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Re: ? using desks vs. tables, and buying students' supplies.
Posted by khric on 5/09/08


    I would not let the older students ruin art for the younger
    ones. Keep on trying unitl you find consequences that they
    will not smirk at. How about now allowing them to use the
    supplies that they cant take care of properly. Surely the
    principal can't object to having them bring only a pencil to
    class. That can be their only art material until thye prove
    they can be respectful to materials. Have so real boring
    written assignments for students who abuse materials, don't
    participate in class, or cause a problem. Its only your
    second year. You will find a discipline plan that works. You
    obviously can identify the problems and just need to keep
    working for a solution.

    I would not get desks. The previous poster had a good point
    about making it too difficult for you and your smaller
    students. Its the HS students that need to change. If you
    finish out the year making the point that art is NOT an
    easy "A", maybe you will get fewer kids that don't really want
    to be there. Talk with the guidence counselors or whoever it
    is at your school that helps the older kids choose classes for
    next year. Maybe make a flier about art class as an elective
    with your expectations.

    Good luck! I hope next year goes smoother! You are on the
    right track and will surely make improvements since you are
    thinking up ways to make next year better already.

    On 5/08/08, Cherie wrote:
    > On 5/08/08, Finishing Year One, Prepping for Year Two wrote:
    >> I don't have any real answers, but I do have children at
    > desks now and I hate it. They are k-2nd graders. First of
    > all, I have the problem of the height of the desks. The
    > Kindergardeners have a real hard time sitting at a desk that
    > is suitable for a 2nd grader. This means they are on their
    > knees and are constantly pushing the desks around. I have
    > them in groups of six so they can share supplies. How would
    > you organize supplies for your desks? I don't have 30
    > baskets for each desk. I can identify with your problem,
    > just some things to think about.
    > Cherie
    >
    > I teach at a small private school - 17 elementary classes
    >> once per week, and three secondary elective classes daily.
    >> Most classes have between 17-20 kids, whom I seat at four
    >> tables. This works all right for elem classes, but not well
    >> with secondary. Most of my secondary students do not like
    >> art. They never want to do any kind of art. They elected it
    >> because it's supposedly an easy A. =oP They talk, talk,
    >> talk, which is fine with me as long as they talk quietly
    >> and do some kind of art while they talk. @@ But some of
    >> them also like to just destroy materials, make messes...
    >> Also several elementary kids are careless with the
    >> supplies, too - leaving caps off of markers and glue
    >> sticks...
    >>
    >> Our principal does not want the students to have to bring
    >> their supplies with them from their classroom. We spend so
    >> much on a very limited budget - just buying pencils and
    >> crayons, etc. that get horribly abused. I know it sounds
    >> like I have poor classroom management skills, but I'm
    >> actually extremely organized and love Harry Wong, etc. I
    >> planned out careful rules and taught procedures, and use
    >> consequences for abusing materials, etc. It doesn't help! I
    >> walk around and monitor closely, but I still can't prevent
    >> them from breaking the crayons, etc. They don't care about
    >> the crayons. "It's just a crayon." And they don't care
    >> about grades. And detentions don't phase them, either,
    >> smirk smirk. I've had many days where I've sworn I won't
    >> teach art next year! My degree is in middle school English,
    >> Soc Stud.
    >>
    >> ANYWAY - sorry for my vent. If I do teach art next year, I
    >> would like to use desks. Is this crazy? I'd like to arrange
    >> them in rows, so everyone is facing the front of room, and
    >> has their own defined work space. And I want everyone to
    >> have and use their OWN supplies, so that if they break
    >> things or leave caps off, I can send a note to Mom and ask
    >> for replacements for them. And my "good kids" won't have to
    >> endure broken, used-up supplies. =o(
    >>
    >> I'm hoping my principal will let me add a $15 "art
    >> supplies" fee, and I can save everyone a LOT of money and
    >> time by ordering 300 sets of supplies for elementary
    >> students. I'm afraid she won't want me to use desks, but
    >> it's so hard to use the same set-up with kindergartners
    >> that I use with seniors every day. The seniors would be so
    >> much easier to manage/teach in desks, since we study art
    >> history, etc. as much as hands-on art.
    >>
    >> Am I just venting here? Does anyone have
    >> thoughts/experience to share? Or would you like to join my
    >> vent?? ;o)


 

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