Phew. I can’t believe another school year is over. I was just thinking yesterday that it was crazy that I have been teaching for 11 1/2 years already. I’ve been at my current school for 7 years! Don’t the years all start to blur together? When you try to remember classes you had years ago the memories are fuzzy. It’s amazing how every year there is more to learn and new things to try.
The yearbooks finally came in, the last middle school dance was held and my grades are all written. I spent several hours yesterday and today cleaning the art room. It’s amazing how messy it gets!
Hand fabric collage by a 3rd grader
Do you have plans for the summer? I took the summer off from work. Some years I offer summer camps, but this summer I needed the time to relax and spend some time with my daughter! I’m trying to come up with a schedule or go-to list of ideas so we don’t waste away the summer. Some things on our list are walking to the library (need to get some exercise every day), visiting the (free!) local zoo, setting up playdates with neighborhood friends, going to Little Amerikka (a small amusement park which is super fun and close to our city), going to the splash park & pool, lots of art projects (of course!), garage sales, walking around downtown, open gym at the gymnastics place and working on letters & numbers. Can you think of anything else we should do?? Of course, we are still trying to master the art of potty training. Argh! You’d think for a child who is pretty smart that this would be much easier 🙂
Also on my list of goals for the summer:
1. Organize all the files in my file cabinet. I seriously cannot put even one more file in the cabinet. They are so stuffed full that nothing else can fit. It is definitely time to recycle some of the files I no longer use.
2. Professional Development: I’m planning on writing reflections for my Professional Development Plan, read some good art books, and attend the Art of Ed online conference.
3. Catching up on personal artwork. I have not given my own art making the priority it deserves! I can really tell the difference in my mental state when I don’t spend time each week painting and drawing for my own pleasure. I’m planning to catch up on the True Free Spirit online workshop and the 21 Secrets Art Journal Workshop. Both of these are self-paced classes that are open until the end of 2013.
4. Friends. Need to see more of my lovely friends!
5. Vacation: We’re going to Saugatuck, Michigan with my brothers’ families and my parents. We used to go there frequently to camp when we were kids and I can’t wait to see how it compares to my memories of the place.
6. Exercise. Every day! Walking in the neighborhood, swimming in the pool, going to the gym… I have neglected exercise this semester. Too much stress and not making it a priority. I can really feel the difference when I exercise.
7. Reading. I have a shelf full of books I’ve been saving to read. I joined a book club too, so now I have even more to read. This month we are reading A Time to Kill, by John Grisham.
8. Blogging. I have a whole bunch of art projects to share with you over the summer. I probably have enough to last until next school year.
What are you doing this summer?
