Silver Valley Girl gave this week's assignment. She asked us to write about something that happened before we went to college that contributed to being the teachers we are today. Raymond Pert's is here and Silver Valley Girl's is here. It am also using this for the Sunday Scribbling's word this week: Powerful. When I was at Sunnyside School in Kellogg during my elementary years the teachers were known for certain art projects that were done each year in their classrooms. I loved that I could peer in rooms at recess and admire projects that I could look forward to doing if I got that teacher. It was powerful. Art was displayed at our school in amazing ways also. There was a glass case by the office that student work was highlighted each month. In the cafeteria the classrooms rotated their work so lunch time could be spent gazing at brilliant crayon designs, fall leaf paintings, and pencil sketches. Also, at PTA Chili Feed time we could feast our eyes on the student designed posters for a contest to advertise the yearly event. After forty- some years I can recall the artwork that influenced my early development of my creative side. Friday afternoon after recess seemed to be the time everyone did art! It sure gave me something to look forward to all week. Art was indeed powerful.
In Mrs. M.'s room in second grade I still remember the fall trees we painted. The class did an art walk in the neighborhood by the school picking up leaves along the way. Then we experimented with mixing paint colors to create autumn trees. I recall the smell of the fall day, the texture of the leaves, and the joy in creating those trees. The whole experience was more powerful when the works of art were hung on the glassed wall above the windows in the classroom.I also enjoyed doing a paper mache Christmas ornament and an Easter Bunny.
When I moved to Mrs. C.'s class in third grade we painted the American flag on butcher paper with tempera paint. I have fond memories in the intermediate grades of creating watercolor washes, designing chalk drawings, and rolling up tissue paper balls to make beautiful Christmas trees. All these projects were ones I had studied in the display case and the cafeteria. Art was important in our school and we were encouraged to be be creative. I hoped I would get Mrs. T. in 6th grade because she did my two favorite projects... the water color cartoon characters and the pencil sketches of shoes.
I did get Mrs. T. in sixth grade. I really felt like I was an artist when we did these two projects. She brought in comic pictures of characters like Popeye, Charlie Brown, Nancy, Henry, and Wimpy. They all seemed to be people. She showed us how to imitate the artist and sketch the cartoons. The part I loved about this project was using a tiny water color brush and painting our cartoons. I believe we actually outlined them also. When my picture of Emmy Lou was hanging in the cafeteria it made me feel proud.
I had an even prouder moment when we did our pencil sketch shoes. With this project we took our shoes off , put them on our desks, and pencil sketched and shaded our shoes. I had my worn brown saddle shoes on that day, but they were the perfect pair for the still life drawing. Mrs. T. entered mine in the AAUW art contest and I won a prize. Gazing at my picture in Hutton's window uptown and seeing a ribbon on my pencil sketch was a powerful moment for a sixth grade student that never considered herself an artist. KW was an artist. She could draw anything. I just was a wanna-be. That year I really felt like an artist.
I moved to junior high and never did any art again. I played in the band, but no time for art. In high school I couldn't take art because I was in band and choir. By then I didn't think I was good enough to do art.
Then I took Elementary Art Methods in college. That love for elementary school art came back. I knew then I would always try to provide creative opportunities for my students. When I taught elementary school I did just that. I don't know if we always had art Friday afternoon after recess, but we sure had art every week. I studied different art forms trying to expose my students to different experiences. I wanted them to feel how powerful art could be.
When I moved to middle school the students could take art class. I tried to allow them to be creative while teaching writing and drama, but art for Mrs. B. For my students that didn't take art, their lives probably became like mine did when I left elementary school. I was reminded last week when an artist came to work with drawing with my students that all of us need that quiet time to draw. My elementary teachers taught me to encourage students to take risks with creative projects. I took time to sketch the picture above this morning. It is a view of the lake from my window. I will share it tomorrow with my students and model how I need to build in more time for art.
Art is powerful in supporting that creative side of the brain. I am going to dust off my supplies, dig out those art methods books, and figure out ways to integrate art with my students again. I feel fortunate to have had such a rich art background in elementary school. I think that background has always helped me encourage students to explore their creative side. Now I want them to explore even more. Often teachers struggle with the balance between time spent on "core curriculum" so that "no child will be left behind". I'm going to see if our writer's workshop can include art! I would venture to say that students would score as well on a state write assessment if they could create a subject with sketches and color as they practice essay writing. That would be powerful!
You can find other Powerful Sunday Scribblings here.
Yes, it is true. Every single thing our newest member of the cat family does is too cute. I let him go outside this afternoon and he decided it was time for a photo shoot of "Kit in the Tree". I am just glad I now have a digital camera.... I'd have to get a part-time job to afford the film with my 35 mm!
Again... who would drop off this gorgeous kitten? Their loss is our gain.
After spending so much time around the dogs Kit tried to point. I don't know if he is flushing up a bird, trying for a treat, or just getting his balance. It will always be a mystery where this kitten came from . Already he is a blessing in our home and we are glad he is here.
This week our school is celebrating Native American Week. The school community has enjoyed storytellers, crafts, music, art, and Native history. Recently murals were painted on the side of the community center in town. It is such a focal point when you drive toward the school. BS, the father on one of my students was the artist that did the eagle on the left.
Students were very focused and also asked to learn to sketch roses, horses, and buffalo.
Here is a start on a buffalo sketch by one of my seventh graders. There will then be an art contest and students can choose their best work to be judged.
Here is a closer view of BS's eagle mural on the building. This was the advice he gave the students today. " All you need to do is take time and draw and draw and practice. Take a break from the video games and T.V. and sit with paper and pencil. "
That day we also stopped at the other Catholic parish that used to serve the people in the south end of the reservation. It is called Rogers Bar Community Church (named for a gathering place/campground on a sand bar on Lake Roosevelt) and is located about twenty miles south of Inchelium on Silver Creek Road.
It is used now twice a year for services and also for special events. I was awestruck by its beauty. The parish sits on a hill above Lake Roosevelt and is surrounded by trees and meadows. There is also a 
When you peak in the windows you can see Christ of the Columbia carved into the altar, but the statues and pews are covered with protective tarps. I loved the rich hue of the elderberries hanging from a branch at the entrance of the church. It is obvious parishioners take great pride in this building. It has been maintained beautifully. It was the location for our picnic lunch as we took a break during out road trip.
Once again I gained new appreciation for the beauty of the buildings and scenery of the south end of the county in which I live. It was a glorious road trip.
My classroom sits near the end zone of the school's football field. In the mist the scoreboard stands surrounded by a forest of green and clouds of gray. The chill in the air and the change in the weather indicated that the summer season was coming to an end.
I live in Ferry County in the state of Washington. Our county covers 2,200 miles of rugged, mountainous terrain in the northeastern part of the state. Lake Roosevelt is along the eastern border.The Colville Confederated Tribe owns the southern portion of the county, while the northern half makes up a portion of the Colville National Forest. The population is about 7400 people.
It has often been stated that the only ways in and out of the county are over the highest year-round mountain pass in Washington (Sherman), aboard a ferry(Inchelium/Gifford ferry), or through a foreign country(Canada).
Recently we did a road trip and explored the southern portion of the county. JEJ had logged in this area many years ago. Students and friends live in this part of the county, but I had never taken in the road trip. I discovered another area of the inland empire that was breathtakingly beautiful . It was a sunny, late summer day. We packed a picnic, the camera, and the dogs. We captured images of places I had always wanted to see.
We headed down Silver Creek road and were first greeted by a mix of farmland, hills, and mountains in the horizon.
We then explored some mountain roads that were bordered by underbrush, creeks, ferns, and towering pines. 
Driving along another dirt road we spotted some horses by an artesian well.
Box Canyon is a landmark well known to the people of Inchelium. We stopped several times and found the sun dropping behind the rocks a lovely site.
At the end of our road trip we stopped to get an image the setting sun behind these trees. It was a joy to discover so much beauty and such an untouched part or our state. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this road trip.
