Can't I just be done now??

As the semester comes barreling down in a massive wave of hysteria and the debris of papers and presentations swirl around my feet, I'm reminded that time does not stop. It will keep going and things will get done. I'm not quite sure yet how they will all get done, but I figure if I just stay positive, clarity will come my way!
That got me thinking about why I'm doing all this work in the first place, which then got me thinking of information to bring to my group in terms of our project on arts in schools advocacy. I feel like all you need is to see kids doing art to have it hit home of how amazing it is. Students dancing, playing instruments, or acting out a scene... They become whole new people! I've been reading The Death and Life of the Great American School System (which I do recommend checking out), and it really always baffles me where we are now as a country in terms of what we hold  important when educating our kids. Tests, accountability, reform, tests, test, reading & math, tests, reading & math... What ever happened to exploring, creativity, beauty, science and real learning? So yes, although I would love to blow off all these papers and presentations and curl up in a ball to watch Christmas movies, I'll try to keep in mind my goal.. Give kids dance and the power to create, show them art, make their world that much more interesting, give them a safe haven to remember that life is not all about scores on tests. It's all worth it in the end if I could just make a tiny difference in our sometimes crazy messed up school system.

Here is a little taste of the book:

"When we define what matters in education only by what we can measure, we are in serious trouble. When that happens, we tend to forget that schools are responsible for shaping character, developing sound minds in healthy bodies, and forming citizens for our democracy, not just for teaching basic skills. We even forget to reflect on what we mean when we speak of a good education. Surely we have more in mind than just bare literacy and numeracy. And when we use the results of tests, with all their limitations, as routine means to fire educators, hand out bonuses, and close schools, then we distort the purpose of schooling altogether."  -Diane Ravitch

Visual Organizer

I'm pretty excited about an assignment I've been doing in my assessment class, which is a big thing since it takes a lot for me to get excited about any assignment, so I figured I'd share a little. Below is some of my graphic organizer. It will be a part of a unit on José Limón and these are some of his principles students will use to create movement.

 Space

Timing

As the students improvise, images like these will be held up and they'll begin to incorporate the principles such as space, timing, and focus.  I always like having an image to relate things to, and now through the magic of copy and paste, it is now the easiest thing ever to do!

Focus

Group Work

I believe if I had to put grad school into two words it would be, group work. out, is group work. Never before have I had so many group assignments, group projects, group presentations, group discussion... don't get me wrong, I value group work and believe you get information and understanding not available through sitting alone at home with your computer, reading your paper out loud over and over again. In fact most of my teaching will involve group work! It involves tremendous patience and thoughtful organization. It can even make everything that much easier when done just right. It's just that sometimes, I'd rather choreography a solo, you feel me? I'd rather have the knowledge that deep down, if I don't get my act together until the night before the assignment is due, the only person I have to blame is me, myself, and I.