Learning to Adapt

Suck it in kids- not a lotta room to maneuver.

So, today, I came into my room (my temporary room while they build the art room) and found that all of the boxes I'd crammed into the closet for storage were pulled to the middle of the room.  Seems there was a breakdown in communication between the builders as to when the shelves were to be built.  I didn't cry this time- I just sought out the janitor, begged him to help me move them to the other side of my room, and went on with my day. Only to find out that they won't be building shelves till I move out, so that I can keep my boxes in the closet....Sigh.  I am trying to decide whether or not to move the boxes back, or leave well enough alone, but I moved the rubber maid totes back into the closet, and left the other boxes lined safely along the wall.  I'd like to say that the boxes will stay put, but with my luck, they will come install counters and lockers and it will all be back in the middle of my room again.  In a couple years, after I'm safely in my new room, I'll laugh about all this, but-not yet.

Sharpener

Sometimes it seems I spend my entire plan time sharpening pencils.  I used to let the kids do that themselves, but we lost a lot of studio time, and it got really noisy, and then a motor would overheat, so I began to have a "sharp" container and a "not sharp" container, and the students learned to switch out pencils.  This year, I have "team captains" for each group of tables.  They rotate turns every art time, and that way, one person is the "feet" for each team.  I ordered a new sharpener- I've liked X-acto sharpeners in the past, but they can be kind of pricey.  I ordered this big mama version on Amazon for $30.  About what they go for in the stores, but this thing is HUGE, and it has a strong motor, a big shavings cup, and can be adjusted for different pencils.  My kids are not getting their hands on it.  I'll let them finish killing my old one.  And me, I am not sure what I'll do with all the extra time I'm not spending sharpening on the old, tired pencil sharpener.  But, I'm sure I'll fill that time up with hanging art, pouring paint, or one of the other jobs I just don't seem to have enough time for.

Crayola Dry Erase Crayons

I'll admit, at first, I thought, what's the big deal about crayons vs markers on your dry erase board.  I am now a believer.  The Crayola dry erase crayons offer me the ability to demonstrate coloring techniques on the board that just don't translate well with markers, like coloring in one direction, coloring lightly vs pushing hard.  They give a sketchier look, and they take a little more muscle to erase, but an eraser glove is included in the package, and my cloth that I use for markers works well too.  So, I give it 2 thumbs up!  PS- it is rumored that my head is not on straight, so my people more often than not look like they are tipping over.  And, I drew this in between turning around to quiet my students. 

Crafty Me

I need a carpet, or safe spot for my kindergarten students to meet/learn.  In the past, I taped off a square, or stuck laminated shapes down, but I'm in a temporary room to start the year, and I don't want to mess up another teacher's new room. And also, with the construction on our school continuing, I'm not always sure of what may be on the floor.   So, I found this $20 carpet at Big Lots.  Came home, broke out the acrylic paint, and voila, turned an average carpet into something a lot more fun.

Artin it up with the MNPS elementary art teachers

We had "The Clay Lady" come and demonstrate some clay techniques which she has streamlined to be quick and user friendly.   Fun projects, however, I would encourage my students to use the proper clay vocabulary.  But I do understand the reasons behind what she does. Anyway, we made fish by bending a slab around a crumpled newspaper, leaving the "mouth open, and pinching out a tail.  Extra clay was used to create details like fins and eyes.  It was fun to see the wide variety of fish from a very basic set of directions.

Good Bye Old, Hello New...kind of

If you've been reading my blog, you know that soon, I will have a brand new art room.  But, not just yet.  Maybe by fall break I'll be setting up my new room.  In the meantime, I went to school to see if I could get a whiff of that new art room smell, but, instead, got a snoot full of sawdust.

The Old Art Room (Where I was standing, there used to be a wall)

Soon to be an Art Room, but the library must get done so the sinks can go where the shelves are.

Kiln Room with a vent and everything!