My 22nd First Day of School

     Today marked my 22nd first day of school (K-12, college, and 4 years of teaching if anybody was wondering how I got that number).  The routine is still pretty much the same... 

     Last night I picked out my first day of school outfit, packed my lunch, and tried to go to bed early even though it took me forever to fall asleep because even after all these years I still get nervous about the first day.  This morning I popped out of bed the first time my alarm went off, pretty much the only time this ever happens, got ready, ate a good breakfast and made Fisch take a picture of me infront of the fireplace.

     The picture is something that has been a tradition since my first day of kindergarten.  Every first day of school my mom made me pose in front of the fireplace and smile for the camera.  K-3 I hated standing still for that long, 4-8 I usually rolled my eyes, 9-12 I practiced my modeling poses, in college I thought the tradtion was done but realized I loved looking back on all these pictures, seeing the changes, seeing the progression. I realized I had many more first days ahead of me and brought back the tradition when I started student teaching. 

First day of student teaching 2007

First day of my 4th year of teaching 2012

Unfortunately, all my fun  awkward pictures are at my parents house, so my nice awkward picture from my first day of student teaching will have to do along with the one I took this morning.

Happy new school year to all my fellow teachers and students out there!

Schoooools out for Summer!

Today was the last day of school(well, for the kids...my summer doesn't really start until mid July).  The end of my 3rd year of teaching.  The end of the first year in my new district.  

The conclusion I came to today while driving home from a day of sidewalk chalk, popsicles, smiles and hugs, is that I flippin' love teaching!

Of course not every day is chalk and popsicles and fun.  Some days are hard. Some days are spilled paint, piles of paperwork, realizing the reality of some of my students home lives and getting called a "lazy-good-for-nothing-greedy" teacher by the majority of the state you live and teach in.  

Even though the future of public education in WI is looking bleak, I cannot imagine myself in any other career that would bring me as much fulfillment and joy as teaching does.

I'm going to miss my kiddos over the summer :(

 

Wordless Wednesday: Just another reason why I love my job...

By one of my lil kindergarten boys

 "Sure, you can draw your self portrait riding on a unicorn on top of a rainbow."

How many people get to say that at work?

 

Somethin' Fishy

5th Grade Recycled Bottle Fish

3rd Grade Mermaids and Men

4th Grade Scratch Art Fish Skeletons

5k Fish Prints

2nd Grade Matisse inspired Fish Bowls

Private School Collaboration

4th Grade Self Portrait with a Fish

1st Grade Glue Batik Fish

Last week the district Youth Art Month opened in conjunction with the adult Somethin' Fishy Show.  To keep with the theme all the student artwork was "fishy" as well.  Every child in the district, from 5k-8th grade had a piece of art in the show.  Getting it all put together was stressful and involved many unpaid hours of organizing, labeling, and hanging artwork but it was all worth it to see the excitement and joy the kids got from showing off their artwork and witnessing the appreciation and amazement of the parents of what their child created.

I love my job :)

Overwhelmed

     Sorry for the silence the last couple days.  It is nearing the end of the first quarter at school and report cards are taking over my life. At the last school I taught at we gave each student 3 grades for art. At my new school we give 20.  It's nice we are so thorough, but I have 306 students. This means I have to give 6,120 grades per quarter (plus comments)...24,480 per year! And this is just for report cards.  It doesn't include grading each project for each kid during the quarter.  I absolutely love my job but right now it is making me feel very overwhelmed.  
     One light at the end of the tunnel...Fisch said he'd take me out for a nice dinner when I finish all my report cards :)

Wordless(ish) Wednesday: Picture an Hour

     Yesterday, I took a picture every hour to document of my day.  Being a traveling art teacher my schedule is different everyday.  Tueday is my least busy day with only five classes (four of which are 1st grade meaning I teach the same project four times) and 2 hours of prep time but I still go to all my schools. It was also the only day this week where I didn't have a meeting or open house after school. So here is my somewhat typical Tuesday.


6:00 am

Best iced coffee recipe found here. Obviously need a french press because this way takes forever!

7:00 am

8:00 am

9:00 am

10:00 am

11:00 am

12:00 pm

1:00 pm

2:00 pm

3:00 pm

Pumpkin Spice Shake makes me a happy camper.

4:00 pm

5:00 pm

6:00 pm

Day Zero Project. 101 Things in 1001 Days.

  




7:00 pm

8:00 pm

9:00 pm

 10:00 pm

  

11:00 pm

The Book of Awesome