Really Dallas?

I taught Smudges Monday to 2 classrooms of 3rd graders.  Each classroom had 17 students.

17 students.

It was a RARE day that I had 17 students in my art classroom.

I was used to teaching close to 30.

30 students, people...sometimes more.

My life teaching in TX would've been so much easier and less stressful if they didn't pack so many students in my class.  But I did it, and I was mostly successful!

Come on.

Encouragement from the Past

How to distribute tape to kids who need it.

Stick it to their fingers, their shirt or the edge of the table.  They'll think it's funny and worked for me.

How to Paint with 30 1st Graders and Not Lose Your Mind

I dreaded this as a new art teacher.

My students would come to art and the first thing they would say was, "When are we going to paint?" As if all we're going to do all year is paint.   Geez.

So here are my tips to paint with lots* of little ones and win.


1. Have things ready when they come in.  On one table I had water bowls, water jug (no sink), dirty water pitcher, paint brushes, magazines or paint already squeezed out into bottle caps.  Usually on the floor in a bag already washed, I had aprons.

2.  Instruct them on how to do everything.  We would practice putting on our apron. Yes, it's going to be big on you.  Yes, it may not fit right. Yes, I already cut off the strings so you do not tie them in knots.  Paint brushes: are you going to paint your face, your shoes, your neighbor? what are you going to paint? 'my paper'.  Water bowl: the worst sound to hear in the classroom is 'ding ding ding' on the glass water bowl every time they want to get water off their paint brush and it makes a mess.  I tell them to touch the inside of their bowl and start painting.  Aprons: my kids had such a hard time with this one - they would wipe their paint brush on their apron like it was a napkin.  I would ask them if they would wipe their paint brush on their clothes.  They would say no, but I always found some of them doing it.  Grrr. 

3.  Let them paint and watch them like a hawk.  Especially those kids you normally have to watch anyway.  You might just need to stand by them, too.  They are going to have so much fun.  You might hear squeals or it might be dead quiet (surprise!) because they are concentrating so hard.  They also love it when you paint with them.

4.  Clean up. I let them paint to the bitter end so no one gets into trouble.  I usually go around to each table, empty water bowls, grab paint brushes and a helper comes behind me throws bottle caps or magazines away and/or puts waterbowls up.  Kids put their own painting on the drying rack starting at the bottom.  They keep their aprons on the whole time, and if we have any, they wipe their table with wipes or a paper towel.

5. Lining up.  Students will either fold up their aprons or put them in their chair, then line up throwing their trash away as they go out the door.

Whew! This helped me.  Hope this helped you!

*(I would get a class & a half which means 25+ kids every 45 minutes. PreK-5th grade)

Jellyfish by Rachel, 1st Grade

Today is the day

This morning I got up, took care of A, and put on clothes like I was going somewhere.  I went to DCS and took a few tests, filled out forms to see if it will lead to anything in my teaching future...

A went to school for the first time in a while since we've been on vacation - beach, texas, beach and more beach

He was the only one in his class so he got some extra attention and learned about the color purple.  He had so much fun he fell asleep on the way home.

My mom made these arrangements for our outgoing Music Minister's party last night.

Happy Monday!

The one about Andrew.

Andrew used to be in my art class.  He'd rather be in gym.  I taught him when he was in first, second, third, and fourth grade.  He has 3 sisters and one brother.   Grandpa takes care of them.  I bought presents for them one year for Christmas and they were so excited.  Not much lovin' at home means lots of attention at school.  I dreamed about Andrew last night and he was doing the same thing he was doing in my class - so much potential but up to no good with that crazy look on his face. 

I'm thinking about getting my AL teaching certificate.  If I decide to teach again it will be an easy transition and I can help all the other Andrews here in my new town.

We tried again to find some nicer shoes for A today. No luck. K wanted to get brown leather that lace up.  That LACE UP.  Those things will never be laced.  We are 0-3 at this point.  Tennis shoes again for church tomorrow.



We finally ate breakfast at our own table this morning. I made eggs with cheese, biscuits and yummy coffee. A was in his high chair and it was great to sit with our plates on a table...our own table, together.

The one where we get dark clouds and people start running for cover.

I taught elementary art in a portable outside of the main building for 4 years in Dallas.  During those 4 years we've had our share of storms and snow.  We could hear the wind blow from inside.  We could hear the rain hit the windows like it was raining sideways.  We heard lightning like it hit very close and loud thunder.  We had to step over or into big puddles of water, We had so much snow in the parking lot it was hard to drive out it was so slippery, but never did we get out of school for 'impending' bad weather.  We kept our emergency kit close and our cell phones and flash lights closer, but Really?

Ok so they did cancel classes for ice.  But that was ice.

But impending weather?  You're not even guaranteed it will come.

Come on.

The one where plans change.

When I went to seminary I assumed I would work in a church after I graduated. While going to seminary I worked at a church keeping preschoolers while their moms learned English. I also worked at Fort Travis as a 1st & 2nd grade teacher in the after school program. The summer K and I got married he got a job as an intern here. I applied for a job there in the children's ministry. After many interviews (including a math test? really?) I got the job. Since 6 months was the longest anyone had filled that position, I worked there about that long. It is hard to describe my experience working there. People didn't like me, in their eyes I never did the right thing. It was weird - like going to battle and i was on the wrong side.

When my time with them was up, I got to experience what K did on Sunday mornings which seemed like a piece of cake compared to what I went through. It was awesome...awesome boss, awesome people, awesome job. He was the only reason we were there. It took a while to find a job. I worked at a scrapbook store for a while. While I worked at the scrapbook store K and I went to a few meetings about the Alternative Certification Program. I have a degree in Art. I have a Master's degree and it turns out they were putting art and music teachers in EVERY elementary school in the district that year. Wahoo! I'm in.

It took me all summer - 3 job fairs and I got a call while driving back from Austin. My future school called and I had never heard of it. They were looking for an art teacher and wanted to interview me that week. I got home and found my school on the internet. I had prayed that God would put me in a school that would be in a beautiful place. There are tons of schools in my district and many of those schools were in poor neighborhoods. Well guess what my school's name means in Indian? Beautiful Place! I was shocked! Surprised! Happy!

I went to interview and got the job the same day. 99% hispanic school teaching 816 kids a week. I had to start waking up early and getting home late. I had to learn how to teach Kindergarten then teach 5th graders right after that. I'm still having to tell myself it's ok to go to bed early just to survive my week. My kids wear me out.

Sometimes I come home in a good mood. Sometimes, like Friday, I come home wondering why people have kids when they don't have time to take care of them...like read to them at home or help them with their homework...or make sure they take a bath.

So all of this to say God had a purpose for me being here. even though most days I came home crying. It was worth it because it got me where I am today to teach these kids and make an impact on their lives.

A lesson on lines

Tonight I had to teach a lesson on the 5 types of lines - horizontal, vertical, diagnol, curved, and zig zag - to 3rd graders. We went over our rules, I presented the material and then had the class stand up and use their arms to make the different lines. We played line bingo and then my time was up. I was really encouraged tonight because my teacher said he was impressed with the activities I did. Although the girl who drew the inappropriate picture wasn't so good, I was really happy how it went. Yay.