Reflections

So I survived my first semester of teaching art. May I say there have been moments where it was a DRAG. In all honesty, it was rough. Very rough. It started out great and then it just went downhill. It was very unorganized and the students got worse and worse towards the end of the year. Hate to say it, but the classes I grew to love left on a bad note. They misbehaved tremendously on the last day of school. I must have given 6 write offs on the last day this semester, I even put one student in detention. It really upset me. I thought "Why would they act like this, it's the LAST day. It's supposed to be easy." But nevertheless, they disrespected and crossed the lines. I hated that my classes had to end that way and I left the semester with a bad taste in my mouth.

Here are some mistakes I've discovered I made. First of all, I was nice. It's hard for me to be mean and hateful. However, if the time calls for it I can certainly be that way. But I try to maintain my caring and compassionate attitude towards the kids. I know there's a way for me to be nice to them and still teach in a way where they will respect me. I don't know what that way is but I am going to keep working at it until I find it.

Secondly, they didn't have enough work. I wanted them just to do hands on projects but frankly, they need a heck of a lot more. They need bookwork and tests and quizzes and sketchbook assignments to keep them on their toes. They will have sketchbook assignments throughout the week and they will have vocabulary sheets and quizzes over art history. I want them to learn a whole lot more terms and I want them to learn a lot more artists.

Thirdly, I wasn't consistent in my rules. I'm going to be more of a Nazi with them and following the classroom rules. There were days where I let things slide when I shouldn't have and they caught me doing it and took advantage of it.

The good thing about this upcoming semester is that I am aware of the things I did wrong and I have a good idea on how to improve them. And I actually have time to plan it out. I was hired the day before school started so that hurt me in the beginning of school. I have time now to plan and I need to take advantage of it.

And more than anything, I'm going to pray about it. I'm going to pray for every student who comes into class, that they will have good attitudes and hard work ethics. I'm going to pray that the Lord will give me wisdom in what to teach, how to teach and that he will give me passion for what I'm doing and who I'm teaching.

Thank you, Lord for reflections.