Yummy Indulgence

Flea was a success! My favorite find is this warm, cozy headband from Luvasis. I got the dark grey one. (fit my mood) Although Luvasis sells the yarn with instructions to knit one yourself, I was in no mood to do all that handiwork. So I spent a few dollars more and bought the ready made one. Nothing wrong with a little indulgence every once in a while :)

Off to DUMBO

This morning I am finally making my way to the Brooklyn Flea in DUMBO. After talking about going for months, Gloria (6th grade art teacher) and I are heading over there. Regretfully it has been months since I've browsed and wandered through a good flea market. I woke up super early this morning jittery so I ate breakfast and checked my email. Now I am anxiously awaiting Gloria's phone call ready to go.

Yay it's a beautiful early November fall day!

Can't wait to explore: People watching. Food eating. Stuff buying.

On a side note, I am officially admitting I have a Cracker Addiction. I thought it was under control, but I realize that I am not satisfied at any meal with out a pack of Melba Toast at my side. I can thank my mom who introduced me to this habit. My goal for this week will be to limit my cracker intake for three per day. (OMG) Intimidating, yes. But I need a good challenge.

Project Funded

This week started out as it always does: challenging. It put a damper on my mood (the soggy weather was no help). However when I checked my email Tuesday morning a little twinkle grew in my eye. Thinking I was all out of luck, I felt elated when I saw a Gmail email from Donorschoose.org

Thanks to this wonderful website I am a proud owner of an Epson LCD projector! Completely amazing. I no longer have to request that math leads, science geeks, and english snobs lend me theirs. Finally our art department has the resources it deserves. Donorschoose.org is a website dedicated to getting students in need resources for classrooms. Teachers, can apply to recieve donations materials and resources for their students. Generous donors contribute money to fill teachers requests. From the graciousness of an anonymous donor, and HP, and love from friends and family I am happy to say that Project our Room with Art is a fully funded project!

I encourage tremendous support for this website. Its mission amazes me!

Changing Snapshots

Photography. How I love it so. Too long since I've snapped any (the summer in Morocco and Israel). Not sure why I let the things I care about slip away but will never forget about the trivial things -watching tv, snacking, and interneting. This week in my classroom photography took precidence. At the beginning of the year I asked the students to bring in images of themselves when they were younger. Of course these twelve year olds were super excited - how could not be? Weren't they the most adorable creatures ever? Serious competition. Anyway at that point in September I wasn't sure what lesson I would use them for, but thought no matter what snapshots of themselves will get them hooked.

After making sure EvERyone brought at least one in (not an easy task) finally we began the project. I quickly realized that actually the assignment is more interesting without the photos and with imagination: Showing change. What's one thing about yourself that has changed since you were younger and how will it change in the future? In four separate squares of paper the students drew how an interest or a part of their appearance looked like or will look like at different stages of their life. Amazing ow they view themselves in their changing world.

So what about photography? Well without camera we used the same compositional techniques and strategies applied to creating interesting photographs. Our big vocabulary word was magnify.

Aside from the constant complaints about writing my students seem really happy with their own work.

Classroom community is expanding :)

Darkness of Monday Mornings

Mondays never seem to get any easier. This morning I woke up startled by a strange beeping sound. A few seconds later I realized that this is my alarm clock and it is ringing the same noise I hear every morning. I know that leaving my warm, snugly bed before it's light out will never get easy, but cold, damp Monday mornings are painful.

My week ends so sweetly that each week when I head back to school I almost forget my routine. Just like my students, I too need a day to adjust back to the order. Unfortunately an adjustment period is not included in my contract. After a morning of trying to reacquaint myself with my teaching job, and attending a weekly faculty meeting, my Monday Headache kicks in. I can't quite figure out if it is a Caffeine/Sleep Deprived Headache, a My Students are Talking Louder than I can Remember Headache, or if (as I frequently think) an I'm Hungry Headache. Regardless the cause, the pain in my forehead doesn't go away until well after I've run out the front door and am sitting in a downtown subway car.

Slowly the reality of year two is settling in, but for now, all I can think is "four more days left"!

Peaceful thoughts reminding me of Friday 2:32 PM.

Why Grade?

Grading this year is so easy. Last year (my experimental year) I picked apart each project and its process while assessing and assigning each one a "number". Looking over my students work this week, I realized that so many fall in line exactly with the projects guidelines. Maybe I'm less strict. Maybe I'm a better teacher. Or maybe I'm starting to really see their strengths more. Whatever it is I'm happier, they are smilier. Still not sure what role assessment plays in the arts or how it helps my kids grow. But for inner city middle schoolers accountability is crucial. Regardless confidence is blooming as the leaves are falling. Happy autumn!

It's about time I take down my sweaters and put on some socks :)

Only Wednesday

Yes it is Wednesday but I have walked around all day assuming tomorrow will be Friday. Happens every week. My Friday teaching schedule is so amazing that I can't help anticipating it super early. (Teach from 8:45-11:45 and the entire afternoon is left free to my desires.) Well since there are still two days left in the week I guess I need to get back into teacher productive mode and consider what my students can accomplish.

Amazingly my seventh graders this year are super motivated, enthusiastic, and competitive. If I had my way I would make everything into a competition! My excitement is written all over my face and I can't help but smile at their achievements. Yes I know it's been less than a month since school started and I shouldn't get ahead of myself, but wow, what a difference a year makes. Last year at this time I was just trying to get my students to do something - anything, during our forty minute period, without breaking into a sweat, freaking out, or yelling about it. One year? One year, and I feel like a different person. Instead of walking in the classroom intimidated by the thought of what the kids might throw at me (literally) they know what is expected. I smile and I laugh, something that didn't enter my mind until way into February of last year.

giggle, giggle, laugh, laugh,
Yay for year two!

The Eve

Tonight marks the eve of Yom Kippur, if you are a Jew (or non) I'm sure you are aware that the next 25 hours will be as holy as it gets. No eating, no leather shoes, no showering, no personal relations, no personal grooming and lots, lots, lots, of praying for forgiveness. I guess it takes a whole year for us to recognize that maybe we do make mistakes. That maybe our selfish deeds hurt others and that yes we are judged for it all. Growing up in an observant Jewish household, Yom Kippur was never taken lightly. We always went to synagogue on time, prayed, and pounded our hearts to atone our actions and amend for the future. Year after year the same questions arise; how do we know if we are forgiven? How do we know if the year's judgement is truly complete? And why do I always feel exactly the same once this momentous day is over? I offer this one idea I have recently contemplated. Maybe it is not Gd who is judging us and clearing our souls of all evil thoughts and actions. Rather the possibility that we use this day as a time for our community to come together, acknowledge our imperfect doings and begin a new year together.

I will say though that as I contemplate my judgement, my fellow educators have the day off for themselves. Jealousy. To be a jew or not to be? Not an easy question to answer, but I guess for now I will go with what I know best. In just a few hours I'll put on my canvas shoes, walk to synagogue, and pray for this day to pass so that I can continue doing what I do. Teaching, eating, and practicing yoga!

For all of you who know how hard abstinence is: G'mar Tov :)