Wow Wednesday

SO many things have been happening I will try to sum up... On Wednesday I was able to meet with a volunteer art teacher that is working at the alternative high school here in Marquette. She is currently teaching k-5 art classes (ONLY 7 a day?!) at a local school and she volunteers her time at MAHS to create a temporary art program. Currently the teacher allows the students to work with whatever media they like and sometimes creates structured projects. The students can only attend the art hour if their grades are where they should be and if their free period is not taken up by something else.
Here's some snapshots of the art room - THE COMPLETELY UNINHABITED ART ROOM. I really want to work here in the future.. but the art program is non-existent. Projects, projects, projects..

so much potential! storage, supplies.. ahhhh!

I helped a student create a slab 'plate'. 

Students had to add feet to the bottom and they could use it as a candle holder or bowl - or pretty much anything else they wanted! It was fun to see the different designs students came up with to decorate the slabs - I couldn't snap the pictures before they were prepared for firing, unfortunately. Maybe next time :)

The volunteer had to leave to go teach her students and she asked me to organize the art room. She was given an amount of money for supplies - and she has definitely utilized it to the utmost! I had to unpack and organize a shipment of art supplies throughout the room. The art room is being utilized by other teachers right now so I had to make sure things were labeled and organization was obvious. Good thing I get some kind of sick satisfaction out of organizing things, eh?

Craft supplies, weaving, embroidery, yarn scraps and skeins... and sand art. Oh man.

calligraphy, ink pens and nibs, crayons, colored pencils,
fabric scraps (for wrapping ceramics), other basic art supplies

From this view.. it looks like I could be the teacher. Maybe, someday :)

I am hoping to work with the volunteer teacher and my Special Needs class teacher to develop more in-depth and structured lessons in the coming semester. I have already set aside chunks of time to visit the school and work with the kids! We'll see how it goes :) Currently there are 5 or six students attending at a time; I would hope to increase those numbers and maybe even establish a regular art program. It's a big dream to have, but I think it's doable with the right help and plans. Right now they have one hour of art each Wednesday and it's obvious the students want much more than that. Next semester is going to be very interesting...

The next post is about one of the coolest, if not the coolest, things I have done all semester. Skyping with students in Ghana!

Stay tuned

Ms. K