When one teaches in an elementary school and is an art teacher; you can't avoid Valentine's Day! Not my favorite holiday to be sure except for the excuse to eat chocolates...yum. And so...yes...I embraced it fully by teaching symmetry using the wonderful symbol of a heart. It's an important math skill to understand the geometry involved and spacial relationships but the kids just love to make hearts.
Easy as pie....NOT...teaching kindergarten throught fifth grade the same skill wasn't a walk in the park. You could assume that the older students knew how to cut a symmetrical heart but you would have assumed wrong. Interesting enough...this seemingly simple mundane task has huge connections to a child understanding outcome!
Meaning...when I cut here....this is the results! I teach vocabulary like...raw edge (you know the edge of the paper that gives you "ouchie" paper cuts)...the fold (duh, Ms. H.....where the paper is folded)....draw your cutting line....(looks like a side view of an ear, or the top of a ? or the top of a clothes hanger..!
Where else but an elementary art room can you get applause and an abashment of Wows when I cut a double heart or a heart window inside another heart shape?
I'm up to my eyeballs in valentines of every color or type of decor or fluff a kid can paint, squibble, punch, poke, or glue on.
Easy as pie....NOT...teaching kindergarten throught fifth grade the same skill wasn't a walk in the park. You could assume that the older students knew how to cut a symmetrical heart but you would have assumed wrong. Interesting enough...this seemingly simple mundane task has huge connections to a child understanding outcome!
Meaning...when I cut here....this is the results! I teach vocabulary like...raw edge (you know the edge of the paper that gives you "ouchie" paper cuts)...the fold (duh, Ms. H.....where the paper is folded)....draw your cutting line....(looks like a side view of an ear, or the top of a ? or the top of a clothes hanger..!
Where else but an elementary art room can you get applause and an abashment of Wows when I cut a double heart or a heart window inside another heart shape?
I'm up to my eyeballs in valentines of every color or type of decor or fluff a kid can paint, squibble, punch, poke, or glue on.
It's a heartwarming to read the words penned to moms, dads, grandparents and art teachers too. Occasionally you can witness Young Luv when a more mature third grader proudly walks his freshly made Valentine Heart three tables over to a much taller and physically more mature looking girl! Her reaction? Mildly amused!
I wish I had a handmade card coming my way tomorrow...maybe making hearts is more than a math lesson!
I wish I had a handmade card coming my way tomorrow...maybe making hearts is more than a math lesson!
4 comments:
Dear Shara,
Hope you had a great Valentine's Day!
Please accept this delicious award "sweet as sugar".
love
bindi
My wish for you is a handmade card...if not tomorrow but one day soon.
As one who has many grandchildren and also always wanted to be a teacher ( I sub now), I loved your day of "Hearts". Childhood memories are made of days like this. Great Job!!
Enjoy your trip to Italy
Debbie
Happy Valentine's Day Bindi,
It wasn't a romantic day but a very rewarding one with my students. I recieved cards, candy and of course hugs...it can't get much better.
Love,
Shara
Thanks Debbie,
I know how lucky I am to have found my calling and to love what I do. There are difficult days, as you know being a sub...darlings can be tricky! lol But nothing is as thrilling as making the connection with a child...pure energy passes through from you to them. It's always magical!
Love,
Shara
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