Back to school in the "New Year"

during winter break, I visited the SPEED Art Museum in Louisville, KY

​Happy New Year

"I decided that this year, I will change my perception and think of winter as a time to rest, recharge, and prepare for spring."

Recently I noticed articles and posts that shared how January 1st was not always meant to be the start of the new year. Many cultures celebrate in March, after the vernal equinox, which marks the beginning of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. This got me thinking about how I frame the passage of time, and my experience with typical New Year traditions. I previously posted about not being great at making New Year's resolutions.

Winter has always been a difficult season for me. I don't particularly enjoy the cold temperatures, despite living in the Midwest. The days are gray, and without much sunlight. When the sun is out, I often miss it while I'm at work. Early in my career, I noticed that almost every February without fail, I applied for a new job. (I discovered this because online applications like AppliTrack would tell me the date that I last logged in).

I decided that this year, I will change my perception and think of winter as a time to rest, recharge, and prepare for spring. As I shared in my last post, I feel the need to make a career change. I plan to spend the next few months seeking out and preparing for new opportunities. My eyes are set on this spring to make some big changes.

Back to Work, Back to Basics

I came to work on Monday and had a pretty great first day back. I began each class with a review of expectations and consequences. I added one new expectation after break: that students will begin cleaning up 10 minutes before the bell, instead of only 5 minutes.

Right now, there are two reasons for implementing this change. One, many students have trouble pausing on their work, and try to work "just one more minute." This means they hold off on the cleaning up part, and then inevitably the bell will ring, and they leave the room a mess for my next class. 

The other reason is that many of my classes are just terrible at cleaning up in general. This extra few minutes built in will allow me a chance to make sure things are put away properly, and also model the correct way to clean our supplies. I think some of my students have forgotten the proper procedures, and some may simply not know. This gives me a few extra minutes to help them.

I also made a deal with each class that whatever leftover time they have after PROPERLY cleaning up, they can use as a social time to visit with classmates who may not sit at their table. They really liked this idea, and at least for this first day, it really motivated students to clean up more efficiently. 

Starting New Units this Month

Here's a rundown of what each grade level is working on this month. I also recorded a new reel explaining some of these projects on Instagram. Check it out @mrdewildeart.

K/1: Elements of Art: Space - Students will create collages using geometric and organic shapes.
2/3: Modern Art History: Sonia Delaunay - Students will create watercolor paintings using concentric circles.
4/5: Non-Western Art History: Chinese New Year - Students will create 3D monsters inspired by the Legend of Nian
6: Ancient Civilizations + Contemporary Examples: Mayan - Students will create their own glyphs in metal repousse.
7: Careers in Art: Illustrators - Students will illustrate logos and menus for their own donut shop, inspired by the work of Adam Bertels.
8: Skills and Techniques: Watercolor - Students will practice mixing colors, blending techniques, and creating gradients.

Starting Anew in Spring

"Someone once told me that "true growth comes from discomfort." Right now I'm working through that discomfort to figure out what's next."

This winter, I plan to focus my energy on what I love most about teaching: creating inclusive curriculum and helping my students grow. Beyond that, I will give less attention to school initiatives that are out of my control. I want to use these next few months as a time to strengthen my skills and passion for teaching, so that I am prepared to take on new opportunities this spring.

Someone once told me that "true growth comes from discomfort." Right now I'm working through that discomfort to figure out what's next. I've taken the necessary time to consider alternative paths for my career, and ways that I may grow as an art educator. I'm excited for new possibilities and challenges in the near future!

David Gate, a poet and writer, shared:
​
"I do not plan to start anew
in January
that is for spring
this is the night
in the dead of winter
where I pare back excess
to reach the bones of my life
so when I am reborn
I am reborn as only
​my most essential nature"