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| My Best Friend Artwork project |
I will not sit here and pretend to know all there is about the "arts" but when I feel my students are not receiving the instruction that they need at a young age, I will do all I can to provide what my students need. While reading, writing, and mathematics is extremely important at any age, the art provide that needed break students need to be themselves and enjoy some freedoms at school. Due to the time restraint for "Encore" classes and having to share the time with other grades, my kids are allowed to have music and art every six days (if that much due to benchmark testing for the upper grades - Encore teachers are constantly pulled to help in the upper grades).
Thankfully, the stories we use in reading provide tons of opportunities for incorporating music (which my children LOVE - my kids think that I am a wonderful singer LOL). There isn't a day that goes by that you will walk into our first grade classroom and not see use dancing around and singing some kind of upbeat or down-right silly song. As long as they are finding this style of learning fun and enjoyable, this woman will continue to make a fool of herself with the singing and the dancing.
When it comes to art, my younger sister definitely got the artistic genes of the family and of course, my class is filled with children that can draw MUCH better than their teacher ever will. Thankfully, my class was able to receive art two times a week - well up until last week. Due to EOG test remediation for the 3-5 grade students, my students will not longer receive these classes so guess who becomes their new art teacher?? You guessed right - ME!!!!! Scary for someone that never liked art nor was ever good at at. Yet, I knew that my students deserved the best that I could give them, so I got some "schooling" from my little sister and some ideas from the Internet and a week later, it has become our new favorite time of the day. My students and I know have art lessons on a daily basis and WE LOVE IT!!!
So if teaching first grade doesn't work out, I may have found my new calling as an ART TEACHER ... I sure hope it works out though :)
I enjoyed reading your post. Continue acting silly...now if I could only be a fly on your wall. :)
ReplyDeleteI totally understand what you mean about your kids having Encore. I am very glad that our kids get music and art once a week. I wish they had the opportunity to have it more to bring out their talents, but I guess thats where I come in. I use a lot of music to let them dance and use some energy. Although I wish I used it more in the subject areas. Art lessons on a daily basis - you go girl, wish you could come to my room!
ReplyDeleteThis is the 6th time I'm trying to respond to your blog! I've been having technical difficulties, so I'm hoping that this will work! First grade is such a good age to work with! They will actively participate in the singing and drama! You are doing just what a great teacher does - you had a roadblock and you did something about it! You will now be your kids' new art teacher and I'm sure they will appreciate all that you are doing!!
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