day because I feel like I can do this and I am capable of keeping a classroom together.
I also witnessed some of my friends branch out today on the playground by going out to join their friends. I often have a few friends that hang around and watch everyone else have a good time but this morning my shyest friend ran by me yelling and playing. I have worried about him from day one so this really warmed my heart.

Wednesday and Thursday I was really thinking about how valuable every single minute is in a classroom. There is so much to be done at all times that it is really useful to multitask and do it well.

Friday!!!! I missed class and my kids but I went to the MAEA fall conference. It was once again awesome! I love going to see my friends, get more ideas, and relax a little!



Here we go again!