New Skills

As I figured, I haven't been back here in a year. Life intervenes. Work, kids, house, church, the incessant LAUNDRY...all intervenes. I think I've learned a few things in this year though. I don't have time or space or energy to be a BIG artist. I can't afford giant canvases and often don't think I have the big ideas to fit a big canvas. But I do have little spaces and moments that I need to piece together into creativity.

So I'm piecing. I've learned to crochet. It is amazing to have learned a TOTALLY new skill. Doesn't happen very often after about the middle of elementary school. Master reading, master writing, master addition, subtraction, etc. Master painting, drawing, and sculpture. Okay...then what.

Obviously I've improved on these basic skills but to learn something NEW and be able to make something with it. Pretty cool I think. I give credit to youtube's BethinTX1. Her Back to Basics got me here. So now I'm a scarf crocheter. (might have to look up how to spell that!) Not into afghans yet- too big and I don't have the attention span for them! But the scarf is quick and small and I can take it with me when I'm waiting for appointments or at gymnastics class so it fits well into my spaces and moments!

I've also started leading more with my fellow elementary art teachers. This is very new but now that I'm at a school by myself, I'd love to have more art specific meetings and professional development. We've had bits and pieces and it's scattered so I'm hoping I can help be a fresh perspective there and help bring out the best in the super cool art teachers I work with in my county. And I suppose as usual, I'm talking too much (the down side of being a teacher!)

I suppose those are both Fresh Perspectives- on my own learning and on being a teacher in a Professional Learning Community. I have to seek learning opportunities and I have to help lead others. Of course as I'm writing this, I'm thinking of a few others, but that's the point of Fresh Perspectives. To keep looking for new things and new ways of being.

What have you learned lately? Any new skills or accomplishments?
How do you help those around you learn and grow?

A little step....

I've never written for anyone except professors and letters to friends. I'm pretty sure Facebook doesn't truly count as writing. So this is a little step toward sharing my ideas with the world. I admit right off to not being eloquent with fancy turns of phrase. But perhaps I can say something that will spark an idea for someone else. I am always searching for an easier way. Sometimes I get aggravated when others just don't seem to get it. So periodically this will be my forum for saying "dear world, here's how it is!" just so I can feel like I've said something about those silly little things that get under my skin without irritating those around me! We'll see how this goes. IF I can keep up with this, maybe I'll say something worthwhile!