At the Fall Conference in Florence this year at our Secondary Meeting I am going to show you some ways to use technology to improve the promotion of your art program and your art students. I personally am now on Facebook, which my students love, have a You-Tube account, have a JPG account, and have a personal website. I have learned a lot about all of these and am eager and happy to help any of you to get these things going for yourself. Now don’t get me going by saying, “but I only have one computer”. Yeah, well I have been there, done that, kicked tail, took names, and have a t-shirt to prove it all…so you have ZERO excuses. I have helped so many people do this over the phone and with literally one hand tied behind my back. You CAN do this, so DO it.

Remember competition season is starting soon. Please I encourage you to do this for your students. It is so good for their self-esteem. Also, lets do the National Art Honor Society thing too. Remember your special ones are probably not special in any other class. Let them know what they do in your class is as important as what they do in the “academic” classes. Example: my youngest is applying to colleges this Fall and one of the essays she wrote was about being a dance major at Alabama School of Fine Arts. She was recruited in Math and Science but chose to audition and was accepted in Dance. She told the school the things she learned in dance had practical applications to life and life situations that can never be learned in an academic class. Humorously she declared, ” I learned to perform difficult tasks while someone is screaming and cursing at her, I bet my Math and Science friends could not solve difficult equations while someone was screaming at them.” I know you don’t scream at your students but the environment that they problem solving in is not always optimal.

Lastly, colleges are looking for the well rounded student and all the big schools want the ARTS!!!! so lets give it to them and our students.

1. You have to look good on your resume. That is the only way to get that interview in the first place.

2. Come prepared with a CD of your work or student work in some presentation style that is flashy and cool…ie not power point. Leave it with employers. Make one small enough in size so that you can email it to principals with your resume.

3. If you have an MFA you can apply for a college level teaching position…this leaves me out because I have an MSEd not really worth much outside of the teaching realm. Also if you have an MFA you can look for art jobs…you know real art jobs.

4. If you are currently working or recently lost your full time position. If you apply to SCAD, Savannah College of Art and Design, you get 1/2 price tuition scholarship. Just let your admissions counselor know you are a teacher. FYI that is what I am doing or hope to do. You can take these classes online with SCAD through their e-Learning  program. I will try to tell you about that later when I am fully immersed into it.

5. ALSDE website has an online application for all teaching positions across the state. This is cool because one application and then you send it where it is needed instead of all that guessing and networking. This is a real plus.

6. If you fill out and apply for a position also get online and find something out about the school and send a copy of your resume and that  video (see #2) attached or if you have a personal website (not facebook) but a real professional one send them the link also.

Yes, even doing all that you can still not have a position, like your hero…me, but persevere. Keep checking alsde website, sometimes teachers run in fear after the first few days or weeks of school. Be aware however these jobs might not be what you would call choice…LOL (laugh out loud).

Keep up your hopes, keep trying, remember our higher power has something good for us we have to be patient. According to my beliefs in the KJV it says, “Stand and wait upon the Lord”, and “for he who waits upon the Lord today is big with blessings”.

New Bloom’s puts Creativity at the top of the pyramid. We all knew it should have been there but now it is verified. Be sure that your Curriculum Specialist at your school or district knows or is aware of this newest format.

This is the old one from 1956 which is over 50 years old. Talk about moving into the 21st century.

We are nearing the end of the summer and are sad to see it go, but we are also beginning to think, “What the heck am I going to do next year/” Try something new unique and different or go with the “oldie goldies” that always work? May I suggest starting simple and building from there? Every year I try to include some new ideas to keep my class fresh and new for myself. If you are bored with what you are teaching then it comes across to the students and they are less likely to enjoy the lesson. But how do you judge? Ask yourself the question, “Would I be willing to sit down with the students and do this project?” If your answer is anything but “Yea that would be cool!” then rethink the project. Come up with a new slant, media, medium, or whatever. Another good way to find new ideas is to go to Barnes and Noble or Books A Million and browse the periodicals. Whatever you are interested in and get the latest “skinny” on your favorite medium or experiment with something new. If you find something buy it and then (this is the real trick) go home and write out your lesson plan, rubric, and do your example…NOW. If you wait it will be one of those magazines you find in two years and say, “What is this? Oh yea, I was going to do something new.” Then you will feel really bad about yourself. So don’t do that. Write it up now and put it with your “oldie goldies”. Who knows you might even enjoy it as an artist yourself?

Now to art competitions, I was pleased to see so many names as state winners in many of the competitions that I participated in. I am so pleased that you are giving your students the opportunity to participate in these. They are such big ego boosters for our students. If you think competition is sacrilege in the art classroom please think about how you got your job??? Did you interview? That is a competition. Do you show as an artist? That is a competition. Our students NEED to get used to rejection because not everyone is a winner, no matter what our little league society thinks. One thing you know when you look out at your classroom everyone in there will apply for a job and they won’t get it. They need to be ready for that and competitions help. Anyway the competitions that I already know about are:

· Birmingham Southern College’s Biennial Southeastern Competition which is the new title for the old Southeastern High School Artist Competition. Be careful this year the rules have changed and who can participate has changed. It used to be just 11^th & 12^th grades but now it is for students 9 – 12^th grades. You used to send the art now it is all digital so be sure to get the information. I have it if you don’t so you can email me. I will send it to you.

· NFAA Arts Competition is all done by your student on line there is a cost for it and it is VERY competitive. The student (seniors only) uploads a digital portfolio online of 5 breadth and 5 concentration pieces. (FYI: If you or your students aren’t really good at converting digital images you better learn FAST this is the way everything is going.) Deadline for registering is Oct 1 and sent images Oct 30 at 4pm EST. http://www.youngarts.org

· Scholastic Art & Writing this year will be by districts. The deadline for submission will be one of the last two weekends in January. I will keep you posted.

· Double Exposure will still be happening for those photography students you have. I will let you know the date it is usually the end of Nov.

Well that is everything for now except if you don’t have one yet a National Honor Society Chapter this is the year!!! Do it for your students. You have Art Club already just include NAHS or NJAHS chapter. Second, go to the Fall Conference in November! It is a great way to rejuvenate yourself and share with others. Don’t worry I will nag you later.

]]> http://secondaryartsalabama.edublogs.org/2009/07/16/a-mid-summers-nightmare/feed/ 0 http://secondaryartsalabama.edublogs.org/2009/06/22/down-but-not-out/ http://secondaryartsalabama.edublogs.org/2009/06/22/down-but-not-out/#comments Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:24:01 +0000 lynnschmidt http://secondaryartsalabama.edublogs.org/?p=30 What do you do if you find yourself with out…money, supplies, job, room, or whatever? Cry, curse, call a friend, or all of the above?  Well, it might feel good or cathartic to do any or all those things the only thing that will really help is to get in there and work, experiment, and take chances. I know that you feel that you are the only one facing these situations but you aren’t there are others who have “been there, done that, got the t-shirt”. Find them and they will help you even if it is just to give you ideas. This is the time to think outside of the box.

If you need money, find things you can do for free or that cost little to zero money or that use supplies that the school already supplies. Xerox machines for a variety of things, last conference I taught a workshop on handcoloring photographs using students photos, colored pencils, and a xerox. Teresa Gillum taught a workshop on tin can airplanes. Going to the fall conferences is an excellent way to pick up pointers. You could try grant writing. As you can tell I am not the best writer in the world but I have written and received about $17 thousand in grants. How did I start? I googled grants for art. Enjoy.

No job, go online the ALSDE has a terrific postings list at http://www.alsde.edu/TeachInAlabama/ . It is a great place to start. If you have some experience and a Masters degree try sending your resume to some junior colleges or regular colleges or universities. There are opportunities out there just open the doors.

No room? Well that is a tuffy…never experienced that one but…wait once…I looked around for any spare space and ended up teaching in a coal bin in a Victorian mansion. Some times there are little secret places that no one wants you might get it if you ask. I have been in a trailer for a while and that is not all that bad, I have had to tote water in buckets both in and out. It can be done but it is all about your attitude. Remaining positive. Remember it is all about the students and your classes and what they can learn.

I guess that is what you should REALLY do, focus on what you love…teaching art to students, sharing your love of art with people…your passion.

Good Luck next year.

I have heard through the grapevine that 1000 teachers in the arts were let go last week. Wow! what is going to happen to Alabama. Well those of you that still have jobs will certainly have even larger classes and even less money to work with. The good news is you will do it. Right now you don’t think you can but you will because there is that one student in 3rd period/block that comes to school everyday just for your class. Yeah, you know the one or ones I am talking about…the one that you share your own art supplies with or get something for free and you give it to them because you know they will appreciate it. It will be hard but you will do it. As I told a dear friend last year, “Keep the focus on your students and your classroom” and that will always get you through.

Now those of you like me…examine your assets. What do you do well that you might be able to use or do until this mess passes? I don’t know what that might be for you but I trust everyone has some…use them to get you through this rough patch. If you want someone who understands write me or comment. Perhaps your thoughts, fears, or suggestions could help someone. I will protect your identy if you wish me to do so. Know that my thoughts and prayers are with you all.

I have a very good friend that told me she was so upset about what is happening in our state that she is running for school board in her area. There you go…now thats an idea…

What are you going to do this summer? Try the Alabama Technology Conference. It is fun, cheap, and gives you CEU’s or whatever they are called. http://ti.alsde.edu/aetc/

Many colleges offer workshops for art teachers…SCAD, SAIC, NHIA. (That’s my teaser for you to look them up) If you can’t get into them this year put it on your radar for next year.

What about a chapter of Art Honor Society? Do you have one at your school? Try one for next year. You could even tap your rising Juniors and keep them in your art program their Senior year.

Most of all care for yourself this summer as an ARTIST. Do ART!! It is our life’s blood and if you have not re-tapped into that make it a priority for this summer. Buy a sketchbook and sketch if nothing else. We can not teach art if we do not DO art.

I love you all talk to you later.

This blog site is your connection to me. Who am I? I am the secondary school chairperson for the state of Alabama. If you have any questions about teaching high school art I may not know the answer but I know I know someone who does. I have been teaching 24 years in GA, NC, & AL. I have taught pre-K through college and from the Georgia Retardation Center to highly gifted, inner city, rural, and private. (I get bored easily.) LOL Please feel free to ask me what you need to know. This is a totally safe site and I will never post anything that would embarrass you or if you don’t want it posted. I will only post under first names to maintain your privacy. I love this site because it really allows me to do that. When you write it will not appear until I post it. so be patient. I am very fast though.

Be sure to check here for competition updates. I will try to stay current. If there are any I am missing let me know. I strongly encourage you to participate in these competitions so that you can build your students’ self esteem. I don’t know if your students are like mine but sometimes my best are other teacher’s….not best…shall we say. These shows help them to feel successful about themselves in some area of school and I have seen that be the difference between staying in school and dropping out.

The next thing I want to encourage is for you to start a NAHS chapter at your school (National Art Honor Society). If you are a member of NAEA (National Art Education Association) [you can Google it] that is all you need plus some students who really excel in art. This really works about the same as the competitions for our students in building self-esteem. You should do it for them. If you have an Art Club already just link it to that and make it easier for yourself…just do it.

Well that is it for now. Let me know when I can help you ever.

Next month is the Alabama Art Education Conference in Decatur, AL and I hope to see you all there and meet some new faces. Don’t be sad if you have not yet registered it is never to late. I have not even registered yet. But I will probably this week. I will be presenting two workshops and hosting a meeting of secondary art teachers probably over lunch.

Next item to cover…it is never to early to start thinking about art competitions. Please check the links section of the blog site for http://secondaryartsalabama.edublogs.org for information on all the major competitions as I hear about them. Currently there are about 3 but soon to be more as we finish up the fall and head into winter. Please email or send comments to me with anymore that you stumble across. Remember, for some of our students ART is the only place they shine…so let them sparkle. Don’t deny them the opportunity just because of cost. You might be surprised what they can dig up. One big new thing is for the Scholastic Art & Writing competition you don’t actually send the work. You just send a digital image and an 8X10 glossy. The only send a matted piece if you are a winner…I think…a gold key winner at that. So it is easy and you have plenty of time to plan ahead.

There is also a conference in October in North Alabama. If you should be able to find out more information on this event in another folder on this site. There will be a student art show, a teacher art show, workshops (two taught by this humble author) as well as other very capable educators from throughout the state, fun and frolic. I really recommend these conferences. I have been attending them for years and even if the workshops aren’t great the talking with fellow art teachers is really great. It is super to know that you aren’t the only one out there. Especially if you are the only art teacher in your school or even in your county or even in your region.

I will try to keep you current on the latest on art shows and while I am talking about that let me tell you my personal philosophy on competitive art shows for students. I realize that there are a number of you that don’t believe that competitive art shows but I feel that students’ need some validation from outside resources plus it is a good thing for us as well to be gearing our students’ education to more contemporary art movements and having someone judging our skills as educators. We are constantly being judged by individuals who know nothing about our subject and it is nice to be evaluated by individuals who at least understand what art is supposed to look like. It is a terrific way to validate our program at our schools to our administration who. lets face it, thinks of our class as a glorified babysitting service. I know we all know what we give our students but it is sometimes an ethereal thing to some people. The competitions are a concrete way of giving people a reason to value the arts. What does it do for the student? If they win it gives them the same kind of motivation that their peer group gets from being a star in a sport, or on stage, or getting the best grades. I don’t know if your students are like mine but they usually never fall into those categories.

The last thing I want to talk to you about is AP art classes. Think about doing it. I did it for the first time last year and it was a great challenge for me. Let me tell you that you can send off student portfolios to AP without having your school endorsing an Advanced Placement course in art for your system. I don’t know if you are like me but I always had those special students who worked outside of class and inside of class and sometimes inside other teacher’s classes on their art. They are the perfect candidates for this opportunity. The work chosen for the breadth can be anything that they have done in their career of doing art. The concentration is a collection of work that they explore a subject. The quality is just their five best actual pieces of art. Anyway, think about it and if you have any questions ask. I am no expert on it but I will try to help.

Remember the bottom lines is that we do what we can to give our students the best we can give them. Whatever it takes however we can. My bottom line is to help my students’ feel better about themselves and feel good about what they are doing in my class.