I love this nametag. I grew up with the TMNT so I really got a kick out of this. He wasn’t happy that I had to collect them before Splinter’s head could be drawn on, but he will get time this week.

So… last week it got HOT! It was around 102 degrees by 2:00 pm. Many schools let out early but we like to work hard in our district, so we remained open. During my last class of the day, a 6th grader raised her hand and said “Um Miss Lanker… my crayons?!”

Yes, as you can see her crayons melted in the nasty heat. What!

We drew an About Me project. Instead of drawing a self portrait of their face, students drew pictures about all things them. This student included his favorite show Auction Hunters, his favorite food (orange chicken) at Panda Express, and a bronco that he plans to buy off his uncle so he can take it mudding as well as compete at monster truck shows. He was so proud to share all these details with me, which in turn makes me love my job that much more.

She’s the little girl who loves art and is all smiles when I come into her classsroom- her mom told me that she has her own art station set up in their house with oil pastels, paint, and every other art supply possible. This is the kind of thing that will turn a bad day into a great day.

I’m more than happy for this. I had a fabulous summer but I love seeing all my kids again!

My 2nd graders drew Wild Things with oil pastels (after we read the book of course).

5TH GRADE BOY WITH JOKES.

He then added “my mama said I’m ugly” and I replied “Well your mama sure don’t lie! NO JOKE!”

Don’t worry, he knew I was joking.

-3rd grade boy during art

We were using texture plates and crayons. He was coloring quite fiercely when he yelled that extremely loud, then looked at me like oops, didn’t realize I said that out loud

I had the most chaotic class of 1st graders yesterday. It was total madness- you may know the kind I mean. I mean the chaos only seen in movies that depict CRAZY classrooms full of children running around being CRAZY and CHAOTIC. The movies that make you think “OK, they went a little overboard, classrooms never get that out of control.”

Well yes they do and for 30 minutes yesterday, that was my life.

The highlight of this 30 minutes that seemed to last a few eternities was one of the male students acting a fool and bumping into someone who had glue… as he turned around I noticed he had somehow gotten glue smeared across the entire side of his head, all over his hair. Had I not been exhausted-overwhelmed-and-still-professional, I would have snapped a picture on my BB.

When I tried to tell him I was choking back a laugh, but successfully removed it using a damp paper towel. Thank goodness it was Elmer’s and its washable.

The best part of all this? The lesson was on Chameleons, and the kids did amazing drawings. I did not help anyone draw theirs, and later that day when I finally had a moment to check them out, I was blown away.

I showed the principal, he said “Well isn’t that how the art class is supposed to be? Chaotic?”

Image via RedBubble