Classes, Classes and More Classes

This is the first time in my 10 year teaching career that I have been the only art teacher in the school and it's the first time that I am strictly an elementary art teacher. In the past I taught pre-school-8. At my first school there were three art teachers (10 total specials) and at my last school there were two of us (when started there were 11 total specials but our team was downsized to 6). In my current school, there are a total of three specials; art, music and p.e., the budget didn't allow for anymore specials. I can't complain, I am grateful to be employed. The P.E.and Music teachers are great!!!!! I really like them! I'm just sad that there classrooms are on the other side of the school building. I feel isolated sometimes.

This is also the first time that I am literally teaching the entire school, I have a total of 21 different classes, which equates to a three day rotation of seven classes. On Monday and Tuesday I teach the A schedule, Wednesday and Thursday I teach the B schedule and on Friday I teach the C schedule.

A Schedule                
Pre-School
Pre-K
Kindergarten
Planning
2nd grade
Lunch
3rd Grade (Class A)
3rd Grade (Class B)
3rd Grade (Class C)

B Schedule                

Pre-School

Pre-K

Kindergarten

Planning 

2nd grade

Lunch 

4th Grade (Class A)

4th Grade (Class B)

4th Grade (Class C)

C Schedule                  

Pre-K

1st  Grade

Kindergarten

Planning 

2nd grade

Lunch 

5th Grade (All Girls Class)

1st  Grade

5th Grade (All Boys Class)

Each class is 40 minutes with no transition periods in between. It's a tough schedule, but I really like teaching an entire grade level back to back. I get a lot of reteach/ teachable moments, in addition to practice. It works out really great, because my most challenging class are my last period classes and I have had two opportunities to work out all of the kinks in my delivery of the lesson. The most challenging day of my schedule is Friday. Besides the fact that I only see these students once a week, I have single gender 5th grade classes. I have been working really hard to plan for things that will interest them. They are both rambunctious groups of boys and girls. Please, pray for me.... I have to be honest, they are giving me the blues right now, especially the all boys class. It's at the end of the day and I have to find my last boost of energy to give them my all in order to keep them engaged.

New Year, New School

It's been a while since I've been on here. First, I must admit that I love my new school. It wasn't love at first sight but it's love none-the-less. The beginning of the school year was a busy one for me. In my previous post I decorated a pre-k classroom at my old school then I made decorations for my younger sister's 3rd grade classroom theme "A Recipe For 3rd Grade".

When I first moved into my room I was challenged with the fact that my new classroom is on the second floor and the elevator was broken so I had to lug all of my stuff up the stairs into my mess of a classroom.

In addition to all of my stuff the former art teacher left all of her teaching tool, (books, lesson plans, junk you name it) and a lot of the the furniture from the library was also in my classroom. It's a great room it's really bright and I have three sinks, two individual sinks and a large trough sink with three faucets. There is also a lot of storage space. 

The downside to the room is that I don't have real windows, my classroom overlooks the cafeteria and it's awkwardly shaped (there is a large pillar in an weird location). After several tries I finally got a classroom configuration. I miss having a promethean board but,  did I mention I have seven imac computers, three printers and six digital cameras?!?!!!! They are the highlight of my room!!!!! I am still trying to plan lessons so I can incorporate the use. Please share any ideas you may have.

I've made changes since I took these pictures (i will post the updates soon) and I just realized that I didn't take pictures of the back of the room. I used some command hooks and ran some clothes lines over the sinks and I turned my back whiteboard into a gallery wall. I also cot a second book shelf. One contains books about artists and art and the other contains the story books I use for my pre-k lessons.

Nursery Rhyme Themed Classroom Design

So it's back to school time!!!!!! I am actually a little excited about going back to work and starting my new year at my new school. It will definitely be a challenge and a change of pace. For the majority of my nine years of teaching I have taught both elementary and middle school. It is going to be interesting just teaching elementary art, I so do love middle school as crazy as it sounds.

So before I departed from my old school I promised one of the Pre-k teachers i would help her create a nursery rhyme themed classroom. So before I go and tackle the mess in my new room I have decided to decorate her room first.

Jack and Jill

Hey Diddle Diddle 

Little Miss. Muffet

Tee Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe

Baa Baa Black Sheep

This is going to be her data wall
"Climbing Up the Hill to Success"

"Hey Diddle Diddle"

Humpty Dumpty and The Old Lady Who Lives in a Shoe" 

I've never been good at saying goodbye.

I saw this quote on facebook and it pretty much sums up how I feel:

"The hardest thing to do is leaving your comfort zone...but you have to let go of the life you're familiar with and take the risk to live the life you dream about".

Today was the last day of school and June 18, 2012 will be my official last day of working at Friendship Public Charter Schools Chamberlain Campus. For the past seven years I've called Chamberlain my home. I've had a lot of ups and downs, met and worked with a lot of great people and really great kids. I truly enjoyed my experience and I am ready to move on to something new and explore the endless possibilities that God is affording me in my journey.

I thought the hardest thing I was going to face was saying bye to my students, especially the Majorettes, I really have bonded with the majority of my girls and I have seen them grow and blossom into young ladies. I didn't think I was going to be prepared for the tears but it went well. I reassured, I promised them that I would visit and that is a promise that I will keep. There were some tears, one of my students told me that it was ok because I could just come teach her art at her house.....how cute, I love that little girl.

The last day of school wasn't as hard as I thought it would be, I will admit I got a little teary eyed especially after my team members bought me roses, a card and a gift card.

My team Family, The Special's Department, I love these guys 

I got gifts from some of the other teachers/staff members and lots and lots of hugs. I think everything really set in as reality for me when I decided to send the staff a good bye e-mail (see below) and took my final pictures of my cleaned-up/empty classroom.


Good Afternoon Chamberlain Family!

It is with a heavy heart that I share this news with you all.  As many of you may know by now, I have accepted a Teaching Position at DCPS for the 2012-2013 school year.  It has been an interesting yet amazing 7 years here at Chamberlain. I have been blessed to watch our students grow and mature, as well as foster great working relationships with staff. It has been such a pleasure working with you all--I know that I will miss you all dearly, especially my Da Vinci house family. 

I thank those who have contributed to my professional growth and I credit Chamberlain for allowing me to exhibit my love of art and teaching.  

I wish each of you continued success, and I will forever cherish the experiences that I've had at Chamberlain.

I welcome you all to keep in contact, please feel free to reach via email or you can follow me on my blog http://thenewadventuresofoldmsb.blogspot.com/  where I will definitely update it with my new adventures and future projects. 


Much Love, 
Ms. B
Visual Arts Teacher

Classroom View A

Classroom View B

Classroom View C

Classroom View D

Classroom View E

 I left the paper up (per the principal's request), along with the school-wide expectations, consequences and core values. I also organized the supply closet and locked up the important things in the cabinets for the new teacher.

The messages my students left on my board.

All in all, I am truly excited for God has in store for me in this next chapter of life. Seven is the biblical year/number of completion and I believe my job at Chamberlain is done for now. God has always been good to me and I am trusting in him fully to lead me. At my church's woman's luncheon I was given a stanza of a poem to memorize and recite and it's amazing how it truly it resonates in my life.

"I am a worthy woman of God, I am creative because the one who leads me is not bound by sameness. He is the inventor/maker of Things New, therefore I am forever being changed from glory to glory"

I am looking forward to the fall, my new school, my classroom and 

The New Adventures of Old Ms. B........... the true reason I gave my blog its title.

2012 End of the Year Art Show

For the past seven years, the charter school I work for has a District Wide Fine Arts Festival. The art festival showcases the performing and visual arts from all of the 11 campuses. In addition to the arts there is free food, face painting, arts and crafts. It's a really fun family friendly event. This year it was combined with the Saturday program's closing ceremony so I got paid to be there (extra bonus!!!!!). My campus has been the host school for two years so I was relieved not to have to do so much work in organizing it this year.

Since I wasn't the host school this year, I decided to minimize my display. I bought 5ft foam board from Hobby Lobby and mounted my and the other art teacher in my building's student artwork on it. Then, I attached the foam together using foam hinges to create display panels. I displayed my art club's paintings on easels and the 8th grade painting and masks as well.

Unfortunately, I didn't take a camera with me to the festival to capture pictures of all the wonderful work from the District, so when I came to work today I displayed all the Art in the main lobby of my school building.  The display was to nice to just put away. Below are the pictures from the display at my school, enjoy!