I was finally able to speak with the Art teachers from the main campus. I think I'm doing good so far with the lessons I'm giving but I still have a lot to teach the kids. The two I spoke to had been very nice and accommodating. I should have joined them during their orientation but at the time, I haven't signed my contract yet that I was not really sure where I stand in the whole scheme of things at school.
I'm currently comparing my notes to the checklist they gave me. I'm confident that we'll be able to reach those goals but right now, I'm a bit overwhelmed. I have to admit though that the checklist is easier to understand than that Rubicon which just swam like crazy before my eyes when I tried to read it.
There are other things I have to do still. Remember the New Year's resolution last year? Well, it remained in theory. The 2010 scrapbook? I did until May. I'm still doing the rest of the year but it's not as fast as I would have liked. I thought I'd just do a page a month but it turned out that our year was the busiest so far. Man! I even have 6 pages in some months because of all the activities and events that we went to.
The wedding album? I went as far as preparing the base sheets. The scrapbook albums I do for other people are quite embellishment-friendly. But personally, I prefer a minimalist approach and I still wasn't able to finish things that need finishing. Ha! Sometimes, when I should be doing this, I find myself reading books or online. I don't even have a Facebook account to lose myself into! I think it's an escape from responsibility thing.
But don't worry, my dear clients, the things I do for you, I can do easily and finish on time. But the things I do for me, I end up being saddled for months. Ha! That should change.
Curriculum and Things
What's Going On?
Hello everyone!
So many things going on and none at the same time. Hee!
Last 8th of January I had a lecture on scale model making with approximately 150 freshmen at the UP College of Architecture. That was fun! But they're a LOT! I even made a few samples that I left with them. The instructors were so sweet and generous. So thank you so much Chris, Patrick, Maureen, Faith and Celine! Much, much appreciated.
Since, I have nothing to do yet (except trying to finish my 2010 scrapbook album), I'm organizing my binder of lesson plan so it doesn't catch up with me later on. First semester is done so, it's about time. Classes are doing great! The students are amazing and some are showing real promise. As it was when I taught high school seniors, I also have bystanders in the Art Room during their lunch break. They're so sweet. Wednesdays are exhausting, yes, but their excitement makes up for it.
And today, I'm going back to my old school and will try to think about what to do with the bulletin boards at the reception lobby in preparation for the Emerald Anniversary. Canossa College is 55 years old!
In February, there's a wedding invitation design I need to focus on. She wants it different, fun, a bit informal and reusable. So, let's see.
Till then...
Tomorrow is November
... And we feel Christmas in the air, which also smells good. :)
First off, I am no longer accepting orders for Christmas giveaways. It is going to be a very busy month ahead and I won't be able to attend to your requests at this point. I wouldn't want to disappoint you because I accepted orders when I know I won't be able to fulfill them and deliver on time. I am sorry, but I do hope you remember me next year. :)
Starting Wednesday, I'll start working on the set pieces and props for the children's Christmas production, T'was the Night Before Christmas, to be presented on the second week of December. This should be fun!! It will take much of my time and away from my table, which is what's already happening. That saddens me. It's laziness more than anything else. If I want to do my sorely neglected personal projects, I should make, not 'find', time for them.
Anyway, I'll take pictures as I go along. And I hope this lethargy won't get in the way of my posting pictures of these props.
Manly Invitation
These are the invitations I made for a friend who also happens to be an architect. It's quite new to me, because I'm used to small girls and floral-like invites, but it's a whole lot easier to make. It took quite awhile for us to get to how this would look like but it took only a day to finish 50 of them. I would've wanted a blueprint for the 'plan' but they smell horrible especially if they're going to give these away to people not used to that smell. Besides, tracing paper looks smashing!
Meanwhile, I'm contemplating of ways to package 3 sets of samples to give a client. And I'm currently at the edge of my seat about this contract thing at school. Looks like I really have the job. Yay! for the new Art Consultant. My position isn't called Art Teacher... I'm an Art Consultant. Heee!
I Just Got Back from School
I will share with you what my students were working on for the last 11 weeks. It sounds very grand, but it's actually just 11 hours total because we're only working for an hour every week. It's an After School Activity at Brent-IRRI in Los Baños, Laguna, and it's on Scrapbooking and Photography. Sound a bit much? Yeah, I think so too. Maybe next year I'm going to separate those classes.
Anyway, I'm not really a photographer but I know some basic things I could teach the kids like utilizing natural light, effect of the combination of light, shade and shadow in photography, golden hour (but my class was in mid-afternoon so it was just words), rule of thirds, get close to the subject, holding the camera straight, etc. So these are just some samples of what they did:
By Iman Ismail, Fourth Grade
By Isabelle Douthewaite, First Grade
By Xyla Fitzwell, Second Grade
By Anna Heuer, Kindergarten
By Mami Hosen, Third GradeAren't they neat? They just used digital point and shoot cameras for this, but for their grade levels, I thought they did really, really well.
The other part of our ASA is Scrapbooking. Below is a stack of scrapbooks they did. They scrapped the photos they took. I prepared the materials for covers and cut the interior pages. They put together the covers and we punched the sides for the binding rings. We didn't really use any fancy brand-named materials. We just want them to experience to make their first ever album.
Instead of patterned paper, we used giftwrapping paper. We used ordinary acid-free glue stick for all the papers, and a different kind of glue for embellishments. I bought a lot of buttons, ribbons, flowers, feathers, transfer letters and sequins in various shapes. There were a lot of leftovers so I divided them to six, bagged them and gave the rest to them. They were sooooooo excited about that. Next year, I think I'm going to let them use 'real' scrapbooking papers.
So, here are the scrapbooks they did.
There will be an exhibit of their works on Friday, April 30. I sure will be there to support them while they present their work. I'm telling you, these are the sweetest, most innocent kids I ever met. And they did some really, really wonderful job.
Update
My husband is in Manila giving a lecture about blogging, video blogging and social networking. In his lecture, he outlined the importance of updating your blog regularly. I should have attended, listened and applied, shouldn't I? I'm really bad at updating this one blog.
I haven't been doing any project right now, except my monthly 2010 scrapbook pages. My mind is preoccupied with teaching and house repairs in preparation for the typhoon season. Teaching would be done in six to seven weeks and I'm still crossing my fingers about a more permanent teaching post in the same school. I'll tell you about what school it is when I'm accepted. I don't want to jinx my chances.
I'll be back with new personal projects on the second half of April. Well, aside from those listed in my New Year's Resolution. There are things I really want to try out myself for quite some time, years actually. I think I'm going to start that one out. I'm still open for commissions, though.
Teaching
I never set out to be a teacher that's why I'm a licensed professional who never ever thought of becoming one. Dealing with children wasn't really a gift I had then as far as I know. But somewhere along the way, the urge to share was too strong that I had to let go and embrace the change though quite frankly, I don't think I have it in me to this day this instinct about being with children. I don't think I'll ever learn how to, to be honest.
The first time I taught, they were 16-year-old high school seniors and they're boys... mostly. I accepted the position because they were nearer my age and it would be easier for me to relate. They're getting into college as I got out of it. Besides, I was teaching introduction to architectural drafting and painting. How difficult can it really get? I enjoyed those four years immensely, and hopefully inspired some of them, at least.
Now, I'm teaching primary schoolers. Big leap, huh? I couldn't tell you how I'm coping because I really don't know. My personality doesn't really suit being with small children. I'm not exactly gentle nor am I sweet. All I know is that they have impressionable minds and their foundation is of utmost importance, and that's where I take off. I treat them as I would my teenage students but slower and with more foundational inputs because well, that's what they need. I don't know if it's the right approach because I didn't study to be a teacher and be licensed for it.
Yesterday, as I was slouching on a sofa at the reception area waiting for my Crafts Class to start, one of my students, a six-year-old who I learned later isn't affectionate at all, came to me, climbed and sprawled herself on top of me. She gave me the tightest hugs and a kiss on my right cheek and said, "I like you. I like making things." It gave me a start because she's very close and my personal bubble was suddenly agitated. I was overwhelmed, to be honest, but I relaxed after awhile especially when she climbed down and started to inspect the goodies I bought. I guess, I must be doing something right. And I have to get used to their spontaneity.
Other Things...
Sorry, I haven't uploaded pics yet. Been busy with a school thing that's been going on for awhile. Well, not really for a long time, but it was one of those I committed to for quite some time now. I taught for awhile (I think I mentioned this before) in this primary school and now we have this Christmas program for 8 December and I've been helping out with the stage and things.
They don't want anything fancy, since the idea of the program is so the kids can perform for their parents. So it would be just a simple thing really. I hope not to forget to take a photo of the stage, at least. I wish I could get a group photo with the kids in it but I don't think that would be proper if I don't ask their parents permission to post it. And I wouldn't do that because I really only met a very few of them.
Oh! And I've seen the costumes. They're sooooo cute!!! Even if the kids could still need practice even after the final performance, their costume and smile would make up for it. hahaha!
I will go back there again to teach Arts and Crafts from February to April 2010, and I'm excited about that! I was offered to teach there full time next school year and the teachers are making a very convincing argument on why I should agree. I would have gone this year but Gerry's got a lot on his plate and I don't really fancy being away from him at this point. It doesn't feel right. But next year, I might make a go at it depending on the amount of paperwork it's going to cost me. That's always a dealbreaker.
