Amy suggested I share my original metaphor. Like I said in my first post this was hard assignment. I am my own worst critic, I thought this metaphor was cheesy, but Amy likes it. So here we go...
I started with watercolor paints symbolizing my classroom. I have 6 table in my room and above each are hand made colored collage fish. Six table = six colors. I then started thinking of connections; between myself and all my students, between students and each other, students and families, students and other teachers. My school is part of a very small community. It seems like everyone knows everything about each other. At the beginning of the year I felt like an outside, try to introduce something completely unfamiliar to them. My student past experience with art at Hatton has not been up to my standards of art education. It consisted of coloring pages, crafts, no technology, and very little 3D projects. I want to use the connections in this small community to help change the view of art education at Hatton and my school district. I have already had students, parents, and administrators excited with the changes I have introduced. This is due to the small community, connections, and communication. Butterflies symbolize new life, so in this visual metaphor each butterfly is a student at one of my classroom tables and they are starting their new lives in art education. The background is made up of my student's artwork.
Adair,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this. It has so much more personal meaning and lets me know so much more about you, who you are and what matters to you as an art teacher.
A small school in small a community can be a challenge at first. I recall coming to my school. Coming from a district where there were over 300 art teachers, and moving to one with, well, one (me) was disorienting. Everyone knows everyone and no one is anonymous ..... Took some getting used too, and a lot of trust on my part. 13 years later, I wouldn't have it any other way. A small community is a gift. I am excited for you :)
Congratulations! Don't worry - your metaphor is not a kitten in a basket. You have made it personal for your situation.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of butterfly are you? The life cycle goes on and on....
Thank you Amy for pushing me!
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of butterfly am I? I'm a moth!
Did you know some moths never eat anything as adults because they don't have mouths. They must live on the energy they stored as caterpillars. I live off the energy of my students.
Adair, “Starting their new lives in art” I love this thought. Your metaphor shows the courage you have for yourself as a teacher and for your students! The first year of making changes to a program is always the hardest, but I’m excited for you and your students as you move through this journey of transforming into beautiful artistic butterflies.
ReplyDelete