Happy Art Teacher Moment!!

In my Art 1 classes I decided to squeeze in a quick lesson on proportion....so we've been talking about correct human facial and body proportions.  I went back into my past and pulled out an old Mr. Pahl assignment...the 1/2 face portrait.  My students are supposed to find a forward-facing magazine photo....then they cut the photo right down the bridge of the nose.  They glue one half down on white paper and then they finish the rest of the face.

 

I just thought that this would be some little, quick exercise and that they really wouldn't do that well... (I was vaguely remembering what mine looked like when I was in Mr. Pahl's class) But... I really stressed that I wanted them to look at the shapes of shadows and highlights...instead of drawing lines for the nose, lips, etc.  I REALLY stressed that I wanted them to look look look and look at the photo.

 

and....guess what they did?????

 

THEY LISTENED!  and then THEY DID IT!!      I'm so proud of them!

 

It made me remember when I taught adults watercolor painting last winter.... and they didn't listen to what I said AT ALL!  (of course they weren't getting graded, either)

 

I actually heard one kid say that this was his best artwork from this class.  Another girl said, "This is an assignment where even people with no artistic talent can do good!"

 

Needless to say....it made my day.

 

 

 

What Teachers Make

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.

One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, "What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."

To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

 

"I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor....

 

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental...

You want to know what I make?"

 

(She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table.)

"I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America .

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life."

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

"Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant... You want to know what I make?"

"I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?"

His jaw dropped, he went silent.

going organic

So I've been reading the new Jillian Michael's book called Mastering Your Metabolism.  Its a lot about eating less hormones and chemicals.  She talks A LOT about eating organic food.  If it was up to me, I'd be all for the organic and healthy stuff.  However, Jesse... won't let me spend the money on it.  I guess I'll just have to make little changes over time.  Plus, it is really hard to find a lot of the organic foods that she says to eat around here in po-dunk WV.    We need a WholeFoods or a Trader Joes.

 

I'm going to try to take her advice and see if it makes any difference.  I actually have been doing a lot of the things she says to do already. 

 

I can't wait until next Sunday! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> NEW MOON!  New Moon! new moon!!!!!!!!!

 

I really hope this week at school goes by quickly.  The weeks usually do go by fast for me.  This week I have to go on a field trip on Thursday.  We are just going over to the Eleanor Army Reserve to do something.  I don't even know...its some kind of career conference.  I hope it turns out ok!!  I hate getting stuff ready for a sub though! booooooo.

 

 

Good week @ school

This week has been a really good week at school.  I think having Wednesday off for Veteran's Day really helped! haha.  Today (Friday) we had the annual PowderPuff Football game.  It was an easy day for me because I have first period planning ...so I only taught one class all day long!   The Seniors won.  One of my students made all but 2 of the points for the Seniors.  She was named MVP, of course. 

 

I really should be working on some of my grad school homework....but I just can't get myself to focus on it right now.  Again, I have to write up a stupid lesson plan.   BLAH.

 

Tomorrow is Saturday and I'm really glad that I get to sleep in!  Maybe I'll get to sleep more than I did on Wednesday morning.  Jesse's cell phone alarm went off downstairs at 6:45.  THEN, he got in the shower, turned on the vent and blasted music.   He is rude.

 

I really really miss reading! I've only read one book since Catching Fire...It's Swimsuit by James Patterson.  I bet I've been trying to read it for 2 months.   I really miss my free time.  Can't wait til summer!

 

Last night I stopped by the theatre and bought my New Moon ticket for this weekend! YAY! I'm so excited about that! My sister-in-law Bekah is going with me!!

 

 

 

no time to blog.

I wish I had the time I used to have while I was subbing!  I used to blog almost every single day! I really love keeping a blog.  Its really interesting to go back and look at old posts...like a diary.  :)

 

So at least I'm going to try to write a little from time to time. 

 

Lately school has been going pretty well.  I don't feel quite as stressed out.  My classes are going well.  I like my students a lot.  I think that I'll be glad to see a few of them go at 2nd semester...but there will be a few that I miss.  I haven't been bringing ANY work home.  None at all.  I like it that way.  I don't need to grade papers here.  If it takes me 3 weeks to get an assignment graded then it takes 3 weeks.  I don't care.  I can't seem to get things graded while I have kids in the room.  And planning period isn't long enough!

 

Some days I get so sick of hearing "MRS CROUCH!"  AHHHH!  It makes me crazy. 

 

And grad school has been making me crazy lately too.  I'm so sick of writing stupid lesson plans and all the other garbage I've been doing lately.  It kills me.  It ruins my weekends.  This week I'm trying to get all of my grad school work done during the week so that I can have the whole weekend to do whatever my little heart desires~!

 

Jesse is in Columbus this week. :(  I was really bummed about it.  This is supposed to be the last time that he has to go, except for maybe one more day.  I spent the night at Jessica's house last night.  I could hear Dax wheezing while I was trying to sleep.  hahaha.  It was nice getting to WHS in about 5 minutes this morning. 

 

Tomorrow she may be staying with me.. :)  Tonight I'll be snuggling with Kitsy.