First Full Week Back

It's impossible to start a fire and not have a swarm of kids show up.

It’s the weekend, and other than the tell-tale throat tickles and headaches, Ender and I have survived our first full week of teaching grade 6 together. Our classrooms are beginning to shape up (though my supply closet is still a mess and I haven’t even started on the filing cabinets. This week in art we made chalk letters to display this year’s art quote:

Thanks Degas

Many of my students have a hard time articulating their thoughts and feelings. For some it’s because they aren't as comfortable with English, and others just aren't used to being asked. Art is a great way to communicate ideas without having to speak, and sometimes it’s easier to talk about a piece of art you made than it is to just say what your feeling.

We also started some torn paper animals. I like this project because it’s deceptively easy. Starting with a contour drawing, students need to try and fit their torn pieces together like a mosaic to fill in the shapes making up their animal. The really successful ones consider the negative space and how everything fits together. It’s a project that’s really hard to rush and have something that makes sense.

 

Ender and I tried to find the trail leading to the cranberry patch we visited last year this morning. While we were able to find a path and what looked like what might be where the cranberries were last year, we were unable to find any actual berries this time out. It may have been that we were looking in the wrong place, or it just might be that we came too early or too late, or that this year there aren't many berries at all. Still it was nice to get outside while the weather is still relatively warm.

We have one more week till ‘Traditional Week,’ and I am excited to use the break as a chance to regroup, get my classroom and lessons in order and get one camping trip in before the cold weather hits.