Sweet SIXTEEN!

Sixteen years of teaching this year! How did that happen so fast??? I guess time really does fly when you're having fun!  The 2015-2016 school year is under way here, and I had planned on being back at blogging before now, but ya know, LIFE happens.  And new internet filters at school.  That block E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G, so here's to hoping that that gets fixed sooner rather than later, because if I can only blog from home, a lot less blogging will be happenin'.  Just keeping it real/honest!
Sooooo, one would think that after this many years I'd have some sort of handle on this art teachin' thing, but alas, I overslept the first day of school (by 20 minutes) and had decided late the night before to change much of what I'd planned, meaning I had to cut loads-o-paper and change everything out at the last minute. Why would I do that?  I blame Arts & Activities.  Anyone see the collaborative lesson in the September 2015 issue? LOVE! You can see the lesson specifics in the magazine (and I changed it a bit, giving students a circle to color and then cut), but here's some of my student work:

Sorry for the wonky angle, I was in a rush.

I'm still on the lookout for a great display area for our collaborative piece (maybe the cafeteria).  I do have to say that it worked perfectly with my 2nd-6th graders: it took up the exact right amount of time after my first-time-in-art schpeal that I give 21 times (once to each class).  OK, I'm lying--I don't give the schpeal anymore, it's on a Smart Notebook file and all I do is press a few buttons have the students press on the Smartboard to hear my voice.  I'll try to get a photo when it's all up and glamorous looking.

I had also planned on blogging about the last bit of kitchen renovation I did, but the aforementioned LIFE (and some summer laziness) got in the way.  I didn't take a "before" photo, but picture blue mini blinds circa 1989.  Now add faded, sticky and dusty to that mental image.  Got it?  Today that same window looks like this:

Or like this:

That's a beautiful roman shade, friends!  Using the gross innards of another set of 1989 mini blinds (I would've used the blue ones but didn't think of it until long after they were trashed and I'd started buying supplies and got a bit of sticker shock).  If you can sew a rectangle, this is an easy project (thank you YouTube!) Here's some photos of the project in process (most without words because PICTURES and ART TEACHERS):

Sticky-back velcro on the top

Cutting only the bottom to get all the blinds off
(but you need the string parts).

Didn't want to look at faded pink from my deck, so a paintin' we did.

Backed with white heavy-ish fabric.

You're welcome for the photos of my carpet, too!  

It's going to be a great school year, the sixteenth year has to be SWEET, right?! It's like a teacher law or something!