Things I Wish I Had Accomplished

I once presented this as an idea for our traditional 6th grade verse faculty basketball game staff t-shirts. I thought it was clever and funny. Needless to say it did not get approved.

I also attempted to change our school mascot. I didn't quite understand trailblazer and thought tarantula would be an amazing elementary school mascot. Again, not successful. Thankfully, I like the bird of prey idea. Ravens are pretty cool. I do wonder if I could come up with something similar to Retro Willy the Wildcat. Can't you picture Retro Raven?

The Best Top 10 List

Top 10 Things I Will Miss MOST About Elementary School

10. Funny pictures like the one above from students

9. Hugs! Although sometime they are awkward, I love getting hugs from my students as they walk in my room as well and when they leave

8. Asking students if they are going to put clothes on the stick figures. "Ah! They're Naked!"

7. Kindergarten art (Who would have thought this one would make it on the best list? My first year this grade level caused me the most tears. But because of that I really worked on my lessons and scaffolding the skills. I really love how the students change from the first day to the last!)

6. Reading children's book with the undivided attention of 20 students listening with their undivided attention.

5. Sending things via student carrier to my friends around school. Some of my favorite items sent were; diet coke, clothes being returned, tampons, candy, and funny pictures of myself.

4. Being three numbers away from friends at school. Calling 261 anytime! That's Sarah the music room, always a good listening ear. Calling 248 anytime! That's Mary in 6th grade. I loved how her students would say, "Mrs. Culross, you BFF is on the phone." Or hearing "Hello art" as Mary picked up the phone because that's who the phone says is calling. Looking down into Carrie's classroom when walking anywhere to see if she could distract me from work for a while. Since Carrie taught second grade her room was less of a calling room and more of a stopping by room. But I do know her number too, 254.

3. Trips to the Nelson! I would take 6th grade in the fall and 3rd grade in the spring.

2. Hearing things like "Wow! You're a really great artist!" and "You look pretty today". Elementary kids are good for the self esteem.

And the thing I will miss most about teaching at the elementary level is.....

1. HALLOWEEN! We did this holiday up right. All afternoon was devoted to getting students into their costumes, parading around the school to Halloween music, and parties. I love that the anticipation of what costume you are going to wear starts shortly into the new year. I love keeping my costume a secret. I love dressing up with Sarah and coordinating costumes. And I love making it onto the Halloween page of the yearbook all four year, even if I have to do it myself!

Bee and Bee Keeper

Ghost and Ghost-buster

(Can I still dress up in high school?)

The Corner of Bitter and Sweet

My way to say hello to the blogging world is to say goodbye. Recently, I said goodbye to teaching elementary school art. I had been teaching at the same school for four years, but am now moving on to high school art. When people hear of this change, they say, 'Wow! That's going to be a change'. To which I say, 'I can't wait!' But more on that later. Here are a couple of pictures of my old classroom.

Check out the beautiful rug!

All my kindergarten through 3rd grade students would start out art class on the rug. My first year I had an inexpensive K-Mart rug. It was WAY too small. I convinced my principal to spend a bundle on this gem of a rug for me second year. Oh, rug how I will miss you!

On another note, check out the stove. Students often asked, 'Why is there a stove in the art room?' There is no good answer. Stove, I will not miss you and the people you attracted to come and use you while I'm teaching. I will not miss your sweet smell of cookies and I will especially not miss your smell of Dog Gone Bones as my lifeskill friends baked dog bones as a fund raiser.

As with any job, there is plenty that I will miss as I move to a new school and a new age group of students. But like the stove there are things I will not miss and look forward to a change. But every new beginning must start with a goodbye. This blog is the story of me and my transformation from a trailblazer to a raven.

Abbey

P.S. The title of this blog hints at a book I just finished called, The Hotel On The Corner of Bitter and Sweet. It's a fast little read about a Chinese boy in Seattle during World War II. It reminds me of Water For Elephants because of the way the story is told by young and old Henry.