We all have jobs of some kind or the other. I’m so blessed that I get to do what I love the most and that is art. I teach art to the K-12 at Wylie Prep. I can’t imagine doing anything else in my life. It really isn’t a job it’s a passion! Teaching was not on my radar but I’m so glad I was lead to this profession. It is such a rush to see these kids create things with their hands. I love that they are surprised by what happens right in front of them in their own art work.
Five years ago the school built a room just for art. My classes had grown to a point that I was too large to be in the other buildings. Teaching all grades made it hard because the high school and middle school had to come to the lower school classrooms because that was were the art room was. This level of kids are loud to say the lease. Problem solved by building an art room that worked for all grades, but then our school took a growth spurt. My room first period had to be used for math class. I already had my room laid out when I was told days before school started. Well an art room and a classroom are totally different when you teach. for the past 2 years I have had to share but this year finally it’s all mine. Let the re-organizing begin!!
I started by making a plan for the room. Really the plan was to flip the room and make a supply area in the front so I had everything at arms reach. I was so happy to see the cabinet that stored the math things go by-by. Also on the way out the door was all the over sized white boards. I loved the math teacher Joy but all those smart math posters seemed to stare at me. No matter where I was in the room they followed me. The only thing in this room that didn’t move was my big white cabinet better know as Big Bertha.
I love organization it makes my life so much better. I DO NOT LIKE TO LOOK FOR THINGS! It is such a time killer when you can’t find things you know are there but you just can’t find it. So an organized supply station was first on my list. I put it up front so that I could separate it from the kids. While I think its important to let kids help themselves they also waste if they are left to fin for themselves. I organized all the papers, projects and art supplies. I used different types of containers to keep all the supplies together. Just lining them up on the self over time gets out-of-order and you have to look for stuff. Containing it makes for fast work and a neat appearance. One secret is that I can hide the glitter from the girls. They think every project needs glitter. Glitter is for Christmas girls!
I have a total of 8 tables set up in my studio. If you look you can see there are some tables with different chairs all mixed and match. Every year we do a chair project that starts in January. I’m so blessed because 95% of these chairs are donated. It just happens, chairs appear at my door year round. We have done this project for 7 years people know we need chairs and they answer the call. My WPA families are so great to my program. I have hooks at the top of my room so I can hang chairs year round. It grows every year so we always need 50 plus chairs. Now that we are alone in this room I can do a table set up. Some kids work faster than other kids so they need something to keep their little hands busy. So on the table next to the wall I have set up paper towels, wipes, plain paper, crayons, markers, pencils and erasers. When they are done they can free draw until we move on. This makes life so much better, other wise they have to get up and get these things. That is a lot of feet on the floor and someone seems to always get paint on their clothes. At each table I have an apron for every chair. Our kiddo’s wear uniforms and paint on them is not a good thing. Having the aprons at the table makes it easier for them to remember to slip it on and that makes their Momma happy.
The large white cabinet in the middle of the room houses the kids work. It’s essentially a drying cabinet for the artwork. It has severally very small shelves and each kiddo gets their name on one. When they are finished each day with their work it is placed in their box to dry and safe keeping until the next art class. It is named BIG BERTHA because it is so big and weighs a ton. When they moved it into the new room they told me pick your spot and that is where it stays. Okay I’m good with that I just needed my big cabinet.
I’m not one for hanging a lot of stuff on the walls just a few posters with words of encouragement. I did add one new one this year because I thought it was such good words “Be the change you want to see in the world”. How fantastic is that to see just over your teachers shoulder and give you thought. Well that is my sweet little classroom all ready for these kids to come and get their art own. I’m so excited about this school year I can feel it’s gonna be a good one. I hope that your weekend is full of what ever you have planned it to be. Get some rest, spend time with your family and most of all have a Blue Happy day!
