February 03, 2011

Having one of "THOSE" days!!!!!!

I LOVE MY JOB I LOVE MY STUDENTS I LOVE MY JOB I LOVE MY STUDENTS I LOVE MY JOB I LOVE MY STUDENTS I LOVE MY JOB I LOVE MY STUDENTS I LOVE MY JOB

You ever have one of those days where you have to remind yourself that you love your job & love your students?  That is where I am at.  It is a build up of a week or so of frustration.  My students seem to have given up?!?!?!  I've got all these fun projects going on for the art show about aliens, robots, bright colors, paint, printing..etc..etc.  Yet I'm seeing half hearted attempts, little creativity, poor craftsmanship, and a complete lack of direction following.  I know I've heard the other special area & classroom teachers talk about some of the same issues going on and their rooms, but I'm not use to it in the art room.  Maybe the snow days have thrown them off?  I'm just frustrated...and sad.  I want my kids to be successful...but with a lazy "I don't care" attitude...it will not come easy for them!!!

10 comments:

  1. That stinks. Hopefully they'll get out of their funk soon and all will be back to normal! I definitely don't think all this crazy weather is helping things...

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  2. It is happening in my room too! Hang in there buddy, I hope it will get better once we can have outdoor recess again!!!!!

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  3. It's the February blahs, I think. And snow days don't help; the kids get off schedule when they are in and out of school. Keep in mind, the days are getting longer, there will be more sunshine and things will be better.

    In the meantime, it might be time to put away the lesson plans and have FUNKY FRIDAY (or Magnificent Monday or Terrific Tuesday or whatever). Put some lively music on the CD player (salsa or African rhythms or reggae or whatever), put out the scrap box, scissors, staplers, glue, hole punchers, yarn, markers, and anything you want to get rid of, and let them just go for it and make whatever they want, from crazy hats and masks to silly signs or whatever. No rules other than being kind to each other, pitching in to clean up, and everything they make in art leaves the room when they do! It will lift everyone's spirits!

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  4. Try adding 45 more minutes to the school day....
    That's what our county is doing to make up days. It will go one of two ways... Either the kids will be zombies or super excited about the extra art time. We'll see.

    Phyl... I think I may use your ideas for my extended classes :)

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  5. Becca...been there done that..and it may have been a bit worse!!! Last year with the snow & the floods...we had to have extended days for a month or so....and during that extended time..special area people had to tutor MATH!

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  6. So how about if you have a swap with my kids art teacher...mine and their school would be thrilled to have you and your plans and once they had our teacher for a week or 2 yours would be more then thrilled to get you back! Over the course of the YEAR mine will get to do one clay project (pinchpot for K & !, and coil for 2 & 3, a bowl) and maybe 2 painting projects. Everything else is crayon or maybe marker. And yes they actually get to see him 2x a week too!!

    But yes, I agree it might have more to do with the weather and time of year then you! Do something just for you this weekend...or just you, Shana and Margaret extra special!!

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  7. This has been an interesting conversation. I really feel for you guys with the extended time. We've been very lucky weather-wise. Lots of snow, but we clean it up and are back in the saddle in a day. I don't know what we would do if had the extended weather messes you've had. In NY state, there's a required number of DAYS in session - so adding hours wouldn't take care of lost time. You'd have to cut days from a vacation, which of course is always a problem. Luckily we have 3 snow days in our calendar I and still have one left.

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  8. You inspired me to look for interesting robot YouTube videos. Though your kids are in the doldrums these days, I love the robot idea.

    http://artroomvideos.blogspot.com/2011/02/robot-who-looked-like-me-by-artist.html

    http://artroomvideos.blogspot.com/2011/02/artxplorers-at-nam-june-paik-exhibit-in.html

    http://artroomvideos.blogspot.com/2011/02/air-art-insect-robots.html

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  9. I will pull the great work from kids, and there is usually always one, and talk about craftsmanship, and how there are only 3 pieces that are A work. I do that even if there are not 3, just to give hope to a few others. I then pull out my craftsmanship sign and talk about it. That usually helps. I've had them start projects all over a few times as well. I also have them grade themselves, and they are usually honest. A few ideas, but we all hit that lag time sometimes too

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  10. Yowza I share your pain Mr. E.! Check out the Kindergarten Monkey Business on my blog...I'm still blaming the full moon that day!
    http://josettebrouwer.edublogs.org/2011/01/28/kindergarten-monkey-business/

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