Where did the year go?!

The year finished off quickly and perhaps more smooth than it started. My students took home their art in art portfolios that they made just like they did before "Christmas" break. Little love letters and thank you notes accumulated the last few days, included a Starbucks gift card :)  I started organizing and putting supplies away as much as possible during the last few weeks and much to my surprise I was ready to turn my keys in at the end of the last teacher day. 

 The last week was slightly hectic for not only me but all teachers, and as a result I saw the true colors of some of the catty teachers-eek! As I have traveled from school to school I have taken numerous learning opportunities away with me. Most significantly, I am shocked at how different policy and procedures are between elementary buildings in the same district! I try to ask questions to other specials teachers and principals when I feel it necessary. However, not to my surprise, I can't please everyone (even when I do what I was told happened in the past.) 

It seems as though seniority correlates with getting what one wants. My skin has toughened; I have plans to avoid the "Debbie Downers" like the plague from the start next year! No, I'm  not bitter at all! With that being said, several occasions occurred where it was confirmed that staff members were pulling things over on me because I am new and there isn't anything  I can do.  There has never been a concrete policy district wide thus if they want to get their way, now is there chance and there are a few that have throughly tried to take advantage. They say year one is the toughest and although I have had a handful of complaints, I felt quite confident and well prepared for having my own class!

"Where did the year go?!"  On the other hand summer could not have gotten here soon enough!

  YEAR ONE UNDER MY BELT! 

Art Portfolios

As an effort to create hope for the safe travel home of art projects before break, I organized and stored all the student artwork that was created first semester. I made grade level specific letters that have a brief introduction to the art curriculum of that grade as well as a short learning statement for each project that is included in the art going home. In one hour, I talked with the class about why an artist would use a portfolio, what purposes a portfolio could serve and why we might want to share the art they have made. We then designed our portfolio using the paper grocery bags I got donated from local stores(600+ total donated), colored paper, crayons and glue. All the while, I rotated the student to help pass back all the art work. Needless to say-a busy day in the art room! I made adaptations and did this for my first through fifth grades, not including my special needs groups. For those of you keeping track, that is 20 out of my 23 classes I see weekly! 

When brainstorming with second grade, I got some of my favorite suggestions as to what one could do with their portfolio at home. An enthusiastic little boy said, "I am going to sell my art on the internet!" To which I elaborated, "many artist do sell their art this way to make a living, etc., etc." A little girl said " I'm going to hang my art all around my room and play art museum with my family!" What a cool idea-love it! Another notable quote is from a boy with low motor skills and emotional development for a second grader. After bouncing up and down with his hand raised, I made eye contact with him and he blurted out "I am going to hang my art on the back of my fish tank so that my fishies can see it and when me and my dad look at the fishies we can see my art too!" 

I was pleased with the hand full of comments from parents saying how impressed they were that their child had so much to say about their art and teachers saying how responsible and respectful student were while transporting their art. 

There were time in this endevour where I wondered how much this process was teaching and how effective it would be in the safe travel of art.  Although I doubt the scene I envision with parent and children sharing art happened with the majority of students, I do think my little victims are gaining a sense of respect and appreciation for art that maybe wasn't there pre Ms. Cox.