the end is near

We have 18 days of classes left:  5 this week, 5 the next, 4 the following and 4 the last, because Parent/Teacher interviews on May 9th and exams that start on May 20th.

This doesn't include random field trips, which are scheduled for: April 29th, May 3rd, May 5th, and May 6th.

And there is a choir concert on May 13th!

Today is Saturday, a little after 2pm.

I rolled myself out of bed this morning around 6:45am, and since then have only cleaned the bathroom, gone for groceries, had a nap, and made lunch (lunch was reheated leftovers...it wasn't so much a "make" as an "open the fridge and toss it in the microwave!")

I do not have any planning to do today as the students are all completing projects that they started last week.

I have marking GALORE...but can't bring myself to do it. I finished two projects. They both got the same mark. I'm debating giving them all 94% and calling it a day!  But...that would make me a HORRIBLE teacher. *cough*

My job over the next 4 weeks is to keep the students busy and motivated!  While I myself have no urge to be busy nor motivated. When the bell rings at 7:30am, the kids look up at me with eyes that are so indignant - so I plaster a fake smile on my face and do a little "it's art class in the morning!" dance and pass out their sketchbooks and make them begin their warm-up assignments.  Don't worry, it's only fake for a moment...the ridiculousness of the fake smile and the entire situation makes me laugh a real laugh and the kids wonder when I became crazy.

But they show a little more effort.

This week Art 2 is finishing their Pseudo-Murals - paintings on large pieces of foam core, instead of the wall, since I didn't get it approved early enough and it just makes sense.  They look fantastic already.  I’ll post pictures when they’re done. They’ll be way better than the “Bicassos” painted around our school :) Because my girls are awesome.

This week Art 1 is doing a perspective project I call the "Dream Room" – and I will be SO HAPPY when perspective is over.  I love it, but it's probably the hardest thing they'll do all semester and it's as enjoyable for everyone as having their teeth pulled.

Both classes start doing sculpture next week - Art 2 will be making life-sized tape people - using their classmates as moulds!  After that, I have no idea. The best part about teaching 8 students is that the smarter ones are motivated enough to think of their own creative ideas for the class that I just need to help bring to fruition.

Art 1 starts with printmaking, followed by paper mache, followed by salt ceramic dough (if I can find a large enough vat of corn starch).

And everyone makes buttons/flare on the last day of class.

Is it really the last month of school? I have to admit that back in September, I never thought I'd make it through the year. 

But here we are.

Year three, coming to a close.

These pictures are from the beginning of the year, when we first saw the school.  Before we knew what awaited us. 

Where does the time go?

Alright, time to mark. My new goal is to finish marking all of their collages.  That’s just one assignment. Tomorrow: another. Baby steps to self-motivation!