My kingdom for a classroom...

First of all, I know there are tons of Art teachers who have been teaching for years from a cart. I honestly don't know how you all have done it for so long. To say it's exhausting might easily be the grandest understatement I've ever made.

I've had amazing support from the parents at my school, though. I shied away from painting with my young artists for the first month, uncertain how to organize and manage all of the materials and set up/clean up involved in such an endeavor. I must say that, with the help of my awesome parent volunteers, I've become quite the art cart painting pro. I still carefully plan each lesson with regard to materials and how to manage them in the time (40 min) and space available, but the thought of setting up a class of 24 students to paint in what essentially turns into 10-15 minutes by the time set-up and clean-up are factored in, doesn't terrify me anymore.

As I predicted, my organization skills have improved to a degree that shocks even me (though you wouldn't know it by looking at my "desk"...the other Specials teachers and I share an office space in what was a science lab in its former life.)

My corner of the Specials office. I sit on the other side with
my back to the shelves. This was taken a while back,
so there's even more stuff now.

I must admit, though, that in spite of this cart business not yet driving me to a thumb-sucking fetal position, I would do nearly anything to have a classroom again. Art requires SPACE, and that's one thing I don't have.

I feel so limited in the projects that I do with my kids...everything has to be portable. I do actually paint quite often, but I stay far away from materials-intensive collage or anything else that requires small pieces and lots of clean-up. I papier-mached with my 6th graders last semester, and I don't think I'll be doing that again until I have a classroom.

3rd grade students working on still life drawings in
preparation for Matisse-inspired Fauvist collages.
Drawing classes are definitely the easiest logistically,
though it was tricky to find a suitable location in each
class to set up the still life. 

The most frustrating part of cart teaching is that I feel like it takes so much longer to complete projects. Something that should take 2 or 3 classes at most ends up taking 4 or 5, because of set-up and clean-up. I also generally use one full class to introduce a topic, including artist and art history background, which I would normally just do at the start of a studio class in which all materials are set up and ready for use as soon as students walk in and sit down.

I've found that there are more discipline problems when the students stay in their own classroom, as well. Anyone else feel that way? It's like walking into someone else's home and telling them to stop what they're doing, forget how things normally work in their home, and do things your way for a while. Oh, and by the way, I'm going to need to rearrange all of your furniture first; but don't worry, I'll put it back. I miss being able to define my own space, set up the desks/tables in a way that is efficient for art-making, have things available if students need additional materials or if a few finish early, and not having to set up and clean up the entire room six times a day. 

A completed Fauvist still life collage. 5 classes =
1. Background on Matisse and the Fauvists,
2. Drawing the still life (and discussing line quality,
composition, etc.), 3. Coloring the still life
(crayons/colored pencils - some students started
this in class 2), 4. Dividing the background
space and painting, 5. Adding pattern to
background (crayons/colored pencils) and cutting
out/pasting still life to background.  

I forget things now and then, too, haha. I have a couple of students in each class who know where my office is and where I keep things, so when I walk out without the extra pastels or glue sticks I meant to put on the cart, I just send someone back for them.

I'll stop complaining now. :)  I really am so grateful to be able to continue teaching Art...that's something that was very uncertain last year when all but about 40 Art teachers in my county were laid off (there were over 200). And at least I won't have a classroom to pack up this year.
 
If there are any cart teachers still reading this, I'd love to know how you manage the materials and time. I'm doing okay, but I'm never opposed to suggestions!

Really...I've been here all along...

Oh my. Well, my intention when I created this blog space last year was to provide project and class updates for parents and to join the myriad art teachers who share their inspiring classrooms online. And while my intention was noble, my follow-through has been less than. I got through the second semester of last year fairly well. Summer, too, for that matter. Then the new year began...new school, a cart and 27 classrooms instead of one art room, tons of paper work, new grading system, and a very early bed time. Also, I was asked not to share my blog with parents this year because it's not a school-run site and not part of our school's web site. So anyway, I swear I've just now started to feel as though I can breathe and begin to process this year. And it's over in three months.

I do want to keep the blog; I really like having a visual record of things I'm doing in class. But the blog needs redefining...it's become a catch-all...projects, ideas, research, ramblings, my work (just started participating in Illustration Friday - what fun!). I also keep playing with the template, so don't be confused if it's different each time you visit. I'll eventually settle on design and stay there for a while.

The Elemental Art...Cart??

I can't believe summer is almost over...already!! Wow.  As my contract last year with the public school system was for one year only, I, like every other teacher hired at the Oct. 2010 job fair AND a lot of regular contract teachers without tenure, found myself job hunting again at the end of May. It was a little scary, and, if I'm honest, I allowed myself about a week to worry and stress and feel sorry for myself. After a short bout of wallowing, I started sending out resumes and applying for every possible art position in Florida. I was so very fortunate to find a position right here in Broward County!

So...a week from today I'll begin two weeks of new teacher induction for my new adventure as art teacher for a new K-6 charter school about 15 minutes west of where I live. It will eventually be a K-8 school, so that might mean changes in the organization of the art program, as well. But for now, I'm looking forward to being there at the start of the new school...new staff, fresh faces, eager students and families...all of us excited about the possibilities!

The biggest change for me (besides being in an entirely new school) will be that, for the first year, I'll be on a CART! Hmmm...I'm equally intrigued and terrified by this. I know it will be a challenge, but I'm going to face it with a smile and simply be grateful that I am able to continue teaching art and doing what I love. The plan, as I understand it, is that the school will receive an additional building this year. So by next school year (2012-2013) I, and any other teachers moving from room to room, should have a dedicated classroom. This year will certainly have its challenging moments, but there will be exciting ones, as well. And just think of how my skills in organization and efficiency will grow! :)

I've found a few fantastic sites with helpful information from teachers who have been teaching from an art cart for years and have it down to a science. I will certainly be taking their advice!

• NEAE Advisory: Teaching from an Art Cart (Winter 1993) - via getty.edu

• NAEA Monthly Mentor: Art on a Cart! (March 2009)

•  Teaching Art-on-a-Cart: Organization & Survival Tips from a Veteran Art Teacher  (Feb. 2009)