Welcome Back!

Well, it's a new school year at Albemarle Middle School.  I am looking forward to the adventures that my students and I will be taking this year.  I've been told by both of the art teachers from my feeder elementary schools that the fifth graders coming up are quite the artistic bunch.  That put a big smile on my face!  The ones that I met during Open House were very excited to learn that they had art every day.  Our schedule has changed a little bit and this year we will be on semesters rather than quarters.  I think that I like this a little bit better since I generally end up seeing most of my students for 2 quarters during the year anyway.  I wish that we had it in our budget to have a full time chorus or drama or language or orchestra teacher but those are just pie-in-the-sky dreams that won't become reality until there are some kind of budgetary changes across the board.  I sure would love it if our students had those opportunities, especially in middle school, though.

This year is the first year that my classroom isn't perfect and ready for students.  Don't get me wrong...they won't notice that things aren't in place but I know they aren't right.  We've had more meetings this year than what seems normal to me.  We did, however, have the opportunity to hear the North Carolina Teacher of the Year, James Ford, speak.  Mr. Ford is a World History teacher at Garinger High School in Charlotte and was very inspirational.  I believe that we are very fortunate to have him speak on our behalf, especially in this current climate of education.

Our Open House was last Thursday evening and I am happy to say that we had a record turn-out.  Attendance in the art room is typically sparse, but I had a nice turnout of students, both past and present come to visit.  I always love to see my kids after the long summer break and meet their parents.  One dad let me know that his son, Trevor, looked at his schedule and was excited to see that art was there.  When asked if he wanted to go meet his new teachers, he said "No, I just want to go see MizzSmiff."  I also had a mom of a former student, who is an amazing artist, come by to say hi.  She told me that her son made her promise that she would come to see me.

We, in the Arts, are being tested this year so I am going to be sure to take a lot of pictures.  None of us on the middle school level are really sure how this is going to work.  When we find out, I'll be sure to fill you in.  We are starting the semester off with One Point Perspective.  I don't know why I do this to myself.  Rulers.  The bane of my existence.  Every. Single. Year.  Sigh.

Welcome to Art prezi

A little bit of beach perspective.  Memories of summers past.

 

My Art Room

We've been back at school for about 2 1/2 weeks and I think that I finally have my classroom in order, the way that I want it.  For now.

I haven't changed too much this year.  I think that I finally got my art history timeline that is above the whiteboard up in a way that it won't be falling down by Thanksgiving.

One new thing that I added is the shelving unit by the front door.  I am using it to hold the bins that I have for work-in-progress for each class.  So far, it's been one of the smartest things that I have ever done.  Kids line up along the wall in front of the door and drop their work into their plastic bin that I set out on a desk under the telephone as they walk out into the hallway to go to their next class.  When students come into class, one person gets the bin and passes out all the art work.  So far, no projects have been lost, and students know that if they didn't get their work handed to them, they probably forgot to put their name on it.  Two problems solved for less than 20 bucks at Home Depot.  Best investment I have made to date.

This is as organized as my supplies table will be this year.  My desk sits right behind it and I have a cozy little nook to sit in when I am doing my planning.  Of course, I also am trapped in there if I happen to be sitting at my desk and a student comes to me for help.

Sometimes, I think my classroom might be a little bit cluttered and busy, but when faced with the stark gray, battleship blue and black colors in the hallway, I think I am just making up for the shear bleakness in the other parts of the school.  My classroom is bright, colorful, stimulating and fun.  I especially love my little reading corner in the middle right of the above picture.  I still need to bring my houseplants back in to put on the ledge under the windows.  It's a miracle that I didn't kill them over the summer.

I am so happy to have this great space.  So many art teachers don't have a classroom at all, so I know that I am very lucky, indeed.

My theory is that I spend most of my day, the awake part of it at least, in this room, so I might as well make it an enjoyable space that I feel comfortable in.

I love looking at how other art teachers have decorated their rooms.  I think that any school's art room is the place to be!

I walked into school the other day for a meeting, a few days before teachers officially return on Monday, August 19th.  Out of habit, I went through the office to check my mailbox (a couple of catalogs, not much else) and I glanced down at all the boxes on the floor.  One of them has my last name scrawled on it with marker.  A box from Blick art supplies. 

My heart leapt a little bit.  A BOX OF ART SUPPLIES.  For me! 

I don't want to admit it, but I am a little bit excited about getting back to school.

Mercy, they are going to take away my teacher card if they find out.

Who else is excited about the upcoming school year?