Story of a Sticker

My cousin just sent this picture to me today.  It was taken in the custodian's closet at the elementary school we attended (which closed years ago & is now a community center).  Random?  Not really.  The custodian of the school was my Aunt Bonnie.  I often would go into school with her in the early mornings before anyone else would arrive. There was something magical about school that I truly fell in love with. I think this had a huge impact on me & my desire to spend a lifetime in education. Back then, I would often help her do some of the custodial tasks around the school. Sweeping rooms, picking up crayons & pencils under desks, mopping the gym/cafeteria floor....hard work for a kid, but I loved it.  As I got older, those of us on free/reduced lunches were required to work in the cafeteria.  We spent a lot of time with the cafeteria ladies, and they treated us like their own kids.  I was able to see how so many people were involved to make "school" happen.  Each one was important.  Each one deserved respect for their contributions. I loved the community that made school possible.  I knew by the 1st grade that I wanted to be a teacher.

Back to the sticker...  My cousin (who is a kindergarten teacher now) & I were in the same class K-8th grade (that is how our elementary schools were set up)....and had classes together throughout high school.  She often helps out at the community center (our former elementary school), and was cleaning up after an event.  She walked in and found this sticker in the custodian's closet.  She knew right away that it had to have been me. My love of turtles goes back...way back!  ha ha  Amazing how after over 30 (EEK!!!..close to 40) years....this sweet little turtle sticker can remind me of all the wonderful things that laid the foundation for my path in education. 

BEHOLD THE TURTLE...
THAT ONLY MAKES PROGRESS WHEN IT STICKS ITS NECK OUT!

RANDOM INFORMATION

Did you know the artist Robert Indiana died May 19, 2018(Saturday)?  I totally missed this until yesterday.  He was a very interesting individual, and if you don't know much about his life & art career....you need to look him up.  All I use to know about him was a few of the "major" works he was known for creating.  

Today is WORLD TURTLE DAY!!!!!!

  I love turtles & wanted you all to know it was their day!! 

CELEBRATE!

#aheartaday2018: 7-19

I'm not sure who all has been following along with this year's #aheartaday2018 on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook....but I thought I'd share the next "batch" of Turtle-rific Hearts! 

Practicum Student Ms.H: Lines With Kindergarten

I open my room to student teachers, practicum students, and observations every year.  I believe in helping to develop the next generation of art educators, and truly enjoy my time with them.  This looks like the first year in about a decade I'm not going to have a student teacher.  

However, right now I'm hosting 3 practicum students from MTSU.  They have been a wonderful group!  This post is about Ms. H's lesson.  She chose to work with Kindergarten.  I love when people are up for the challenge of our littlest people!!  She really did well for her first time developing a lesson plan & teaching it!  In the picture she is teaching the students about lines in a kinesthetic manner. So much fun!!

They applied the lines they learned about in a turtle drawing.  They used construction paper crayons to finish their work.  This was the first time Ms. H used them...and she LOVED them(I do too).  One of the greatest things about Ms. H....she wants to grow!!!  I love when a up & coming teacher comes humbly to the table...and just wants to learn!  She is going to learn...she is going to grow...and she is going to make a great art teacher!!

Kindergarten Turtles: Patterns & Cutting Skills

In TN they removed patterns from the Kindergarten standards in their "regular" classroom.  REALLY??  They also do not have the time they use to to cut and past in their "regular" classroom.  This truth is being reflected in what I'm seeing in my room.  I'm having to work with students on how to hold their scissors, how to cut, how to make smooth lines....EVERYTHING.  That blows my mind, but I won't go off on that.  I am trying to introduce & reinforce things that I once took for granted that they would know.  Anyways?!?!  I'm really happy with their patterned shell turtles!  We used construction paper crayons on a dark green paper....and then cut and glued the turtles onto black paper.  The story we started with was Jubuti The Tortoise(I tried to find an African turtle story, but could not...Jubuti is from the Amazon.)

Back to School: Thinking Ahead

If you've followed my blog a couple years, you know the last week of school I have my students make art for the hall for when we come back to school.  I have a very long wall outside my room...and hate for it to be blank!  I have color themes for my classroom each year.  This past year was ICE/Cool Colors.  This coming year will be FIRE/Warm Colors.  My fear is that history will repeat itself.  During this year of ICE...my heat went out for about 5 weeks during the winter.  I'm praying that I get back to school the last week of July to find my air still working....I really don't want to experience FIRE! :)  

Getting Ready for Next Year

With a little over a week left of school...I'm in the midst of getting ready for next school year.  I'm going to be going with a cool/icy color theme.  I've gotten most of my letters cut out for my boards....and I've had my students create these fun turtles to hang outside my room at the start of the school year.  

So much still to do...but I have a jump on thing at least.

Turtley Points of View/Perspective: 4th Grade

Mr. E & Turtles is like Peanut Butter & Jelly!  They just go together.  Over the years I've collected & have been gifted many turtles.  I passed out a class worth of stuffed turtles to my 4th graders and asked them to draw them from 4 different points of view/perspectives.  I had teacher examples on the board and did a demo so the students could see just what I meant for them to be doing.  They really turned out great.  I would have shown more, but many did not get a chance to finish coloring them. 

 If they do...I'll try to post them.