My dream job would be one just like the one I have, only one with an adequate arts budget, and one that values the arts a bit more. I haven’t received arts materials in three semesters, and have shelling out the supplies on my own time and budget, with the hopes of being reimbursed. I also dream of cart filled with Macbooks, fully equip with the latest version of Adobe CS , where I could show students how to create online portfolios, digital video, and sound compositions.
Hi Julie,
Hi Elizabeth,
I agree with you completely. The Zanders’ insights are powerful ones. The Rabbi’s perspective is also great. If we clear our internal judge, we gain clarity that allows for gratitude and a deeper understanding of circumstance.
Chapter 7, The Way Things Are
Letting the “storm sweep its course”, is a valuable lesson. I feel we have been so conditioned to believe life is always supposed to be pleasant and comfortable and resist the very valuable and real feelings of frustration, anger and sadness. To embrace and be present when things are bumpy and roll with them; that’s also part of the ride. I often see “storms” brewing in my six-year-old son. It begins with a tantrum or two, or a fight with his older brother and finally ends in a trip to his room for a time out. I have come to realize that time is valuable for him. The storm rages, for a few minutes while he usually explodes in tears, yet he emerges from it minutes later new and completely refreshed kid. Sometimes we all need a good cry or scream. It is release.
In chapter 7, Mr. Zander also discusses “exits” as a way people often time deal with very unpleasant feelings or circumstances. Turning our backs on things that make us very uncomfortable always seems to resurface in the long run. I had a friend whom lost his mother to cancer 10 years back. He still has yet to visit his mother’s grave since despite the fact that she is buried only minutes away from his home. He’s also developed in these years since her passing, a drinking habit that wasn’t there before her death. Being “present” to life’s realities, comes more naturally for some than for others. The teachings of Zen Buddhism, and yoga which incorporate those very beliefs of being “present” and “in the moment” into a spiritual practice, and
is a skill that some people acquire after years of practice and training.
1.
http://www.mylearningtube.com/media/1167/In_The_Mix_What_Makes_a_School_Worth_Going_To_Excerpt/
http://www.pbs.org/pov/differentcolorblue/differentcolorblue.php
Inspiring and true short story about an artist who is nearly blind, who continues to create his paintings despite the odds. Beautiful soundtrack and art created by a man who nearly lost all of his vision in a horrible accident. He sees that the accident allowed him to dig deeper into his art despite the odds. Found on http://www.pbs.org/pov/educators/ many amazing resources for educators including documentary, short stories and full-length feature films.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1732754907698549493#
Dr. Martin Luther King, I Have a Dream speech. I never grow tired of this clip, and show it every year around his birthday. This is a great one too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkRdj9L3wyE&feature=player_embedded
http://www.dove.us/#/features/videos/default.aspx[cp-documentid=7049579]
I’ve recently introduced IMovie and Screenflow into my classes. I’ve set up a series of demonstrations on how the programs work, and have told the students to take notes during the demonstrations. The students seem to have a second nature in how these programs work, however, the problem lies in the availability of only one computer in the classroom. I received a grant for a 17-inch Mac pro, and am having students work in small groups of 4 to produce movie reviews, capturing scenes via screen flow, and creating narrative explanations of film elements. Because I am an art teacher, I’ve created this as sub lesson within a studio art lesson. Every week on Friday, one group of four works on the film review while the rest of the class works on a studio art lesson. It’s been a balancing act, but the only way to get students to explore the technology until I can get more computers in my classroom.
http://dl.luxmedia.com/nationalgallery/audio/121409bs02.mp3
Education Podcast Network, a library of podcasts made mainly by educators and students wnting to share their stories, experiences and knowledge.
Art History podcasts. All of the hallmarks of western masterpieces http://www.learnoutloud.com/Catalog/Arts-and-Entertainment/Painting_-Architecture_-and-Sculpture/Art-History-Podcast/24148#plink
