Everything Counts in Large Amounts

Gradual Release

I'm out of the building for 4 straight school days for 3 different reasons. It wasn't planned but it happened and I decided to go with it because I had a student teacher in the morning, a reliable sub and my yearbook classes seemed to be on track. While away I can communicate with kids via email and Google Classroom, so it's not difficult. Occasionally I get Snap-chats from students as well (shown here). The whole book is due in a week and I've left them to finish it. A part of me was concerned that my timing was off but I could see that I've released ownership to them and that is really a great thing. It's actually part of my mandate as a teacher. I've spent the whole school year telling them what to do. Having them finish the book on their own is great test of practicing what they've learned. My Editor in chief emailed me a few questions that I was able to promptly reply to. My student leaders are there taking care of business. It almost makes me think I need to take off every year at the end as a true test of learning!

Field Trips

In 2008, my student teacher organized the first Spring Chicago field trip to go to the Art Chicago show (that no longer a thing) and then in 2011 we started going to the Art Institute with French department the week of Joshua Newland's birthday and it's been a thing ever since!! It's a wonderful spring day with art and French students looking at amazing art! 

I was thinking about how wonderful the day was— the perfect field trip. Talking to the French teacher on the bus made me think about how complicated relationships are and how lucky I am to be in a department made up of people I truly love being around. I offered a scholarship to one of my freshmen who needed ride after the trip and they shared with me how they’d never had an experience like that day in Chicago--  never been given that kind of freedom to see so grand a city, and so much cool art. I recalled my first field trip 16 years ago. It’s a great tradition in our art department. It may have been my 25th time to the Windy City with students and it still doesn’t get old. Talking to my freshman afterwards reminded me we are doing something wonderful when we offer the opportunity to take a little trip away to somewhere very big. 

Another Shot at Showing Off

Today was try number two on video taping my teaching for National Boards. Try number one wasn't terrible but it wasn't great. I had kids on their phones because I typically don't do a lot reprimanding of kids on their phones. So I certainly reaped what I have sewn. My mentor assured me that with a bit more effort of prepping the kids I could do it again and get better results. She mentioned that I looked nervous on the first attempt. Well, today was very nervous about looking nervous. I ended up sweating profusely. As I started to look it over after school, I realize that I talk funny. I enunciate words too hard and exaggerate hand motions. I think I so nervous about looking nervous that I looked more nervous.  My 7th hour class was so small that I decided to just sit with them in one group and do the activity together while my 4th hour class had 3 groups-- each are very different dynamics and I'm not sure which I'll pic at this point but I'm not going to try for third time, so I'll have to pick one. I need to give it some space before choosing or doing any editing. I've still got a month to do this, so there is plenty of time to get it all done.

The Fabulous Five

The five art teachers at our school had a gallery opening this morning with current artwork. All 5 of us were in the gallery early to make sure the opening was a success. We had a packed house at one point with lots of supportive teachers popping in for the reception. It was really nice. I would have liked to have gotten a photo of the 5 of us. We are getting to a place were these moments with Geof, our ceramics teacher,  are numbered since he is retiring this year.  Sometimes I think about how difficult it will be to have him gone since he does so much for our department and other times I think it will be really exciting to see us transform without him. Change is approaching regardless. 

Yesterday we got news that downtown had made the decision to replace Geof with someone from another school without so much as a job description-- no hiring committee, no need for interviews or even check in with the principal. We were all shocked by the lack of communication with us as a department or even our school principal. Without the union's power, downtown seems empowered to make moves. We met as a department at lunch to discuss what was happening. I popped into chat with our principal and had a great exchange. There are schools in our district really struggling but I am blessed to be in a building that is amazing and so supportive. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

Demonstrating My Teaching

I am working on renewing my National License. The process is due mid May, so right after my spring break I got to video taping which is component 2. I have to choose one of the professional growth areas featured in Component 1 and demonstrate its application in a date-stamped 10-minute video recording in which you demonstrate classroom teaching in the same content and developmental level as my original certification. The video and the accompanying Written Commentary must demonstrate student learning in an environment that ensures equity of access, promotes an appreciation of diversity, and demonstrates certificate-specific content knowledge. Above is a screenshot from my 4th and 7th hour yearbook classes. As I am sure is obvious, I'm using the 4th hour video since my 7th hour kids look quite board, even pained. I'm tempted to give it another go altogether in a different class as my yearbook class is full of quite entitled seniors. I've been assured the renewal process is not nearly as demanding as the initial process but I'd hate to go through the work and not pass.