What You See is What You Get

Welp, this is my art room this year.  Yup.  This is the whole thing.  Actually, there is also a teacher's bathroom in a little hall by the foyer, with space for my drying rack and a cart of supplies.  But what you see here is basically what you get.

 Our school is bursting at the seams this year.  When I came to this school nine years ago, we had 2 art teachers and we were both on a cart.  Both the classroom teachers and I hated art on a cart, so the principal found spaces for us to teach.  300+ additional students later and we still have 2 art teachers.  With every available space in use as regular classroom space, both of us art teachers are in teeny tiny rooms, neither intended to be classrooms.

My old classroom, originally created as a library in the 60's or 70's, is a first grade classroom now.  My principal and I tried to figure out where to create an art space this year, knowing that I might have to revert to an art on a cart.  This little room was the best idea that we could come up with.  Classroom teachers HAAAAAAAAAATE having art on a cart in their rooms and I HAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE running around pushing one.  A trailer was a possibility, but there is no water source in them.  This space has a bathroom sink nearby, so at least I can fill a bucket of water for washing hands as needed.

Some challenges, I don't mind.  Altering a physical space to meet my needs is at least a challenge I can work with. 

My tables and stools would not work in this room, so they remain in what is now a first grade class.  I did not want to give up some of the pieces of equipment that I have worked to acquire over these years so I have utilized them as work spaces. Since the chart cases are table height to the average student, I decided to have them be student work surfaces. The wide shelving units left over by the room's former state as a workroom, remain.  They also provide work space as well as storage.

Since there is no room for chairs, my students will work standing this year. Surprisingly, I have yet to have one student complain about standing to work.  During our lesson and discussion time,  students sit on the carpeted floor, on fancy duct tape lines marking where they are to sit.  Again, no complaints from the students.

The only real problem I have encountered with this arrangement is that some of the pieces of equipment are just too tall for some students.  I have a table in the back where I now make sure the shorter students go.  

Though my school is flush with SmartBoards, I have no room for one.  I covered a bulletin board with white paper and use it as a projector screen.  My kids think that is hilarious.  I think they are hilarious for thinking that is hilarious.

So far, I have enjoyed all my classes.  The classroom teachers,  fine arts teachers and special ed teachers that bring kids to and from my class, have been a joy.  The instructional assistants that come in, are invaluable too.  With students I enjoy and the camaraderie of coworkers, the stress of being in this little space gets minimized.  Let's hope I can say that 8 months from now.