Fall Art Work

I have asked my classroom be allowed to have the specials of PE, Music, Library and Art.  This has been difficult for some of those working with my kiddos since they can be a bit more challenging than a regular education classroom.  I have had a couple of teachers really step up to this challenge. 

The one I want to mention in this particular post is one of my art teachers.  She has made activities that were perfect for my kiddos.  She has had multiple conversations with me and has been very open minded about what htey were going to do and how they were going to get it done.  Here are a few things that we came up with together regarding art:

1.  Art is about the journey, not about the destination. 

• The point of art for some of these kids is to build up tolerance of certain textures, smells, etc.   
• What you think the art piece is going to look like....well give up that idea.  They are going to make it look the way they want and it is going to be beautiful.

2.  Do not use two similiar items and have rules for one that are not rules for another.  An example of this is using shaving cream for the kids to draw in on the table.  If you use shaving cream then don't switch over to whip cream and tell the kids they can eat it.  This will simply confused them.  This also goes with regular play-doh and then introducing edible play-doh.  They can't see a difference and will try and eat the regular play-doh.

3.  Think outside the box.  The simpliest activities like stringing beads and rolling out playdoh can be great fine motor activities that can be very easily set up. 

4.  Be Flexible and HAVE FUN!!!  If you aren't having fun then they aren't either.  Monitor how they are doing.  They aren't going to like everything but if they like nothing....then readjust.  It's ok to adjust on the spot and make changes as you go. 

Here are a few of the projects my kids have done to this point:

Happy Spider (made of a top and pipe cleaners)

Spiders attached to spiderwebs (spiderwebs are string pushed through large foam boards)

Scarecrows and pumpkins

Turkeys

Fall trees (Trees already drawn, kids used q-tips to dot paint on then put on glitter)

Pumpkins

Tissue Paper Pumpkins

Just remember it is about the journey.  :-)

Overview

So this year I was provided a classroom that has 5 students in it.  2 are in kindergarten and 3 are in 3rd grade.  I was asked to take this classroom and set it up a bit blind.  I didn't know what I was getting into, I had an idea of a schedule (that has been changed about 4 times now) and I had an idea of what I wanted to do (all of which has gone into the trash)

The empty room...so much potential.

My circle area

The work spaces

General Calendar and Back room

Another view toward my desk and back room

Here was my classroom layout at the beginning of the year.  I will take updated pictures so you can see how things have adjusted a bit since then.

New Direction

So I have been thinking about this blog and how I want to use it.  I have noticed there is not a lot out there for classrooms that are self contained.  I am brand new to this whole thing of teaching a self contained classroom and I figured why not?  Why can't I start a blog regarding teaching in a self contained classroom.  It might give someone else ideas and also help me make connections that would help me as well. 

So here we go.

3.....2......1......let's learn!!!

Ready to Fly

So tomorrow is my last official day at my school. I am sad, excited, nervous, and many other feelings all at once. I am going to miss friends I have made although I will still see them in the district and work with them when they come to my new building. I just won't be there, in the building, as part of that family.

I am joining a new family, a bigger family, an unknown family. It will be ok. I know it will. I just have to begin and know that this is another door that has opened.

This is a beginning to a new journey and I am ready to fly.

Dreams

So last night I had a two part dream. Perhaps it was more just in two parts since they weren't really related in any way except for the fact that I was in both. They were both so vivid though that I woke up wondering if either or even both had happened.

Dream 1
This was is not as in depth as the second. I remember starting the dream in a gun fight of sorts. And the person I was with was The Rock. He was moving all Jason Bourne like and it was odd. I was running around with him as people fired on us. Then he got into hand to hand combat with this bad guy and ended up getting hit into a table. The bad guy then came after me and the Rock shot him. That was the first dream. Odd huh?

The last dream ended around 4 something this morning when I woke up suddenly. I turned back over and went back to sleep and this is what then happened.

Dream 2
I was at Disney World even though it didn't look like it. I just knew that is where I was. I was then suddenly in my own wedding but it was not a wedding where I knew the groom but one that had been arranged between my parents and his. I was at the alter waiting for him and then he came in a white tux. I don't remember much about him excet that he had spiked hair that seemed to be dyed blonde more than it's actual color.

Then suddenly the ceremony was over and I had to take part in this weird play outside in a gazebo that everyone in the ceremony could see. It was something about bringing me to meet the mother. My bridesmaids were there but it was his sister, her best friend, another girl and her best friend. The mother came around and looked at me and said "You will need to get all napkin choices approved by me."

I looked at her and told her "Any choices in my household will be made by me. You can have an opinion but that is about it." Then I walked off.

So those were my two dreams. Odd huh? I haven't seen anything with the Rock in it recently, especially not fighting like that. -laughs- Who knows? Dreams are odd and sometimes are just that....dreams. No meaning, no deep background....just dreams.

Ah well. Thought I would share. :-)

Inspiring

So I saw this picture on Reddit the other day and I now have it on my treadmill. I thought I would share.

On a similiar note I have not been walking. :-( Life has been getting in the way but I am bound and determined to do this. I will begin walking again tomorrow night. I just have to set my mind to it and "Just do it." hehe

Wish me luck.

And so it begins

Well I have been working on walking and for the past 2 weeks I have met my goal of walking 2 miles a week. "2 miles a week????" you say. Well yes. And from a couch potato getting my butt off the couch to walk is rough. But I did it.

Then this weekend my brother and I went on a long walk with Sam, his dog. The walk was about 2 miles long. I was winded and tired. Paul was not and this was embarrassing to me. It was hard to talk and walk and granted some of it was uphill and we were going rather quickly but still......not cool.

So we made a deal. We are both going to be walking 5 miles a week. That is a mile a night with the weekends off. Or every other night with an extra or 2 miles a night for 2 nights, one mile a night the other. The options are endless.

Either way I am serious this time. I am going to do this. And all the walking I do at work doesn't count. This is above and beyond what I walk at work. I am considering seeing if Angie, my friend, will walk with me one night so I get outside. Right now I have been walking on my treadmill although I have to say it really works for me. I am able to watch inspirational shows like "Dance Your A** Off" and "Too Fat for 15" and can feel myself pushing myself harder.

I want to do this!!! There have been rumors in my family that we are going back to Disney in 2 summers. When that comes around I want to be able to get on any ride I want and not worry that I won't fit. I want to sit on the plane and not worry about the people beside me having enough room or being able to fasten my seat belt.

I can do this and I will!!! Paul, my brother, is going to be my check in person, the one to make sure I stay honest and continue doing what I need to do. I am so excited!! I am going to push myself and this will happen. There are going to be tough moments, days when I am too tired but I am not going to give in. I am not lazy!! I won't be lazy. I am going to do this and I am going to succeed.

Wish me luck!! :-)