Art on a cart

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

MYOB

The title of this post MYOB, Mind Your Own Business referrs to teachers who need to do just that. Two days a week at my second school I have 3 classes I teach in an open pod area. Originally, one of the first grade teacher's classes I have asked the Assistant Principal if she could have art in this area, and he said yes. The alternative would be me in the classroom during this teacher's planning time, hence art on a cart. I was fine with this decision and actually like having a space of my own, however noisy it gets every so often. I mean, the space has four sinks and a water fountain for crying out loud!

So, this new place for art caught the attention of the Kindergarten teacher, who is notorious for stirring it up. She has been nothing but nice and accomodating to me, but I have heard of her not so nice encounters with others. I simply walk on eggshells with this teacher. I don't need the greif for being there 2 days a week. I, again, had no issue with them having art in this pod, nor did the Assistant Principal. Why not have art in the pod. I'm no fan of this particular Kindergarten teacher, however, both she and the first grade teacher deserve planning time away from students. Everyone else has it, and it's fair.

One teacher, however, is constantly making this decision her business. I have heard, out of her mouth numerous times, her judgements of Kindergaten asking to have art in the pod. Her oppinion comes up at lunch and through another teacher's mouth. I presume this teacher thinks of me as cowardly, that's the impression I've gotten from her, because I won't demand art be held in the classroom. She has neither asked for my opinion on the matter and I have no desire to correct her assumption that Kindergarten is trying to rule all, so to speak :P Simply, it is none of her business. Her room is not that close to the pod area and she has a door in her room she can shut.

I think this teacher would be a little shocked to hear that the first grade teacher initiated this request. I wonder if her opinion would change at all about the situation. For me, I'm indifferent. I hate getting caught up in these kinds of things at work. It's just not worth my time and I think it's sad that others take the time out of their day to get involved in something that has absolutely no affect on them. I think it's a little funny and am secretly keeping count of how many times she brings up the topic. I think it's up to 5 since the start of the year, at least! Oh well, one of these days i'll tell her to MYOB!

Stop the gossip

I know it is difficult at times to steer clear of gossip, especially in a school/teaching setting. I do my best but admit that I can get caught up in it just like anyone else. I eat lunch with a group of teachers, all specialists like myself, at my second school I teach at 2 days a week. I think this group has gotten into a habit of taking extended lunches to simply sit and gossip, or at least that's what I think. So, yesterday I had simply had enough. When I was finished eating and the gossip was still a flowin, I got up from the table and started to prepare my lessons for the next day. I cut paper, sorted materials and found reproductions that I needed. It cut way down on the amount of gossip I heard, not only because they were whispering but because I had my mind occupied with more productive things.

I felt good about myself that I had gone against the grain and decided that I wouldn't be apart of this gossip-fest, at least for the day. Baby steps

crazy moms

So, once in a while, as an art teacher, I must vent. Here it goes. I had a couple of things that put me in a funk today but I will put them in separate posts.

This is at my second school, not my base school. I am only at this school 2 days a week and am there to simply pick up classes. I have about 5 Kindergarten volunteer moms that come in and help and I absolutely love 4 of them. However, one mom has hit a nerve with me. She tends to be overly concerned/controlling of how she thinks my art class should be run. She is helpful at times but underneath I can tell she just wants to take over and run the show, telling me we need certain crayons and giving a students a peice of paper when I specifically told him he couldn't have one because he was acting up. The other moms just do what I ask and that is that.

I told the students today that we would be having guest moms from the Japanese Immersion program here at the school come in to teach them how to do Japanese painting greeting cards. The moms get together and do this with students every year. Last year I had a mom show all of my classes how to make paper cranes, it was great! So, this OCD mom Kindergarten helper is one of the volunteers coming in to help, she said. So, I said the moms are going to lead the painting, because I assumed the moms would be training each other and know what they are doing since they didn't consult me at all. Well, apparently this threw OCD mom off and she became snappy because she didn't realize she, along with another mom were going to present this. I was out of the loop just as much as she was. This is why this school and its planning irritate me at times. I became a little flustered because I had just taught a difficult behaving Kindergarten with her help. I felt bad for the other awesome mom helper who felt a little uncomfortable with the whole conversation and snappy OCD mom. We'll see what happens next week but I'm not really looking forward to these greeting cards at all.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

"You make it look easy"

I like to run races. I am not very fast- but I like the feeling of being apart of an event/ and the community... and I find that when I run in a group- I tend to run faster. Plus it is nice getting a t-shirt just for showing up for a 5k.
During my longer races I have really come to depend on out side support to encourage me along the way. I really appreciate most of the shouts of encouragement made by spectators- friends and families of other runners. I emphasize MOST, because sometimes people shout out the wrong thing. For example: "faster, faster", or " come on girl".. these are not on my preferred list of encouraging shout outs.
But today- one of the volunteers said what I think may be the best line I have ever hear- " Ya'll make running look easy".
It made me feel really good- like I was such a good runner that I made it look easy.. I have never thought of myself as the kind of runner who makes running look easy. I am the type of girl who finishes and her face is so red it is purple and as streams of sweat run down my body people ask if I am ok....
So for him to say" you make it look easy" ... those words meant you are great! You are a great runner! You run so well you make this look easy!! That phrase meant all those things to me. .. it was from the heart. He didn't really believe we made it look easy- he was looking for the most encouraging words to help us finish the race.

How this relates to the classroom...
I really think this is a line I could use in class. I admit sometimes I am at a loss for encouraging words. I try my best- but I wonder how my students would feel if I told them: " Wow- you make drawing a horse look so easy!"...
I bet I would see the same smile on their face that I had today ;)

This has really made rethink the importance of saying the right thing to my kids. After all- a big part of my job really is encouragement- to encourage risk taking and creativity...
So I hope to put more energy into this aspect of my job this year and I work to encourage my students to finish their drawings- just as I was encouraged to finish my run today.