No electricity in my corner of the building today. I didn’t know that was possible. I mean, I know it’s possible but they had to call out the big guns and large digging machines to fix it. Everything was back to normal by 2:15. It was no big deal as far as what I had to teach today. I did however notice it when my planning period came around and I couldn’t sit down at the computer to do what I’d normally get done.

I worked with my upper level kids on the brainstorming process today. There are only 5 of them so I thought it would be good to have them do it as a group. I’m having them do some logo and packaging design and brainstorming is a great way to start the creative process. They were really hesitant at first. After I pretended to get upset about their half-hearted efforts, they really got into it and generated some really fun ideas.

I played a new game with my Art I kids yesterday. I’d made up cards with letters on them. With two students at the board, I’d put a review question up on the screen and they would have to use the cards to spell the answer. They’d attach the cards to the board with magnets I’d picked up. The class completely enjoyed it. It was fun for me too.

Hey, have you tried the Snickers Adventure Bar. I thought it was just another Snickers with a different wrapper. But no, it has a hit of coconut that surprised me and I liked it. I recommend it, at least once.

I stumbled upon these YouTube videos while reading a design blog. I wanted to share them here since I am thinking more and more about teaching creative thinking in my classroom. They come from an AlJazeeraEnglish broadcast.

Part 1

Part 2

I knew I hadn’t written in a while but I didn’t know it had been almost 2 months. The school year has been underway for about three weeks now. It has been fun and challenging because I have changed my approach to what I teach in Art I and to how I assess student work in all classes. I have put a major focus on creative thinking in my Art I classes because I felt like I wasn’t really addressing it in the past. Sure, I gave kids the chance to be creative but I didn’t really teach and train them in ways to think creatively. There’s not much written on the internet about what I wanted to do so I’ve taken what I could find and started putting it into practice. The challenge comes in figuring out how to insert this approach into the skills and infomation I already teach.

My grading this semester is more longitudnal than summative. It’s harder but I think more productive in the long run. Rather than grading each individual assignment and putting it in the gradebook, I’m evaluating the strenghts and areas for growth in a full unit of work. In my evaluation I list these things and request the students focus on them in the next unit. As things progress, I can go back to each evaluation and see if students have worked to improve on their weaker areas and to what extent. At the end of the grading period, I use all the evaluation to measuring learning over the semester instead of averaging all the grades. I’m excited to see how it all plays out.

After pondering and researching for over a week, I’ve decided to pursue a Masters degree in Education Media Design and Technology at Full Sail University in Florida. It’s an intensive program that will be over in a year’s time. Not only is the curriculum exciting to me but because I am already a teacher, there was an automatic scholarship that paid for over a third of the total tuition. Because I’m teaching online with NCVPS again this year (in addition to my face-to-face class) I’ll be able to pay the remaining amount without needing a student loan. The program is completely online and starts at the end of the month.

I only have one section of my online art class this semester and things are going very smoothly. This is the first time I’ve taught the course where I’m not trying to fix and change and improve things as I go through it. I can relax and let things roll and it’s refreshing. A large majority of my students are doing well and very invested in doing what they need to do. I can only hope it stays that way.

I’m still coaching the high school’s improv team but my roll in the team will be changing. This year I am working with the students to make the team a mainly student run organization so that I can focus on other things. I still plan to help coach occasionally and be available during practices and shows, but I will use their practice time to do the work I need to get done. This was a necessary step if the team was going to survive past this year. I needed a break and I gave the team an option. Either figure out how to perpetuate the team as a more student run entity or let it run its course with this as its last year. I’m glad they’ve decided to go this route. I hope they find it successful.

Yesterday was grocery day. I didn’t need much but it’s so quiet and relaxed at the store on Sunday mornings. I hadn’t bought ice cream in about a month and had a taste for the world’s best store bought brand, Edy’s. I was in luck. Harris Teeter had a buy one get one free sale. Before my hand even touched the first container I knew it was smaller than usual. They’ve gone from 1.75 qt. to 1.5 qt. and the price is the same. Of course it’s been happening to ice cream, and everything else, for decades. The package gets smaller and the price only goes up. If my grandparents were still alive, they could probably tell me about full gallon containers of ice cream that only cost $1. Maybe less.

I also went to Target to check out a pub-height table they were supposed to have. I saw it online but it wasn’t in the store. I may have to go to a Target without food so that there’s more room for furniture. Maybe tomorrow after my dentist appt. I did buy a new pair of hair clippers. Shaved my head down to about 1/8″ and then proceeded to do the same to River. I was tired of her long hair all over the house and it’s summer. She was very patient during the entire process. I left her head and tail alone so she didn’t look like a rat but she’s got some beautiful spots that are hidden by her coat. I may have to do it more often because it’s beautiful. I did a little bit of a hack job because of my inexperience but it looks okay. Next time, I’ll have a professional do it.

I’ve started the process of getting my backyard graded and seeded. A designer from a local landscaping company came out and I gave him the low down. He’ll get back with me next week about costs. I don’t want an irrigation system so I’ll wait until September to have the work done but I figured I get it on the calendar. I cut two of the sweetgum trees out of the front yard and I’ll cut one more down later. No more of those little balls in my yard. I’m thinking I may cut down the little patch of pine trees as well so that when TruGreen seeds my lawn this fall, there won’t be anything in the way. I do want some trees in the front but not the ones I’ve got. I figure if I get the ones I have now cut down and prep spaces for new trees, I can plant what I want in late fall or early spring.

I don’t get to play video games very often but last night at Chris’ house, I played a game where you got to drive fast and destroy things. You get points for the amout of damage you do. It was really fun.

An impressive combination of illustration and animation.

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.