"something clever and profound"

As I've been perusing my blog entries, I've realized I never wrote about my first painting project with the kids I volunteer with. Opps! Anyway, It was great - a far cry from the first art project I did. I had a full group of kids, and although they were a bit rambunctious, they all worked with their tutors and figured out how to mix not only green, orange and purple using the primary colors, many of them went on to make tertiary colors and and black and white as well. There was one major glitch though - there wasn't enough blue, red and yellow paint! Thankfully I realized this before the kids started to show up and I ran home (I only live 3 blocks away) and brought my own paint. Because of that lost time, I wasn't fully set up for the kids, but it all worked out. When it comes down to it, I was just relieved that many kids wanted to do the project with me. I made a color wheel at home for them to see and I painted an apple with all the colors I created. I learned a lot and I helped me for next time. I had everything set up, including paint pallets, water and paper towels for each kids so as to make it less chaotic. I could totally be an art teacher with a little more practice and authority.

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This last Thursday I continued the color wheel art project I created for the kids at Nicollet Bethlehem Community Center. I had more kids paint with me this week than last, and almost all the kids who did the art project last time came back. We worked with the colors we learned how to make using only primary colors and painted whatever. All the kids took a different spin on their projects. One of the girls really just liked to get messy and mix all the colors together with her hands. I gave her a paint tattoo as a reward for cleaning up well. It was a blast - it felt good that the kids were having fun.

Next week I'll be planning an activity for the following Thursday, which is family fun night. I think we'll do some spin art. I think this position is a great fit for me, which makes it more rewarding than a chore. Last year I attempted to teach adults, mostly African from war torn areas, how to read and write. It was physcologically straining and I never look forward to it. I can't imagine how the teacher could deal with that day in and day out. Painting with little kids seems more my forte.

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Today I planned an art project that I'll do with the kids in 2 weeks (next week they have a break, so I won't be coming in). I'm super psyched because I got to plan my own project instead of take one that's already been done. I'm going to teach the kids about the color wheel and have them experiment with the primary colors to make secondary and then tertiary colors. I'll teach them about white and black/ tints and shades. After they make their own colors, they can name them (like crayons) and paint a picture.

I typed up a worksheet today laying out what they'll be doing. First they've got to make a hypothesis on what secondary colors they think will be made with combinations of primary colors. Then they'll mix the paint and write down their observations. I think it'll be a lot of fun.

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Thursday March 20th -

I wasn't able to to come in last week because Travis (I remembered his name!) the assistant cordinator, wasn't there. This Thursday I was thrown right into my new position as art facilitator. I chose to do a collage with the kids, but only 2 of the wanted to try. It was a little awkward to have to go up to kids in the middle of homework or board games and show them my mini collage and ask if they wanted to make one too. In fact, I think my ego was a little bruised after so many rejections. C'est la vie. I got pretty into it, as well as the tutor of one of the girls who signed up. She did a collage of food which she was so proud of the took it home to finish, which I thought was sweet.

I found that in general, I would plan the art project one day (or week in this case) and facilitate the kids the next week. Hopefully next time I'll come up with something a little more interesting and get a bigger group. I'd really like to do paper mache masks, but I'm not sure how keen they are on big projects. Anywho, it wasn't too bad and it wasn't too great. I only have room to improve.

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Thursday March 6th -

I went to the Loring Nicollet Bethlehem Community Center for what they call a "site visit". I walked there; it is conveniently located only 2 blocks away. When I walked in I was greeted by Maurie Clipperton’s son (Mr. Clipperton is the suspender wearing program founder and organizer). I cannot remember his name for the life of me, but he was very cordial and gave us (there were two other kids along for the visit) a tour of the facility. It isn't apparent from the outside, but the building is a converted church appropriately void of religious symbols. The large center of the building has vaulted ceilings and is divided into a reading area and a homework/board game area.

There were kids everywhere, and almost one tutor per kid, which I found really surprising. We watched a little video clip on the program and then I got very turned around in the twisting halls and random rooms of the convoluted building. Our guide has worked with his dad at the LNBC Center (my abbreviation, not his) for 14 years and yet he told us that he still gets lost occasionally.

It turns out they already have a full staff of tutors on the days I can work, so I've taken the Thursday night arts and science facilitator. I have no idea what to expect.

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