A School Year in Review: 2018 | 2019

""Art has the role in education of helping children become more like themselves instead of more like everyone else."  
- Sydney Gurewitz Clemens

My first full school is in the books. My second school year at William Paca, I can leave the 2018-2019 school year feeling accomplished and looking forward to the next year of possibilities. While this year presented the new challenges of balancing a heavier photography schedule, moving out of my parents, balancing my test taking and working full time while taking on new leadership skills, I kept my head somewhat on straight. Passed my math praxis (the most difficult level one I had to take), completed a good chunk of my coursework. So here's some highlights of the fun. (Teacher friends don't hold back on your own in the comments below!)

2018 | 2019 School Year in Review

• My students know me as... Miss S, Miss Shryock, Art Teacher.
• First day scary was... Mold in my classroom! YUCK!
• Funniest thing a student has said (that I can recall)... "Miss S, if you're young why do you have wrinkles?"
• Classroom creativity... Using Pizza Man go noodle before we created our giant pizzas!
• Favorite project... Paper Mache Donuts! I was scared completely to give these 4th graders complete freedom but they did incredible!
• A breakthrough moment... 5th graders working on giant canvases! It also proved to be a great activity for students who needed a break from their general ed class and ESOL students.
• A project I want to try again is... a class wide recreation of a book! This was an amazing project with first grade!
• The end of the year Art Party... was well deserved for these two age groups. Miss Lofton's 5th grade group did incredible receiving points this year, even getting to work on a 6th grade level project. They received icy pops, a nice note written ON their table (they thought this was so so cool), a new heart shape crayon, and a drawing video of their choice. Some even rather help me clean the room. LOL 1st grade Miss Ardita's class enjoyed icy pops on the carpet with funny face and their new crayon.  I will miss these groups SO much next year.
• New leadership opportunity I took on... running the school store for the PBIS programs.
  
• Favorite Social Event with my staff... dancing to Old Town Road and surprising the students!!
  
• Biggest accomplishment this school year was... Incorporating reflective art and TAG into my schedule this year. I was able to work in small groups and see incredible results with these groups
• Something I want to focus on next year... ORGANIZATION, POSITIVITY, 3D/HANDS ON ART.
• Thing I will miss from this year is... my students over the summer surprise surprise lol (And my rainbow theme room. lol)
• Thing I am most excited for in the fall is... updating my classroom's swag, another year with my students, seeing my 4th graders from this year head to 5th!

​Check out Miss Shryock's Classroom for more student work, art education adventures!