So, I have completed the first month of Long Term Subbing Art 6-12. I like the school and teachers. It was the first school I began to sub at 11 years ago. I know most of the students also. It has been interesting.
I view this as my dementia protection. I keep learning new things like different computer programs I have to use as a teacher. and those "by the way' things. I am putting grades in one program, documenting behavior in a different one, learning mac, learning Photoshop to teach it and maybe learning Unity and Scratch in a little bit for my computer design class. I am working on how to keep my Middle School kids from coming in wild, talking loudly all through class and not interrupting.
My Digital Design class has been tough because the different abilities of the students but also by just having a boring book to go through with them (maybe it is just me making it boring). I was blessed when I found the Adobe Exchange with different things to do with them - like interesting projects to try. This class is the one that I am having to learn the most to teach.
With stepping in at the very last minute before school started, I have been working on getting meaningful lessons together too. Then there are the "surprises". I keep hearing about. The school has a fantastic shop program where people come to check it out and a big factory in the area is giving them a matching grant to expand and also do a Print Shop. That is where I come in. In the Spring Semester I will be teaching the basic print shop even though I have no information, equipment or space. It should be interesting too. I am working with students now to introduce the idea of the printmaking. I am starting my 8th graders on silk-screen printing and found a way to give my Digital Art students a fun project too by using the computer to do color separations so they can do the silk screen printing too. There project may be a little bit off for now.
My newest thing yesterday was finding out about Thermal silkscreen printing. He has the machine from like late 50's-60's that I am figuring out. I found a brochure and it is an interesting process. I can take a photocopy (needs to have carbon on it) or a print from a laser printer and put this mesh over it and it cuts/burns the stencil that is attached to the screen. Easy peasy. I went online and the mesh / is out of stock until the end of November when I could use it now for printing t-shirts. I saw something similar on Ebay that says mimeograph film which I think may be the same thing in a hold ya over state.
So, that is my life right now. I am hoping things will settle in and not be as time intensive but it is fun to see what different projects are out there. This is Homecoming week. Today the teachers are dressing up as "Where's Waldo". I have my red and white striped shirt and my glasses and red cap are at school. It should be fun!
