I thought that I would share some good news since I always seem to be
griping! Today I found out that the sixth graders voted me teacher of
the month out of the special areas! It actually really meant a lot to
me. I almost cried! I didn't even know that they were voting on it.
Also, my elementary students have been finishing up the Kandinsky
lesson from the SchoolArts magazine, and they came out so splendid!
I'm thinking about assigning this to the middle schoo but making them
choose a color scheme. It's so easy and comes out so cool. I finally
put up some new artwork in my room, and I keep admiring the bulletin
boards...fresh orange backgrounds filled with colorful abstract cities
mounted on black. Also, I did the color theory icing lesson with my
middle school yesterday for the first time. I was nervous about it,
but they did really well...well despite my 7th/8th graders getting too
wild at the end. Other than that, the kids really enjoyed it. I made
it a contest to see who could finish the color wheel first, and they
were very motivated. I even heard one student say, "Art is now my
favorite class." I find that I have to cherish the little things to
keep myself positive when so much seems to be going on.
Today I had a good day until that last class. They really made me
angry when they wouldn't clean up and when I found drawing pencils
missing. I came down hard on them and two students started laughing.
I was furious. I called several parents again today. I have three
typed pages worth of parent phone call notes just from that class!
I've given out so many forms to take home to be signed and so many
contracts and essays. It's so exhausting. I keep telling myself that
I only have five more weeks with this group and that the next group
will be better. My goal now is to decide on an interesting and EASY
project for next week. I've been toying with a few, but I can't
decide. Still life is out for the next bunch unless they bring in cool
objects to draw. Perspective is out. Drawing cubes is out. It's just
too much for them and therefore too much for me. I think I need to
adapt some elementary projects to their level.
So that's my update. Thanks again for such wisdom and support.
I haven't cried once this week! That's a good week in my eyes.
Stacie D.
