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