New Kids on the Block

Well, only a few days until we start back - to meetings that is...This year our school will have several new teachers joining our staff. Although I don't know much about them yet, I imagine that some will be 'baby' teachers (brand new to our profession), some will be transfers from within District and others may be new to our state.

Make your newbies welcome - ask how they're doing on a regular basis, offer help when they need it, and let them know when they're doing well. Although it was a long time ago, I still remember what it was like to be the new kid on the block..."Where is the...", "How do I find...", "I can't get this to work. Can you help?" Sometimes I didn't even know enough to know what to ask! Just watch for that 'deer in the headlights' look - that's your cue to step up and lend a hand. Sometimes all they need is a shoulder to lean on or a listening ear.

If you are one of those newbies, know that we've all have been where you are now. We don't expect you to know everything. We do expect you to let us know if you need/want something. We expect you to be open to new ideas and the ways of our building. During your first year watch, listen and share. Be cautious when sharing with us how you've done something previously - by all means please share successful methods that you've used in the past but do it respectfully, not as a know-it-all.

As an art teacher, it's important to establish a relationship with each of your classroom teachers for the benefit of your students. Those teachers will be a wealth of knowledge for you when you're experiencing difficulties / successes with your kids. They should have the most recent & accurate phone numbers for Mom and Dad, particulars on the family situation (divorced, step parents, siblings, etc) and behavior techniques that you can reinforce in your room if they are not responding to your cues. Be sure and relay your concerns with them on a regular basis.

Once you've been around a while like I have, the knowledge can flow in reverse to those new teachers who don't have the life history of their kids like you do - who missed a month of school last May because of an appendectomy, whose sibling died in a car crash over the summer, or whose parent was arrested & jailed for domestic violence. Not to mention the student whose one saving grace in school is his/her art talent or musical ability or sports prowess. Those 'pieces of the puzzle' are often absent from permanent record files and are priceless bits of information to understanding the whole student.

Good luck on your first week!

Oh No!

My favorite back-to-school shopping spot, Treasures 4 Teachers, suffered damage in a recent storm here. During a downpour, the wind peeled back a portion of the roof and all the water poured inside! According to news reports, they suffered $30,000 - $40,000 worth of damage and will have to move to a new location.

I was fortunate to go on a buying trip there with a colleague just a few weeks ago. In case you missed a previous blog on this wonderful place, the store is a donation center receiving goods from both individuals and businesses. Teachers pay a yearly membership fee and have access to everything at reduced (ie: indecently cheap) prices or FREE!

We found business cards that are large enough for artists trading cards (good call J!) so I grabbed half a bagful. Some black & white fabric remnants from Ikea, 'new baby' greeting cards (we have about 3 baby showers coming up at school this fall & the potential for more), a paperback read-a-loud book featuring desert animals/reptiles for my sister (the school librarian) back home in Iowa, padded 9 x 12 manila mailing envelopes, 9 x 12 regular manila envelopes, numerous business envelopes (for saving small student project pieces), a denim bag that will hold my 12" x 18" projects when I have to take them home to grade, a few free posters to bribe my classroom teachers with, metal file folder sorters to hold my many drawing books, printed certificate papers for our awards assembly next spring, and some odds & ends. All this for about $13. J filled 3 cartfuls - mostly 5" dia. cardboard tubes for future sculptures so had a higher total but most of what we bought either fit in to a bag - fill a bag for $5 - or was free!!

I hope they will be up & running soon! Follow the latest and get great ideas on their Facebook page.