Well, what can I say, but I survived. What a world-wind week of firsts, and the only thing I can really say is, it was an experience. I wish I had, had more energy so that I could have written every night, so that I could remember every detail of everyday of the past week. But there in lines the problem, as that each full day pretty much kicked my butt. I was exhausted. I like to blame it on the fact that I have been pretty lazy and unmotivated all summer, but I'm pretty sure, I just wasn't prepared for the special thing called "teaching" that really does take a special person to do.
(Soap Box: I don't think people really know how much it takes to be a teacher, all the planning that goes into it - outside of school. I have done so much work just this week outside of school, that should constitute a second paycheck! If you have never been a teacher or even close to a remote position of a teacher, you know how hard it is to balance your work and your homelike as well as just taking care of yourself - and right now it's just me and Chad, I could NOT image having to come home and take care of kids and pets too!!! So please next time you see a teacher, who looks stressed out, it's because we always are. We don't do it for the glory (or the money), we do it because we love when children "get it." So carry on AND thank a teacher: End soap box.)
To Review for you:
Monday - I had duty 7:35am-8:05am - easy peazy. Stand in hallway make sure kids, don't go back out. Then during 1st period, I have planning, so I made the copies I need and prayed. 2nd period is my first Comprehensive Art class. It is a full class and they came in rather quiet (I don't know if they were tired or scared-haha) I handed out all the forms and we quickly reviewed them and the materials. 3rd period, I have Ceramics & Sculpture. It is a smaller class, full of upper clansmen, so that's nice. Then crazy, but I have lunch! I know10:30AMish, I eat lunch for 25 minutes. I ate in my room, and Ms. Udell (the chorus teacher, across the hall) ate with me. 4th period, is my second Comprehensive Art class and it is a full class as well. They were more lively, but not wild. I have to review the student handbook during 4th period, and they HATE that. 5th period is my AP Studio Art AND my Select Studio Art. It is a class of 11 total. Very small (I love it!) They are all older students and seem to miss the larger chairs and drafting tables, but are excited about having a new teacher. 6th period is my finally Comprehensive Art class and probably my most wild. It is a full class of chatty Cathy's. Finally, the day ends with 7th period - Drawing & Painting. It is a small class, like my Ceramics & Sculpture, but all upperclassman. All day, I repeated myself, passing out papers, reviewing the syllabi, materials and expectations.
I left school for a while, but had to return at 7PM for a school-wide coaches meeting!
Tuesday - More going over papers in all of my classes and beginning to discuss more rules, procedures, and expectations. During my 7th period class, my principle came in to observe. THAT'S RIGHT, the 2ND day of school, I GOT OBSERVED. It was very nerve-racking. I don't get nervous and I didn't feel very nervous while he was in there, but after he left, I kept thinking about all the things I did wrong, or didn't do. Ugh! Hopefully, when I see the observation notes, it will all be good. I gave my Comp. Art classes and D&P classes their first projects: Name Plates and Mini-books about themselves (respectively).
Wednesday - I began notes in most of my classes about the Purposes of Art / Realms of Art / Different Art Media, etc. Just the basics. I also gave Pre-Tests in my Comp. Art classes
Thursday - Is the day I have chosen to Art History. I think it is hard to accurately incorporate Art History without having a lesson directly focused on it. Every class, except my AP and Select Studio class does Art History. My Ceramics & Sculpture focus on the Sculpture History and my Drawing & Painting class focus on particular artists.
Friday - I have to say, I understand why they say "TGIF." By the time I got to Friday, I was so exhausted, I came home and slept. And slept good. I had my Comp. 1 classes turn in their Name Plate projects as well as my D&P class turn in their Mini-books!
This Weekend - Has consisting of sleeping and TAX FREE WEEKEND! I have been grading projects, planning the semester, setting up my class binders, complete with standards and handouts. Still left is to finish grading projects, and creating my supply list of supplies that need to be ordered as well as create 2-3 presentations for next week. On the bright side, Cheerleading Tryouts are Wednesday and Thursday AND One-Act auditions are Monday and Tuesday (I was roped into judging auditions) AND if my student's do not bring back their signed forms on Monday, they will have detention on Tuesday afternoon! I guarantee I will at least 3-5, hopefully not more!!! I'll keep you posted.
~Mrs. Brown (the Art Teacher!)
OMG! I start school on Monday!
Well, these past two weeks have been a whirlwind of excitement and busy-ness. To recap.
Two weeks, ago I went to TIP (Teacher Induction Program), where I took various workshops, that reminded me of my Masters program. I met all the new teachers at my school like me, as well as new teachers to the county in my same position. It was an explosion of information and made everything seem so much more real! I also got my Teacher ID... I have wild woman hair, but it's official, I am a teacher! We had Thursday off, so I worked in my room, repainting the back bookshelves and cabinets. Katie, one of the other new teachers stayed the entire time and helped me. I could not have done it without her! THANK YOU SO MUCH! AND on Friday, I got new tables!!! They are actually the old art tables, but when Ray got the drafting tables they just stored these away. They found them, and we got rid of those hideous & dangerous metal desks!
Then this past week was PrePlanning. I met a TON of the faculty at my school and have begun the process of learning all their names, positions, and room numbers.
Monday- We had a faculty meeting, where of course the Principal introduced the "newbies" and we had to standup and wave *awkward*. (And of course, I was the first one called). Then we had short mini-sessions to fill us in on various topics such as Emergency Plans, Restraint, School Goals, and more. In the afternoon, we got to work in our classrooms, and BOY O' BOY did mine still need a LOT of work. Chad has been such a blessing helping me get everything together and set up. He has come in every day afterwork and stayed several hours with me. He even figured out how to rip down the scary sculpture/mural without ruining the wall.
Tuesday- Was work in your room day, and department meetings. My department meeting consists of the Fine Arts Department (so me, the band director and the chorus/drama teacher); therefore, it was only an hour long meeting. We discussed our goals for the year in relation to our department and school wide. My mom also came up and helped me decorate! She is magic with fabric on bulletin boards. Chad took a half day too and helped me, by finishing the curtains and sanding and repainting where the sculpture/mural use to be.
Wednesday- Was the county professional learning day. I had to be at another school at 8AM for the AP Fine Arts meeting. I met a bunch of the AP Art teachers as well as AP Music Theory teachers. We discussed how the SLOs are going to go and what classes they are official for and which ones they are working on. And then, we were told we did not have to come back at 1PM for the High School Art meeting. However, some of us want to get together/stay and discuss Ceramics & Sculpture. I'm glad that I stayed because I got a list of all the Art teachers names/numbers/emails to keep in touch with them as well as project ideas. One teacher, Rebecca (great name) was SUPER DUPER helpful and I look forward to collaborating with her via email, she seems like a BIG help! Then I returned to school to work on my classroom more.
Thursday- Was OPEN House day! We were allowed to work in our classroom all day and Open House was from 1-3PM (but really like 330PM). I spent most of the morning attempting to finish my syllabi so that I could give them out at Open House, but I mostly finished just the Comprehensive Art I. I wasn't nervous, until I saw TONS of families, but none were coming to the Art room! (Sad day), but over time, they started pouring in. I had three full sheets on my sign in. (Which made it hard for sending thank you emails). Every parent I met was very excited and enthusiastic about their child taking Art, and majority of the students I met, were also very excited. After it was all said and done, my feet hurt! But I had to stay from 4-630PM, because I had to take POINT Training and it was the last session of it!
Friday- Was faculty meeting and mini-workshops again. These workshops covered Child Abuse, Wikis, Infinite Campus and BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology). The faculty meeting covered Attendance, Media Center and the renovations. Our administration did a skip like the Avengers. It was pretty funny seeing the Principal dressed up like Captain America in full costume with fake muscles, and a mask with wings sticking out to the sides. Our department went out to lunch, which was nice, getting to know the ladies (we're all girls). Then when I got back Coach Jen (Head Cheerleading Coach) met up with me and showed me how to get onto Infinite Campus and do cool stuff. Then all the newbies had to meet in the Media Center for a Q&A. Then we had the rest of the day on our own in our classroom. Oh and funny story, on Thursday for Open House, I wrote on the board, "Weclome to Art" and didn't notice it until today! baha!
I still feel like I have TONS to do. I, at least, have all my syllabi done for all my classes as well as a materials list. I still need to print off my bathroom passes, and Select Studio/AP paperwork, but most everything on the paper end is complete (for now). I still need to cutout and binder-ize my standards and create a binder for each class, substitute binder, SpEd. binder, and cheerleading binder.
OMG! WE START ON MONDAY WITH STUDENTS!!!
I am excited and nervous at the same time!
Here is my schedule:
7:35-8AM - Duty by the Gym Lobby Entrance
1st period - Planning
2nd period - Comprehensive Art I
3rd period - Ceramics/Sculpture
4th period - Comprehensive Art I - 1st Lunch
5th period - Selected Studio/AP Studio Art
6th period - Comprehensive Art I
7th period - Drawing/Painting
And done.
I also have a coaches meeting Monday at 7PM. It is going to be a long day! Wish me luck!
Again, I will try to keep you posted, forgive me if it takes me a while, and I will get the before and after pictures on here for you to see of my classroom. Everyone says it looks SO different. The Principal even said it looks "so good"!!!
-Mrs. Brown the Art Teacher
Two weeks, ago I went to TIP (Teacher Induction Program), where I took various workshops, that reminded me of my Masters program. I met all the new teachers at my school like me, as well as new teachers to the county in my same position. It was an explosion of information and made everything seem so much more real! I also got my Teacher ID... I have wild woman hair, but it's official, I am a teacher! We had Thursday off, so I worked in my room, repainting the back bookshelves and cabinets. Katie, one of the other new teachers stayed the entire time and helped me. I could not have done it without her! THANK YOU SO MUCH! AND on Friday, I got new tables!!! They are actually the old art tables, but when Ray got the drafting tables they just stored these away. They found them, and we got rid of those hideous & dangerous metal desks!
Then this past week was PrePlanning. I met a TON of the faculty at my school and have begun the process of learning all their names, positions, and room numbers.
Monday- We had a faculty meeting, where of course the Principal introduced the "newbies" and we had to standup and wave *awkward*. (And of course, I was the first one called). Then we had short mini-sessions to fill us in on various topics such as Emergency Plans, Restraint, School Goals, and more. In the afternoon, we got to work in our classrooms, and BOY O' BOY did mine still need a LOT of work. Chad has been such a blessing helping me get everything together and set up. He has come in every day afterwork and stayed several hours with me. He even figured out how to rip down the scary sculpture/mural without ruining the wall.
Tuesday- Was work in your room day, and department meetings. My department meeting consists of the Fine Arts Department (so me, the band director and the chorus/drama teacher); therefore, it was only an hour long meeting. We discussed our goals for the year in relation to our department and school wide. My mom also came up and helped me decorate! She is magic with fabric on bulletin boards. Chad took a half day too and helped me, by finishing the curtains and sanding and repainting where the sculpture/mural use to be.
Wednesday- Was the county professional learning day. I had to be at another school at 8AM for the AP Fine Arts meeting. I met a bunch of the AP Art teachers as well as AP Music Theory teachers. We discussed how the SLOs are going to go and what classes they are official for and which ones they are working on. And then, we were told we did not have to come back at 1PM for the High School Art meeting. However, some of us want to get together/stay and discuss Ceramics & Sculpture. I'm glad that I stayed because I got a list of all the Art teachers names/numbers/emails to keep in touch with them as well as project ideas. One teacher, Rebecca (great name) was SUPER DUPER helpful and I look forward to collaborating with her via email, she seems like a BIG help! Then I returned to school to work on my classroom more.
Thursday- Was OPEN House day! We were allowed to work in our classroom all day and Open House was from 1-3PM (but really like 330PM). I spent most of the morning attempting to finish my syllabi so that I could give them out at Open House, but I mostly finished just the Comprehensive Art I. I wasn't nervous, until I saw TONS of families, but none were coming to the Art room! (Sad day), but over time, they started pouring in. I had three full sheets on my sign in. (Which made it hard for sending thank you emails). Every parent I met was very excited and enthusiastic about their child taking Art, and majority of the students I met, were also very excited. After it was all said and done, my feet hurt! But I had to stay from 4-630PM, because I had to take POINT Training and it was the last session of it!
Friday- Was faculty meeting and mini-workshops again. These workshops covered Child Abuse, Wikis, Infinite Campus and BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology). The faculty meeting covered Attendance, Media Center and the renovations. Our administration did a skip like the Avengers. It was pretty funny seeing the Principal dressed up like Captain America in full costume with fake muscles, and a mask with wings sticking out to the sides. Our department went out to lunch, which was nice, getting to know the ladies (we're all girls). Then when I got back Coach Jen (Head Cheerleading Coach) met up with me and showed me how to get onto Infinite Campus and do cool stuff. Then all the newbies had to meet in the Media Center for a Q&A. Then we had the rest of the day on our own in our classroom. Oh and funny story, on Thursday for Open House, I wrote on the board, "Weclome to Art" and didn't notice it until today! baha!
I still feel like I have TONS to do. I, at least, have all my syllabi done for all my classes as well as a materials list. I still need to print off my bathroom passes, and Select Studio/AP paperwork, but most everything on the paper end is complete (for now). I still need to cutout and binder-ize my standards and create a binder for each class, substitute binder, SpEd. binder, and cheerleading binder.
OMG! WE START ON MONDAY WITH STUDENTS!!!
I am excited and nervous at the same time!
Here is my schedule:
7:35-8AM - Duty by the Gym Lobby Entrance
1st period - Planning
2nd period - Comprehensive Art I
3rd period - Ceramics/Sculpture
4th period - Comprehensive Art I - 1st Lunch
5th period - Selected Studio/AP Studio Art
6th period - Comprehensive Art I
7th period - Drawing/Painting
And done.
I also have a coaches meeting Monday at 7PM. It is going to be a long day! Wish me luck!
Again, I will try to keep you posted, forgive me if it takes me a while, and I will get the before and after pictures on here for you to see of my classroom. Everyone says it looks SO different. The Principal even said it looks "so good"!!!
-Mrs. Brown the Art Teacher
