dedication

A recent post from an Art Ed colleague still in the teacher-prep program highlights a theme for the week at this school. Dedication. She posted her frustration at others for their attitudes toward the job: teach the content, not the student. Your job ends when the lesson plan is done, or the chapter is complete.
I understand her frustration - as there are plenty of teachers who just teach the content, only teach the book, and have no involvement with their colleagues, students, or school leaders, further than that. My only encouragement to her is that when her student teaching is up, her dedication to the students and to the school make her a more desirable candidate when she goes for the job interview - and it will possibly be considered if further budget cuts come up in the following academic years.
Other things I can mention to her is that the students also will see the involvement and dedication - and they will also notice the lack thereof. We all understand family obligations, and the need for a disconnect from the profession. However, a connection on your own terms, (dedication, involvement) can bring a good perspective of how important you are to a student or two, how much you personally impact the school, and a reminder of how much the parents are glad that you are teaching their children. The job can be stressful and isolating enough: why would you miss out on an opportunity to get that positive feedback?

linking up and linking in

I've updated the Twitter account, and posted another tweet. I realize it will take time before I really get-into the Twitter, but I've got a start for now. I'm also a big fan of Alyson Stanfield's Art Biz Coach podcasts. I've gotta confess, I really dig being able to think ahead about my own art, and envision selling my creations again. For when I'm ready to begin, I went to buy a pack of canvases - and the easel is up and waiting.

The focus has been on teaching over the past five years. It's good to envision what got me into teaching Art in the first place - making art.

Also a good addition to getting back into the Art community is offering some of my services up to the grad students at my Uni. I have some skills that they may not yet, and likewise.

In the meantime, I have works to grade, grades to enter, and a day off to get some chores done. My students are going to approach Art Criticism this week, then begin another project. Time is flying so fast in a condensed semester-long course.