Showing posts with label Why I teach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Why I teach. Show all posts

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Blog Award



Hannah, over at Art. Paper. Scissors. Glue! and Mrs. Hahn at Mini Matisse passed the Stylish Blogger Award to me. Thanks!

Rules: 1. Shout out to the person that gave the award.

2. Tell 7 things about yourself.

3. Pass the award on to your fav 5 blogs.


Seven things about me?

Hum.


1. I have been married since April 2003, but we've been together since March 1998.

2. We have two girls. One will be three March 9th, and the other is 16 months. We are expecting a boy June 24th. Wowza!

3. I've wanted to be a teacher since I was in first grade. I started out as an El Ed major but when I transfered colleges after my freshman year the program was full. I was advised to change majors and change it back after I had been admitted but loved Art Ed even more, so I never changed it back. Teaching elementary art is the perfect compromise, and I love that I get to see all the kids, not just a select 20-25.

4. Every year at this time I start to feel uninspired and uncreative. About three weeks before school lets out for summer I'll regain that spark that I need, but it will be too late. That's one of the many reasons I love all your blogs so much!

5. It's a good thing I only need seven of these...Hum. Although I love my job, and literally cannot imagine doing anything else for a living, I often wonder if I should be doing something else. With all the political turmoil in my state right now, it makes those thoughts stronger. I look at my kids and feel like I'm not doing what's best for them, just what I want to do and that's not right. They deserve the best.

6. Really? Two more? I'm really not that interesting...I was scared to death to change school districts last year. I had security at my old district, loved my coworkers and principals, and students. Moving meant losing tenure, leaving friends, and trusting that it was the right decision. However, it also meant being closer (six hours closer!) to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends for my kids. Also, I was pregnant with our second when I interviewed, moved, and started teaching here. I thought "there's no way they'd hire me, I'm pregnant." I interviewed in the afternoon, and got the call offering me the job the next morning.

7. Finally. I am a Christian, and try to lead my life as a tribute to Jesus. I fall short most of the time, but lucky for me He still loves me.


Sending this award on to...
This is a really hard part, because I love so many blogs and because a lot of my art ed blog buddies (Blogeagues?) have already received this award.
In no particular order...
1. Adventures of an Art Teacher-Katie is newer in our Art Ed world, which makes many of her ideas fresh and new.
2. Art is the Best Part of the Day-Ms. Jackson always has fun stuff.
3. Artolazzi-Jenny Bartolazzi has lots of creative ideas. Seriously, you have to check out her Chihuly inspired group work! Awesome!
4. Mrs. Picasso's Art Room-One of the first Art Ed blogs I started following-and you'll see why if you visit.
5. Laugh, Paint, Create-Erin has lots of great ideas, and she teaches PK, which makes for great starter projects for K and special needs students!

Saturday, September 25, 2010

It Stuck!

After school on Friday I was putting up a display in the hallway when one of the fourth grade teachers approached me and said that after art her class returned to her room and excitedly told her that she "is value!" She didn't understand, and asked "You mean I have value? I am valued?" Eventually they got her to understand that they had learned about value in art that day, and the sweater she was wearing showed value because it was dark blue on the bottom and light blue on the top. She was impressed that they taught her something she didn't know. I'm so proud :)

Monday, April 12, 2010

Willow Art Show

Our 6th Annual Willow River Art & Music Show was held last Friday, April 9th, 2010. It was a tremendous success! Our theme was "Celebrate You & Me," and all the student works were self portraits.
Here are some photos of our evening:

Our Atrium, where most of the student pieces were displayed, the talent show was held, and the Girl Scouts replenished food.



In the Media Center, checking out first grade's "In the Tall Tall Grass" self portraits. There was also a silent auction of community artwork and a band in the Media Center.


Fourth graders' Van Gogh self portrait plaques.


Watching the talent show.


Talent Show; a first grader playing "Heart & Soul" with her mom.


Each classroom created their own work of art with a parent volunteer to add to the silent auction. This was a fourth grade project. They mixed photos of the students-they were great, and a little creepy!


These two windows were a class project by one of the fifth grade classes.
Brillant idea! They are beautiful!


Sunday, January 17, 2010

Thank You

On Friday I had a fourth grader come into my room before school. He handed me a potholder and told me he wanted to give it to me. I thanked him, and he explained that "I want to give you this because you taught me how to weave and if you hadn't, I wouldn't have understood the instructions. So this is just my thank you to you." Honestly, this is why I teach. To have a student recognize the connection between what we created in class and something happening in his personal life and use his knowledge. I admit, when he left I was a little choked up. What a great way to start the day!