Keeping up with the Kaos: Creative Ideas to Prevent the Burn-Out.

Yes, it’s been a few months since I put up a post, and I’ve felt extremely guilty about it.  It just goes to show that a busy year can burn you out!  A lot has happened since I last posted…a trip to New York for NAEA, school-wide art projects, and not to mention the fun we’re having at home with a 3 ½ year old! 

Every year, I notice my busiest time is from January to April.  Since I travel, the bulk of my displays, shows, and kiln loading take up most of the time.  So yes, I apologize.  As a result of my collection of recent challenges, I would like to share with you some suggestions for making it through those times you don’t even feel like getting out of bed.  I would like to ask the question out there if you have your own ways of working through the challenging times, and what you would recommend for readers as well.  We’re all collaborating!

Follow your calendar.  In the beginning of the school year, I write everything down in my calendar.  I collect dates for displays, musicals, contests, and anything else that would be extra on top of my teaching.  Having it on paper and knowing how long I have when events come up have been a wonderful tool, and over time, I’ve been perfecting it.  I can’t deny that items pop up without me knowing, and as much as I want to gripe, if it’s in your job description, it must get done!

If the workload gets heavy , find a lesson that lightens the load.  One example of a lesson I’d like to share is the “Chihuly Flowers” I use with kindergarten (I give my friend Anne full credit for introducing me to this!).  All you need is coffee filters, markers, spray starch, tape, and plastic cups.  I printed out pictures of Dale Chihuly’s glass flower sculptures, talked about how glass is fragile, and explained how the students will make their own sculptures with paper.  Have a coffee filter already colored to show them how much the filter should be colored, and spray the filter over a plastic cup to have students watch the colors blend together  (the tape is to mark the students names on the cup so they can be re-used for other classes).  It’s a neat, one day/40 minute lesson that the kids love, and the kids take them home the next day.  It’s easy because it is affordable, takes up less space, and the teachers love it.  It’s easy because you’re pulling out fewer materials on a cart, and teachers can let the cups dry in their own classrooms.  There are plenty other lessons that are quick, and still have good objectives that fit a well-rounded curriculum. 

Learn how to say no.  I consider this a double-edged sword.  You are the go-to person for visuals in the school, but you also have your own curriculum to worry about.  If another colleague asks you for a display, or a prop, or visuals for their own program, think about what you have to do first.  I have a hard time saying no myself, but that’s also because I have a lot of pride in my work.  Over time, I thought of how I could accommodate many of the favors, and it goes back to my first main point with travelling:  communication.  If a co-worker asks for help, ask what it is they need, when they need it, and if the students are capable of doing it.  I am a huge fan of student involvement, which leads to my next point…

Get the students involved.  Students have a lot of pride in their own work and are more than willing to help out.  When school props are needed, I try to see what the students can do.  When students have ownership over their own work and work well with others, they gain more pride in themselves and in their school.  I encourage students to do more because I want them to see that they can make a difference.  It’s not that I don’t want to do the work…I’m still there guiding them.  I help them start the ideas and plan to framework of their designs.  Once the main shapes are started, the students take off with their own creativity.  I would like to share a recent idea in my next topic that was a great success.

Collaborate!  This past week, I collaborated with the school social worker for this month’s theme “Integrity.”  We worked together to pan a project around Earth Day, which gave many ideas for themes related to integrity, like caring for the environment, taking responsibility, and working together to keep the community clean.  My co-worker and I collaborated to plan the day, classes participating, and where to work.  At the end of the day, 22 classes created 8 foot wide paper murals that were hung around our school gym, and we ended with a gallery walk!  There were so many bonuses from this event: the students got to collaborate and work together on a theme, teachers worked together to plan meeting times and materials, it was a nice break from normal routines, and everyone included had so much pride in their work, not to mention an opportunity for a school-wide press release!

At the end of the school year, we’re tired and burnt.  Don’t lie, we all get that way even when we’re super motivated.  The key is to never give up, and always try new things.  You need to find ways to prevent the burn out, and spicing up the curriculum is a key motivator.  Don’t get tired of your job, even with travelling.  It’s a rewarding experience and I wouldn’t give it up for the world.  I hope my daughter has amazing creative experiences when she goes to elementary school!

Calling All Art Educators...Travelling, Classroom, and Cart Alike!

I've come across a study in art education that I feel is greatly important on the impact of student learning.

Heidi Lung is an art educator who is currently researching the practice of art on a cart.  She has developed a webpage to gather research and insight from fellow educators.  

Trading Classrooms for Carts: Investigations into the Practice of Art-on-a-Cart is a research study with the goal to better understand the challenges faced by art-on-a-cart educators and to identify successful strategies used in art-on-a-cart practice.  

This study aims to add to the body of art education research by providing insight for practitioners, school administrators, and policy makers by 1) accurately describing the art-on-a-cart phenomenon; 2) providing a better understanding of the applications of art-on-a-cart and its place in the field of arts education; and   3) identifying best practices

This research study seeks to describe the art-on-a-cart practice through the voices of practitioners.  Your experiences and stories of the elementary art-on-a cart practice is her focus. If you are an elementary art educator on a cart, she needs to hear from YOU!

If you are an art teacher in a traditional classroom and have practiced art-art-on-a-cart in the past, please feel free to contact Heidi Lung on her website. If you yourself have never practiced art-on-a-cart before, perhaps you know of someone currently teaching art-from-a-cart? Please feel free to direct them to the website.  Your participation is most appreciated!

Please visit http://artonacartresearch.com for more details and to sign up for the newsletter.

Becoming a "Master"

I’m now a master certified teacher!  Well…I don’t truly believe one can be a master of anything, especially when the world of art education is constantly evolving.  I’m still very eager to learn everything that’s offered for my students to enjoy their time in art.  

The trick is to keep up with the new ideas, innovations, and never give up.

So…I get to finally say I am now a National Board Certified Teacher!  After waiting a grueling weekend with the website down, I woke up early on a Sunday morning, hoping for internet on my smart phone, and voila!  The page says Congratulations!!!!  I’m extremely thankful for my co-workers, family, friends, and mentor who assisted me in the process.

It’s a unique feeling knowing I achieved a master level certification in Elementary Art, but there was quite a bit of hardship in the process.  I will never discourage anyone from going through the process of becoming an NBCT, but I will not hesitate to tell you it’s a lot of work.  It has changed my view on teaching quite a bit, and even when I’m giving a lesson, I cannot give a project without sharing with the students why it’s important for them to know what they’re doing but how it affects their skills in all that they do.

So what’s next?  My classes are still the most important priority in my career.  Fine tuning of projects, constant communication with parents and co-workers, and always finding ways to promote the arts with the community.

Are you willing to take the master challenge?

Learn How to Take it Easy

                                                (student drawings for our current fundraiser)

I bet you’re wondering why I haven’t written in awhile!  For the past week, I’ve been at home, on the couch, with major back pain.  All it took was me getting into the car.  When I sat in my car, I suddenly felt a pinched nerve in my lower back, and it grew worse later in the day.  I made it to work on Monday…barely (it was a half day), and when I came in Tuesday, I couldn’t take the pain anymore and I started crying five minutes before my first class.  I didn’t realize I was starting so soon, and when my principal saw how I was in pain, she sternly sent me home.  I was out of work for four days, going to the chiropractor, heat and ice, and it’s still hurting.

I went into work in pain because all I could think about was my lessons, meetings, and fundraiser.  I thought of the deadlines, and the student's projects, and the kiln.  I wasn't thinking that I could cause more damage to myself.

The moral of my story is…don’t push it.  As much as we want to give 100% to our jobs and prove how important we are in the core curriculum, we still need to know when to sit down before we hurt ourselves.  If you don’t, you’ll end up out of work longer than you wish.

Your overall health is more important than anything else, and if you’re not 100%, you’re not going to be able to perform your lessons as well as you can.  And pushing a cart?  You need to be in good shape.  If you throw your back out, forget it! 

So if you’re catching a cold, fighting the flu, or hurting your back, take the time that you need to heal.  In the long run, it’s better to miss a day or two than to be in the hospital with long term damage.

Knowing you're just as important as everyone else

Earlier this month, an article was shared that reminded me of what I had posted in my first blog…that the arts in education are still fighting to stay alive.  This paragraph caught my attention while reading:

“A fine arts education — including music, theater, drawing, painting, or sculpture — whether in practice or theory, has been a part of any well-rounded curriculum for decades — but that may be changing. Many schools today are cutting back or eliminating their art programs due to budget constraints. It is estimated that by the end of this year, more than 25% of public high schools will have completely dismantled them. These stats aren’t just bad news for teachers working in the arts. Numerous studies done over the past decade have demonstrated the amazing benefits of such an integral education facet. Students who don’t have access to art classes may not only miss out on a key creative outlet, but might also face greater difficulty mastering core subjects, higher dropout rates and more disciplinary problems.” (from online college’s 10 Salient Studies of the Arts in Education.)

When I look at the news about the arts being removed from more school districts every day, I stop to think about the fact that I not only have a job teaching what I love, but that my students are receiving a well-rounded education.  Travelling and cart pushing are two very tricky challenges to overcome, but when you look at the bigger picture, you are helping provide a creative environment for your students and training the next batch of right-brained thinkers.

You are important.  You help shape the creative element of your school.  You bring every inch of art history, culture, and design to your students through your curriculum.  You overcome your obstacles, reflect on your practice, and become a better teacher in the process.

Has someone complained about your cart being in the hallway?  Don’t worry about it.  You have what you need to educate the students in the arts, and you’re not in the way.

Someone complain about your space, or a little bit of mess left behind from paint?  No one’s perfect.  Be glad you are able to provide the students with that little bit of mess.

Did you forget something at another school?  Subside that frustration and be happy that you care to make sure your students receive everything they need for that lesson (and send an email to the teachers asking if they have the material you need…which I had to do today).

Where do you go when you need help?

In education, we are always learning while we’re teaching.  We search for the resources we need to have a complete lesson unit, or find ways to adapt our lessons in challenging situations.   There are multiple resources available in art education to help with what we need, yet when it comes to travelling to multiple schools or pushing a cart, those resources are trickier to find.  In most cases, it’s learning by doing.

If you find you’re in a situation with the travelling and need additional guidance, don’t hesitate to look for help.  Within your district, you may not be the only one in your situation.  Talk with those who travel and ask the questions needed to find solutions to those challenges.

 In the beginning, a mentor is a wonderful resource, and one you can turn to, even after your first years of teaching.   Even when you get the hang of pushing that cart, you may still need to ask questions a few years down the road.

While researching others who document their challenges and successes with travelling and teaching from cart, I have found some wonderful resources and educators who share their stories…some of which have even shared as a monthly mentor.  I would like to share some links with you that may help with finding others in your situation:

Back in March of 2009, Linda Devlin posted some advice about being on a cart.  The following link will lead you to her blog: http://naea.typepad.com/naea/2009/03/art-on-a-cart.html

In December 2010, Melissa Schaefer (NAEA’s current Student Chapter President-Elect) shared her insight as a first year teacher on a cart.  You can read her advice here:  http://naea.typepad.com/naea/2010/12/tales-of-the-first-year-as-art-on-a-cart.html

Another wonderful resource is by Becca Swanson, who posted a list of tips from a veteran art teacher on a cart here: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2671857/teaching_artonacart_organization_survival.html

Blogs are a wonderful way to follow challenges and successes with fellow art teachers.  While following a blog, you can receive updates on recent posts, comment on stories, and even gain some ideas in creating your own blog for future art educators.

The Art Teacher Blog Directory contains over 160 blogs focused on art education and lessons in the classroom.  Some blogs attached do focus on teaching from a cart or adapting lessons:

http://vividlayers.blogspot.com/p/art-teacher-blog-directory.html

The Art Teacher Cookbook is another great resource of gathered ideas and materials for creating a curriculum: http://artteachercookbook.blogspot.com/?spref=fb

The Creative Flamingo is another resource from an early professional perspective.  Many post focus on the extra duties on top of designing your curriculum!

http://creativeflamingo.blogspot.com/

We all have moments when we need to find help…with lesson ideas, classroom management, organization, or just finding an extra hand.  At times, you may feel that you’re alone…the fact is that you’re not.  Many teachers are in the same situation and are willing to offer advice to help you.  Just ask, and you will receive.

Being an Advocate while Traveling

If you’re travelling or stationary, you are one of the advocates for the arts in your school district…even if you feel tired and sluggish after a day of pushing the cart.  There are many ways to promote art within your school, and I would like to offer a few ideas to help promote creative thinking with your students, co-workers, community.  Even if your load feels full, you can still promote your curriculum in many ways.

Cross-Curricular Lessons

When you can fit it into your curriculum, it’s a wonderful partnership when you combine lessons with another teacher.  In doing so, you are re-enforcing the objectives of the lesson, and students have fun in the process.  One example of a cross-curricular lesson was with a 2^nd grade class.  The school’s reading night’s theme was “oceans,” and the students were learning about ocean life prior to the special night.  

During the study of ocean life, I introduced different kinds of fish to the students and had them create different types of fish that were made 3-dimensional.  When finished, the fish decorated the gym while students and parents enjoyed the ocean life decorations during reading night.  

Another way to combine lessons is to create lessons inspired by the social studies curriculum.  Prehistoric, Egyptian, Greek, and Renaissance history provide a rich amount of knowledge for the students in the general and creative environment.

Share your Professional Development with the Administration:

If you’ve recently attended a state or national conference, try to squeeze in writing a report about what you visited and what you plan to include into your curriculum.  In doing so, you are showing your willingness to improve your methods of teaching, as well as staying on top of recent trends in art education.  As an overachiever, I knew that I would be busy once I returned from the Seattle conference early this year, so I typed a report on the plane!  Everyone has their own way of documenting their conference experiences.  Another way to share your recent adventures is by creating new lessons to share with the students, and adapting your lessons to your travelling or cart situation. 

 

Promote the Arts with Parents and Guardians  

This can be tricky, especially when you’re not at the same school every day.  I like to begin the school year by creating a “wishlist” of items parents and guardians can donate from home.  Each homeroom teacher has their own list, but not every school has a supply list for art.  In my wishlist, I request simple things I overuse, such as paper plates, handiwipes, and newspaper.  Throughout the school year, I can receive items from parents, and it’s been a HUGE help.  

During open house time, I also created a flier that can be given to parents at all three school.  Within the flier, I give an introduction to myself, the art curriculum, and Eisner’s “Top 10 List” of what the arts teach.  Every year, more and more parents come into the art room to say hello and visit the displays, and more compliments are given from the schools I travel to.   

Another way to promote the arts with parents is by inviting them to your space.  If you have any after school art activities, throw a mini art show for an hour after school.  It’s easy to set up, quick to take down, and parents love the visit!

Ways to Amaze the Community

Are there local businesses that would love to display student work?  How about the village hall?  With networking, you can easily stop by a local business to create a little display of student work for the community.

During the school district board meetings, ask if you can display your student’s work.  The meetings are public, and attendees love to see the student work!  It’s also another boost of recognition by the board members.

Make room in your curriculum for local art contests.  In doing so, you are sharing your student’s talents with the community!

Everything above requires a little extra work, but it’s well worth it in the end.  As previously noted in pros and cons, the more work that’s displayed by your students, the more the community recognize the hard work that you do.