1st and 4th Grade Art Class

In this days class, the fourth grade continued to create rain sticks from cardboard tubes and toothpicks, and the 1st grade was completely a tissue paper painting, with an animal silhouette.  The cooperating teacher was back in class, and instructed the students to begin their work nearly immediately.  I found myself very comfortable instructing and assisting the students with their various work processes.  It was clear that the students were similarly becoming comfortable with me and my instructional style.

It was an exciting day to see the first grade projects take shape, as they removed their animal stencil from the tissue paper painted background.  Comments like, "Wow, Awesome, Cool" were the standard in the room as their work was finally realized.  I found myself equally excited for them, and the work that each of them put forth.  A couple of the students struggled a bit to create a reasonable contour drawing of an animal, therefore I helped them by giving these students a vague dot pattern to follow.  The students used their abilities to then create the image that they so desired.  Upon completing this exercise with the students, I learned that they had learning challenges.  The Cooperating teacher was impressed at my ability to get them to work the problem out, and how I was able to challenge them to work toward their goal.  I honestly didn't know that the problems that these students were facing was due to a learning challenge, but it was good to know that I was prepared to respond accordingly.

In thinking of questions to ask the cooperating teacher, I decided that I would ask her about some of the challenges of working in a small district.  Her response was somewhat expected, as she told me that there is a great deal of bureaucracy, drama, and political positioning that tend to muddy the educational process.  Though this was understandable, what was significant is that she reiterated that the primary reason that she does what she does, is because of her love of the students, and the power of education.

2nd and 5th Grade Art Class

Today was a bit different than expected.  I arrived well before class so that I could assist in arranging and organizing the materials for the day, but was surprised that there was a substitute teacher filling in.  I introduced myself and why I would be working with her and asked her about her experiences as a substitute teacher.  Mrs. Logge, told me that she was actually an english teacher and had worked briefly as a teacher, but that as her children got older, she decided that she wanted to be more actively present in their lives.  Thusly, she opted to teach on a substitute basis.  I learned that she has been substitute teaching for my Cooperating Teacher for over 8 years.

Aside from the initial surprise of the substitute teacher, I was eager to get working with the second grade students on their projects, and fortunately Mrs. Logge didn't completely understand the projects, therefore I was able to teach the class, based on my previous experiences.  We worked on a straw weaving project, that was very similar to a technique I had learned in Belize Central America.  The children found this information fascinating and it became a teachable moment.  While the students worked I explained the reasons for different cultures to create weaved containers.

In addition to contributing to the three second grade classes, I was similarly able to help the fifth grade on their plating projects.  This project was similar in that it involved weaving patterns in paper, so many of the same lessons applied.  As the students worked, many of them experienced difficulty remembering how the project was intended to come together.  So I asked a student who clearly was understanding the project, to give a class demonstration for everyone who was having difficulty.  This was a good choice, as it uplifted the student who was excelling, and those who truly needed a nudge in the right direction.

This classroom experience was enjoyable, and challenging because of the unexpected substitute, and the lessons themselves.  I was satisfied with my response to these challenges.  It was good to know that I was truly prepared to handle the unexpected, and that I was flexible under pressure.

1st and 4th Grade Art Class

Today I was privileged to work with an experienced Art Educator Mrs. Donna Zyrgibel, who is nearing her retirement.  Her knowledge and ideas are wonderful.  An example of this can be seen in the two types of projects that were worked on today.  We began by teaching four 1st grade classes, about colors that mix, using tissue paper to dye paper as the background for a silhouette painting that will be accomplished over a 3 week period.  Additionally, we worked with the 4th grade to make rain sticks, using recycled cardboard tubing, and toothpicks.  These will eventually be covered in plaster, painted and adorned with various decoration.

I began each of the classes organizing materials and by sharing an introductory PowerPoint in which I shared photos of my family, my humanitarian aid work, and my artwork.  I also shared with the students the reason for wanting to teach.  This was kept intentionally short, as I didn't want to take too much time from their work time.

When I asked my cooperating teacher why she began teaching she said because she loved the students, and that it was a very stable position.  She said what I have heard by many an art education student, "She loved art, and loved children."  This is her initial reason for beginning to teach, she said that although that is still very much a real reason to teaching that it has become more of a way to connect the community, and to see life through the child's perspective.  She says that it keeps her young.

In terms of the Classroom environment, it is very much different than other classrooms that I have been a part of because, it is much smaller, and there is only one small window to the outside.  It is literally attached to the cafeteria which at lunch time becomes noisy and distracting to the students.  It seems as though the music and art classrooms which are the only two rooms in this location, were an afterthought and not a priority of the school system.  This could of course be a very bias judgement on my part, but as a first impression it certainly seems as though this is the case.  The cooperating teacher does a great deal with the space that she has been given and overcomes proximity to the cafeteria with well disciplined classroom management.  This class was the quietest class that I have ever heard.  When students enter the classroom there is already calming music playing.  The cooperating teacher only raised her voice at the beginning of the class to instruct the students as to what was going to be accomplished during the class period.  The rest of the time it was quiet close interactions with the students, literally at not much more than a whisper.

In summary, the experience was positive.  I look forward to teaching the 2nd and 5th graders next Tuesday, and learning from the students as well as my cooperating teacher.  I appreciate the experience and classroom management practice that I am receiving and will continue to apply myself to all aspects of the teaching process.