Looking Backward, Planning Forward

I can shake this summertime slump and get back into art education mode! I am getting back into my ideas and plans for this school year each time I revisit past lessons, projects, and my school. The summer of creative rejuvenation has served me well! I think I can, I think I can…

I am very fortunate to work in my school with my very own art room! My principal and assistant principal are extremely supportive, and I work with an outstanding, caring staff and faculty. I was granted more than generous funds this past year to purchase technology and a new kiln by my principal (thank you!) However, the learning environment (i.e. art room) is still a work in progress in my mind. I had always shared a room, traveled to several schools, or lived out of baskets and boxes of supplies in my car. All of those experiences where resourceful education tools, so I’m glad I had those experiences. However, I have been an educator for 9 years – this adjustment to having my own room should be easy, right? Have you ever felt like this? Parts of the new position are easy, but having my very own room to move things and to suit the lessons I need to cover – this was and is sometimes still new!

As I look back at the changes my art room endured this past school year, I cannot believe it. I began my art teaching position at Ramay in July 2008. When I was hired and introduced to my art classroom last summer, there was a lot of work to be done. Years and years and years (did I mention years and years) of stuff had been left in the room – many good things – and many things were faded, molded, and destroyed from years of neglect or from the recent pipe burst that Spring – so many things were recycled, tossed, or reclaimed. I am an art pack rat, too, but some things could not be salvaged! As I think back to a year ago – wow – I had barely scraped the surface of what I wanted that art room to be for my students’ learning, so it was a work in progress all year.

So… The first teacher in-service days and school days of 2009-2010 school year are drawing near, and I am rethinking the layout of my room again. I thought I knew what the learning environment should be. Is there a right answer? Where should I place my technology? The storage shelves for students to keep their work? The art tables and chairs? I welcome you to post your own ideas and inquiries about classroom arrangement.

~ Nikki F. Kalcevic