made with Photosynth app on iphone...Friday, September 23, 2011
Art and the New Evaluation Tool for Teachers
Yep, I predict a worse education system in this country and stupider kids, yep I said stupider. All decent careing teachers will quit, all new teachers will not pursue the profession, and who knows what will teach our kids. We teach because we want kids to learn, we are excited and get pumped about kids learning. NOT about paperwork, forced lessons by rote or reading and writing in Art. Art class is for ...um...ART.
This is an excellent read:
http://artwithmre.blogspot.com/2011/09/tn-new-evaluation-system-one-size-does.html
This is an excellent read:
http://artwithmre.blogspot.com/2011/09/tn-new-evaluation-system-one-size-does.html
Thursday, September 8, 2011
WHY TEACH ART?
WARNING: Soap Box is placed and I am standing on it!
With all the "evaluation" crud coming down upon teachers, I am yet again agast at the idiotic ways the "government" thinks we should teach and be measured for our teaching. The new evaluation model, without exception, stifles creative teaching, adds more stress to teachers and therefore students, and asks for teachers to teach in 55 minutes what in all reality would take days. With all this is the "testing" issue. My subject is not tested by standardized tests, and note here- IT SHOULD NOT BE!
But then how can the "state" evaluate me? So now, I am evaluated upon what other teachers do or do not teach as reflected on how a student scores on their test. Need I even mention here the kid who sits and in the last five minutes of the test creates a sailboat in their bubbled in circles. Yep, that's fair.
I found this website www.whyteachart.com and I highly recommend it as a good read. If only I could get the government and the powers that be to read it and believe it! Here is a small excerp....
With all the "evaluation" crud coming down upon teachers, I am yet again agast at the idiotic ways the "government" thinks we should teach and be measured for our teaching. The new evaluation model, without exception, stifles creative teaching, adds more stress to teachers and therefore students, and asks for teachers to teach in 55 minutes what in all reality would take days. With all this is the "testing" issue. My subject is not tested by standardized tests, and note here- IT SHOULD NOT BE!
But then how can the "state" evaluate me? So now, I am evaluated upon what other teachers do or do not teach as reflected on how a student scores on their test. Need I even mention here the kid who sits and in the last five minutes of the test creates a sailboat in their bubbled in circles. Yep, that's fair.
I found this website www.whyteachart.com and I highly recommend it as a good read. If only I could get the government and the powers that be to read it and believe it! Here is a small excerp....
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Sunday, July 24, 2011
Party Prep and Execution of Boy's 21st
Spent the week preparing for Sam's 21st Birthday party at Julie's house. So Thursday I bought a pork shoulder, and when Julie got home we shopped for other stuff in the worst rain in history; flooded lanes, lights out, craziness.
Friday, I went in to finish helping Julie re-organize her office, then rubbed down the pork with a dry rub (thanks Paula Deen), and while it marinated in the fridge we went over to Donna's (I knew her in High School) to sit by her fire. Then when we got home and I put the pork in the grill to "get a nice bark" as Mark put it. (Thanks Mark for the instructions and moral support). Then into the oven at 200 F at 11:40 pm, basted at 3:30, 7:30, and 11:30, house smells awesome!
Got up Saturday and made baked beans from scratch, and a BBQ sauce from scratch. The pork continued to cook. Julie cleaned the whole yard and patio by herself! And voila! We had a party.
Facebook link to pics
The videos, while lacking in execution, were well received. For those involved, yes, we brought him to tears, he misses you all so much!
Friday, I went in to finish helping Julie re-organize her office, then rubbed down the pork with a dry rub (thanks Paula Deen), and while it marinated in the fridge we went over to Donna's (I knew her in High School) to sit by her fire. Then when we got home and I put the pork in the grill to "get a nice bark" as Mark put it. (Thanks Mark for the instructions and moral support). Then into the oven at 200 F at 11:40 pm, basted at 3:30, 7:30, and 11:30, house smells awesome!
Got up Saturday and made baked beans from scratch, and a BBQ sauce from scratch. The pork continued to cook. Julie cleaned the whole yard and patio by herself! And voila! We had a party.
Facebook link to pics
The videos, while lacking in execution, were well received. For those involved, yes, we brought him to tears, he misses you all so much!
tuppaware, it all ends here, and too many kids
Saturday, July 16
Julie had a tupperware party, so cleaning, snacks and Tim the Tupperwareman were the adgenda. Once they all left we went and saw HARRY POTTER: THE DEATHLY HALLOWS Part 2. Woot! So excellent!
Sunday, July 17
Set up the room for the Art component of Kids Activity Day at Gymea Baptist. Here are some pics
A VERY long day. Got there at 730 and left at almost 6 pm.
Tuesday, July 19
I was sick today. too many kids, and a sore body with a cold. Sweet Sam came by and got me medicine and I gave him lunch...while I continued to sleep. Crazy cold wind, all night and big rain for around here.
Julie had a tupperware party, so cleaning, snacks and Tim the Tupperwareman were the adgenda. Once they all left we went and saw HARRY POTTER: THE DEATHLY HALLOWS Part 2. Woot! So excellent!
Sunday, July 17
Set up the room for the Art component of Kids Activity Day at Gymea Baptist. Here are some pics
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Tuesday, July 19
I was sick today. too many kids, and a sore body with a cold. Sweet Sam came by and got me medicine and I gave him lunch...while I continued to sleep. Crazy cold wind, all night and big rain for around here.
Monday, July 18, 2011
The Reason I'm Here and Uncle Bruce
Sunday,July 3 to Friday, July 15
These two weeks were mostly filled with Hope Street-Urban Compassion preparing for the Kids Activity day at Gymea Baptist.
Helen would pick me up at 745 and we would weave thru traffic into Woolloomooloo (Sydney) See map
Pray for Hope Street Urban Compassion with all the ministries they support. Pray for continued government and Baptist support, for financial and prayer partners and for the staff of Hope Street.
I also had meetings for the Kids Activity Day at Gymea Baptist Church.
While this week passed we also went to visit our Uncle Bruce, my Dads, sisters husband. He is one of our favorites. Sadly however the week prior he suffered a stroke, in his spine! And now he is paralysed from the waist down...odd huh? But Uncle Bruce is a "glass half full" kind of guy, I guess from running the Baptists here for years (ha ha). But he has a fantastic attitude, goes to Physical therapy every day to build up his core and upper body. Please pray for him, we are praying for a miracle. He has had a miracle healing before and his with us still for a reason! So we went North to the Northern Beaches to Forster to visit with him for two days.
These two weeks were mostly filled with Hope Street-Urban Compassion preparing for the Kids Activity day at Gymea Baptist.
Helen would pick me up at 745 and we would weave thru traffic into Woolloomooloo (Sydney) See map
Woolloomooloo is a dicotomy of rich and poor. Within blocks of each other you have the highest concentration of homeless people in Australia and the most expensive condos. I spent my days there helping Helen with the year end receipts on computer, mail merging and stuffing envelopes. I would also take time to go "down" to the Back Shed Cafe or the Art Space to see who was hanging out and talk to them. Then around 430 I would climb the hills up from Woolloomooloo to Kings Cross Station (quite a steep hill), and catch the train for about an hour back to Gymea (Where Julie lives).
I went in Tuesday July 5, Friday July 8, Wednesday July 13, Thursday July 14 and Friday July 15. I will blog in more detail about that.
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| Across the street from HopeStreet, A local guy who feeds the cockatoos each morning |
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| The desk I was at had a very fun and creative owner.. thanks Tim for sharing your space. |
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| Yes, this stared at me as I worked for an urban mission |
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| View walking down from Kings Cross Station |
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| The city |
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| Outside a tenement house |
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| The station |
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| Alley cut thru to the cafe |
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| This square houses the most homeless in Australia, and if you walk to the end of it you see Finger Bay Warf where the rich and famous like Russell Crowe live. ....literally blocks from Hope Street. |
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| Government housing |
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| the train track over Woolloomooloo in the city |
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| Tim, Helen and Beth at Hope Street Urban Compassion |
I also had meetings for the Kids Activity Day at Gymea Baptist Church.
While this week passed we also went to visit our Uncle Bruce, my Dads, sisters husband. He is one of our favorites. Sadly however the week prior he suffered a stroke, in his spine! And now he is paralysed from the waist down...odd huh? But Uncle Bruce is a "glass half full" kind of guy, I guess from running the Baptists here for years (ha ha). But he has a fantastic attitude, goes to Physical therapy every day to build up his core and upper body. Please pray for him, we are praying for a miracle. He has had a miracle healing before and his with us still for a reason! So we went North to the Northern Beaches to Forster to visit with him for two days.
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| Uncle Bruce and me |
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| Julie with Uncle Bruce |
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| Forster Beach |
Ahhhh relax and watch
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Sleeping Late, the homeless and a Big Fall
Sunday, July 3
Church at GBC and met "possibly Julies new flat mate". Met Sam for night church at GBC.
Monday, July 4
No FOURTH OF JULY parties here. We slept in then went to the beach to hang out and eat fish and chips. Read magazines and drew. Then to Miranda (mall) for chinese take away.
Tuesday, July 5
I went into HopeStreet-Urban Compassion with Helen and helped with financial year end paperwork. Spent about 30 minutes talking to some of the indigenous locals. Caught the train home by myself from the city to Gymea and stopped in the shops on the way home walking from the station (so very Australian). I had to walk to windy alleys and backstreets of Woolloomooloo to Kings Cross, trying to get there before dark (you may have heard of Kings Cross. (street and area famous for "entertaining" sailors when they come into port). Sam was about two trains behind me so he came by for dinner.
Wednesday, July 6
Not needed at HopeStreet today so slept in and then had a meeting at the church for the Kids Activity day - sort of like our Creative Arts camp but one day. On the way Julie had a big fall, hurt her bad knee, some new neighbors stopped and helped us out, but she is surviving. Then off to Paulette and Bob's for a wonderful lasagna dinner (made by Bob) and a "card making" class downstairs, then great hazelnut latte's by Bob....yes, Bob is great!
Church at GBC and met "possibly Julies new flat mate". Met Sam for night church at GBC.
Monday, July 4
No FOURTH OF JULY parties here. We slept in then went to the beach to hang out and eat fish and chips. Read magazines and drew. Then to Miranda (mall) for chinese take away.
Tuesday, July 5
I went into HopeStreet-Urban Compassion with Helen and helped with financial year end paperwork. Spent about 30 minutes talking to some of the indigenous locals. Caught the train home by myself from the city to Gymea and stopped in the shops on the way home walking from the station (so very Australian). I had to walk to windy alleys and backstreets of Woolloomooloo to Kings Cross, trying to get there before dark (you may have heard of Kings Cross. (street and area famous for "entertaining" sailors when they come into port). Sam was about two trains behind me so he came by for dinner.
Wednesday, July 6
Not needed at HopeStreet today so slept in and then had a meeting at the church for the Kids Activity day - sort of like our Creative Arts camp but one day. On the way Julie had a big fall, hurt her bad knee, some new neighbors stopped and helped us out, but she is surviving. Then off to Paulette and Bob's for a wonderful lasagna dinner (made by Bob) and a "card making" class downstairs, then great hazelnut latte's by Bob....yes, Bob is great!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Beach, Bob and Brazilian BBQ
Sunday, June 26 - Saturday July 2
This is the second week of school holidays here. we have been relaxing and just hanging out. We take quick driv es to the beach (Cronulla) and walk around there. Met Sam and Tahlia yesterday for coffee there. Sam is staying in Cronulla while he does his internships in Sydney. He will return to Wagga in 2 weeks and won't be as accessible to me....(sad face).
I have visited with old friends. Paulette (who would be a pepper sister for sure) and had great hazelnut coffee made by Bob her husband...he makes the best coffee, sorry Kayran. Ate Indian from my new Indian friend at the Indian Family Diner Take Away.
Hung out with Ali for her 30th birthday! For TWO parties! Ate Brazilian BBQ and hung out at the Pub (one of many locals)
This is the second week of school holidays here. we have been relaxing and just hanging out. We take quick driv es to the beach (Cronulla) and walk around there. Met Sam and Tahlia yesterday for coffee there. Sam is staying in Cronulla while he does his internships in Sydney. He will return to Wagga in 2 weeks and won't be as accessible to me....(sad face).
I have visited with old friends. Paulette (who would be a pepper sister for sure) and had great hazelnut coffee made by Bob her husband...he makes the best coffee, sorry Kayran. Ate Indian from my new Indian friend at the Indian Family Diner Take Away.
Hung out with Ali for her 30th birthday! For TWO parties! Ate Brazilian BBQ and hung out at the Pub (one of many locals)
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Friday, June 24, 2011
Sick, Shanghai and Sushi
Tuesday, June 21
Went into Inaburra today, spent the morning cleaning and inventorying tubs. Julie had me using this citrusy spray to clean and yep, got a reaction. Spent that afternoon with a scratchy throat, to make along and painfilled story short, used the inhaler...got sicker...don't remember much about Tuesday night, or Wednesday.
Wednesday Night, June 23
We had tickets for "Shang-hi", a Chinese dance and music extravaganza.Don't remember much, but it was great! It was next to the Queen Victoria Building and I vaguely remember making a movie of that...I will have to look.
Went into Inaburra today, spent the morning cleaning and inventorying tubs. Julie had me using this citrusy spray to clean and yep, got a reaction. Spent that afternoon with a scratchy throat, to make along and painfilled story short, used the inhaler...got sicker...don't remember much about Tuesday night, or Wednesday.
Wednesday Night, June 23
We had tickets for "Shang-hi", a Chinese dance and music extravaganza.Don't remember much, but it was great! It was next to the Queen Victoria Building and I vaguely remember making a movie of that...I will have to look.
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| This was the State Theatre |
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| Queen |
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| Wine and Beer at Concessions |
Thursday, June 24
Still really sick, Stayed in bed. Julie took me for sushi for dinner....ok, lettuce and mayonnaise have no place in a sushi roll!
Friday, June 25
Feeling much better. Slept in then got up and cleaned house. Needed it really badly. Julie came home and we headed out to the Como Hotel (very historic) for coffee with some from Inaburra. After that to GPK (Gourmet Pizza Kitchen, like Picasso's)... then a little Harry Potter.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
SickDays
Tuesday, June 20
Went to Inaburra with Julie, spend the morning taking inventory of plastic tubs, and cleaning off numbers and stickers. Used a citrus based cleaner...I should have known better. By the time we got home I was getting sick. Had a terrible night.
Wednesday, June 21
Really sick, the only reason I got up (at 12:30) was to shlep to the Chemist to get medicine and a coffee. I sat at Gloria Jeans for a long time, I was so sick.
We had free tickets to Shangri-la, a wonderful Chinese dance and music extravaganza in the City.
I was sooooo sick but it was worth it.
Went to Inaburra with Julie, spend the morning taking inventory of plastic tubs, and cleaning off numbers and stickers. Used a citrus based cleaner...I should have known better. By the time we got home I was getting sick. Had a terrible night.
Wednesday, June 21
Really sick, the only reason I got up (at 12:30) was to shlep to the Chemist to get medicine and a coffee. I sat at Gloria Jeans for a long time, I was so sick.
We had free tickets to Shangri-la, a wonderful Chinese dance and music extravaganza in the City.
I was sooooo sick but it was worth it.
Can I be a housewife please?
Monday, June 20
I was a housewife today. I swept, washed dishes, cleaned, cleared, washed clothes and hung it out to dry outside. Absolutely loved it!
Walked up to the shops to do banking and sit at Gloria Jeans and watch the world walk by Gymea. I watched all the prams with babies, then they left for nap and school let out, watched kids hang out at the shops, mums meeting little ones and buying them hot chocolate and cupcakes. Dogs on leashes galore. I remember the feel of my cotton school uniform, legs cool but my jumper on top, and rolled up make you feel toasty. (Maybe you have to have been an Australian school girl to understand that). Little girl came to sit by me (I was drawing), and her mum joined her. She was struggling with spreading her cream cheese. Mum actually took time to teach her how to spread cream cheese on the bagel. Great lesson...good mum.
Being outside all the time is great here. Mild sunny winters. I think I could be a great Aussie housewife. Where is my sugar daddy?
Been drinking alot of tea...love it! Want one love?
I was a housewife today. I swept, washed dishes, cleaned, cleared, washed clothes and hung it out to dry outside. Absolutely loved it!
Walked up to the shops to do banking and sit at Gloria Jeans and watch the world walk by Gymea. I watched all the prams with babies, then they left for nap and school let out, watched kids hang out at the shops, mums meeting little ones and buying them hot chocolate and cupcakes. Dogs on leashes galore. I remember the feel of my cotton school uniform, legs cool but my jumper on top, and rolled up make you feel toasty. (Maybe you have to have been an Australian school girl to understand that). Little girl came to sit by me (I was drawing), and her mum joined her. She was struggling with spreading her cream cheese. Mum actually took time to teach her how to spread cream cheese on the bagel. Great lesson...good mum.
Being outside all the time is great here. Mild sunny winters. I think I could be a great Aussie housewife. Where is my sugar daddy?Been drinking alot of tea...love it! Want one love?
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