Miss Bauman, For Real!

Well today marked my first day of "running the show" in my art room. I will preface this by saying I was super nervous and started my day by finding another mouse in the basement, yes it was dead but the sight of its tail literally made me start dry heaving. I handled the last mouse with ease but I just couldn't bring myself to dispose of it this morning, special thanks to JW for driving over here and taking care of the situation WE OWE YOU!!!!

Anyway after the mouse I headed to purchase some goldfish from Petco where I was met with a very ethical and humane goldfish salesman. I spotted the goldfish I wanted but when I could not answer the salesman's questions in regard to tank size I was informed that I would not be sold goldfish because they would just die. Well shit. Luckily I was granted permission to purchase 2 14¢ feeder goldfish because he must not care as much about them. I also swiped my debit card for the total purchase of 28¢, wow.

Ok so I get to my class and anxiously await the kiddos arrival. I surprise them with the fish and talk about the artist Matisse and his painting Goldfish. I talk about the different styles Matisse created and all was going well until I asked who wanted to draw on the board with a marker attached to a stick. Well duh Les, they all do. So I looked at 30 small hands in the air and knew I was in trouble. I certainly didn't get through all of the kids so mistake number 2 was telling them if there was time at the end of class they could try it. We broke into small group activity where I failed to clearly demonstrate the process of cutting out freeform shapes and I witnessed the lack of communication skills 3rd graders have. I made them clean up too early, and they were definitely loud as they prepared to exit the room. BUT it really did go well. I know that the only way to learn what works is to try and fail and my teacher gave me great feedback to help me along the way. Next Monday I am starting them on a painting/collage and I think that it will go much better!

I also couldn't help but laugh today as a small girl cut out a blue penguin.....
Billy Madison: Well, I made the duck blue because I'd never seen a blue duck before and I wanted to see one.
Miss Lippy: Well, I think it's an excellent blue duck. Congratulations Billy, you just passed the first grade.
Billy Madison: Wow, Miss Lippy, that's great. What do you think of that Mr. Blue Duck?
[pretending to be duck]
Billy Madison: That's quacktastic.