I like the ability to take time over the summer to reflect on what worked, and tweak my curriculum. As I mentioned last week, I have been transferred back to the high school level. So whatever level of crazy this unpredictable year had in store for me, now feels magnified. I don't want to feel like I've wasted or squandered these precious days of leisurely planning at my own pace, so I started to think what can I do now, that will be helpful no matter what.
Here's what I came up with. Maybe it will help those of you spinning your wheels, wanting to take action, but feeling paralyzed with indecision.
1. Take inventory of your current classroom supplies:
My new principal allowed me a block of time to go in and see what the other teacher left behind. If you think you may be denied...you could try from the point of view that you are looking with fresh eyes on ways to save money. I used my phone and videotaped the entire room. Opening every drawer and cabinet.
2. Look for inspiration of new artists. Try following working artists, art museums, galleries and art schools, as well as art teachers on social media. I find searching and subscribing to tags of subject matter, technique or media yields better results than something like "artteachersofinsta" where many members seem to post the same content. Almost every art supply brand has free tutorials posted online.
3. Look through the supply catalog:
What materials would be helpful for fall. Imagine you had an unlimited budget and go crazy. When I'm looking through that bad boy in the summer...it's like making my Christmas wish list from the JC Penney Toy Book all over again. You can find ways to do it cheaper. Looking will give you the ideas and inspiration. Last week I found a series of videos from Strathmore when I saw they were offering "Educational sketchbooks with video links" in my cataglog. Do you have technology available for students to draw digitally? Now might be the time to do a "big ask" of your admin. Think of all the money they will save on sending home paper and markers by loading some quality software onto the ipads.
4. Take a class:
Watch that you tuber, try the free subscription to skillshare, join a supportive art-making group. It's good to cross-pollinate. Never done weaving? Try it. Want to learn photoshop even though you will never use it with your students? Give it a whirl. Need to jump to the next column on your pay matrix. Go get it! Watching how others teach adds to your pedagogical tool belt. I look at how online teachers are transitioning. How much talking and explaining. What scaffolding do they provide. It's still fun for me, but I'm also growing my art teacher skills.
5. Review standards with fresh eyes:
Look through your district approved curriculum guide, or in the absence of one, the national visual art standards. I like to make a checklist at the end of each year and go through my plans to see what what I've hit and where I need to do better. Many of us have been looking to see where we can be more inclusive with regards to BIPOC artists. Now is a great time to diversify your curriculum. When you find something you're missing, ask yourself if you can teach that content remotely. If you have to revise your lessons anyway use the time to work smarter. Here's my free K-5 checklist.
Take a look at the projects your students created this year. Use a hi-lighter or another system to code them. What skills can/must be done in classroom? What can be done with a paper packet? What needs video? What can be done from a cart? Even if you don't know what the year will look like, when you do, you have a list ready to go.
7. Cart shop:
Are you possibly on a cart? What does your dream cart look like? Will the school buy you one or do you have to upcycle a scary old clunker? Use this time to think about how you would retro-fit your cart(s). Not sure how to start the cart conversation with your admin? Here's a list I put together.
8. Kit planning:
Have you been instructed to make a care package of basic supplies? If not yet, chances are you might. What would it look like? What do they need. Can you find a local restaurant that gives crayons with meals? Would they be willing to donate some boxes for good publicity? Why not ask. If you promise to tag them on social media, with student artwork, it would probably be an easy decision for them. Is your district willing to put out a survey to find out what supplies kids have? Many districts do this for technology, but it would be great to include a few questions about who needs paper, scissors or crayons.
9. Videos
A few years ago when I started making videos, I found that I had more time, not less in my day. Record videos with the dual purpose of teaching remotely, and also saving your sanity when we're back in the classroom.
10. Prepare Your Online Classroom
Just as you would go in and set up your physical space over the summer, take some care to set up your online space. I'm not talking about spending 8 hours rearranging the furniture of your bitmoji classroom. Think of the set up and structure of Google Classroom, Schoology, Seesaw or other learning platform. This year artsonia is offering streamlined uploading connect to Google Classroom, but you have to set up your classes individually. If your district doesn't import them for you, this may take time. Think about what worked last year and what didn't. I have a free "how to attach files" cheat sheet for students because it was draining to type the same info over and over again. In this way, I could upload it and assign it to the students who claimed they had no idea how to load a picture of their work. Grab a copy here.
I know this sounds like a lot. And it is. For me, I know that none of these steps will be wasted time or energy. So instead of being sad or anxious that I don't know what to do to prepare, I'm doing the things I can. Did you know you can do 5 out of 10 of these items while binge-watching netflix and eating raw cookie dough? True Story.
What have you found to be helpful in planning for the new school year?
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