First Week of the Second Trimester

Monday was the start of a new trimester. That means I get a whole new group of students for 12 weeks. I looked at my rosters and over 90% of my classes are male, and there is 25 to 30 students in my classes.
Let's just say that my head was spinning the first couple of days of the trimester. I am getting used to the dynamic, but it is different than having a class full of girls. I did threaten death upon them if they damaged my newly covered tables and soldering station. One of my classroom rules is no food and drink, but only water with a cap in the class. One of the students walks in the room with a tall cup of hot chocolate and when I got to that rule I walked over grabbed his cup and emptied it in the sink, and said I hope this is the only time I have to do this. Well it wasn't, I had to do 2 more times in different classes. So hopefully I was mean enough this week that I can lighten up.

I am doing it again!

I have been staying after to long! Thursday are my long days, because I meet with the Art Club and if I can get it to pass the "Anime" Club. The school would like to have a verity of students to have a voice within the student government. A lot of the students that would or will join the "Anime" Club normally don't have a voice. I am willing to be club supervisor for these students, but I have to write a proposal for who ever to vote on it. That is on my list of things to do tomorrow at school.
I am excited for this week of school becasue we only have 2 1/2 days of school, and than it is UEA weekend!

Mount Tuk

I had the privilege of accompanying the Outdoor Ed class on a field trip. Monday night, it was night for me because I was taking up 2 football players, we camped at Medicine Lake. Then early Tuesday morning we hiked up Mount Tuk.

I was suppose to leave at 5:30 pm from the high school, but I did not leave until 6:15 pm. The football practice went over so I had to wait. Not only did we gett a late start we have to stop at one of the student's homes to pick up his camping gear. I was thinking the whole time that I could of went to the store to buy some cheese and fruit.

I had never been to this part of the mountains and was asking the students if they know where Medicine Lake was. One of them pipes up and says he does. I was vaguely following the direction and asking a lot of questions. We ended up taking a 45 minute extra drive then needed. We did not get to camp until 8:30 pm! I was hungry and so were the boys. Lucky for me my dinner was already made.

As the night wears on the kids keep a talking and at 11 pm we told them it was time for bed. Then about 2 am some of the students wake up to the coyotes yippin'. They got a little scared and built a fire to warn off the coyotes. I thought it was quit funny.

Needless to say the hike was beautiful and worth the sleepless night.

Sunrise at the base of Tuk.

The morning sun on the peak across from Tuk.

The last part of the hike up the slippery shale to the 12700 feet peak.

One of the views from the peak.

The descent from the saddle.

It is finally done!

Well I finally finished the Art Club's LA Trip Slide show. It is a little long, but the students had a great time. I see some of them around town and they still talk about it.

I hope you will enjoy.

Scrap that other blog.

I have figured out how to change some stuff on my oringal blog so I don't have to open another. Here is what I posted.
I am learning that school starts way before August 21st, the first day of school for the students. After just walking in a week before school started last year, I wanted to be more prepared.
I started cleaning the day school let out. I organized, painted walls, ordered supplies, came up with different assignments, went to a SPYHOP workshop, and rearranged my classroom. That was in between the time of river guiding and a mountain bike tour.
Although I did have fun and spent a week in New York and Connecticut. I will be posting my week long adventure with my newly learned skills of film making.
My first trimester schedule is busy.
1st - sculpture
2nd -jewelry/craft
3rd - A/P Art, Studio Art, and Commercial Art
4th - Prep
5th - painting
This means I have 6 classes to prepare for and only 1 prep time.
My goal this trimester is to be out of the classroom by 3p.m. 4 days a week. I will only let myself have 1 late day a week. The rest is to better serve the community and me.

The second year has begun

I have started a new blog called the "The Adventure of the Second Year Art Teacher".  This will continue my chronicles of being an art teacher.

Spending more time out side of school.

Lately I have been getting my work done quickly, so that I can go out exploring. It has been harder to stay inside, because of the Spring Blossoms and perfect temperature. Everyday a teacher has a count down of how many school days are left. The teachers want to get out just as bad as the students do. Right now I am supplementing it by exploring the area after school.