Meanwhile, Back in Week #12 (or thereabouts)

Two full weeks of student teaching--DONE. Teacher Performance Assessments, Designing Instruction and Subject-Specific Pedagogy--DONE.

Thanksgiving Break--here.

I'm thankful to have the time to spend with my husband--we just celebrated five blissfully married months on the 16th. I'm also thankful to get some much-needed rest, draw, listen to music, play with the Dodger dog...and just simply, wonderfully be.

I managed to figure it out on my husband's complicated TV we-need-more-than-one-remote set-up and had some jazz tune-age playing while I sketched in my learning journal. The learning journals were given to us by Dr. Guilliaume; everyone across the several blocks has them. They are a place to record thoughts, impressions, note, etc., in whatever style or form we choose. We had a workshop in which they were introduced and we were given time and different methods with which to make art in our journals.

The encouragement of creating art--of taking the time do it--was wonderful. I liked being told that it was okay to bring my learning journal and art supplies anywhere I wanted. It's a very liberating idea.

For those who know me and know my habits, you might be shaking your head...But you've always journaled!

True. I've kept a regular diary, then journal, from the age of five. I did the math around Volume 15 and I've written 3,000+ pages in that time, spread out over volumes of varying shapes and sizes. I write, I sketch, I scrapbook, I collage. Each journal is an art project that takes quite a while to put together:

Volume Thirteen: "To be young, Asian American, and in debt"
Chronicling my third Missoula Children's Theatre

Each takes approximately six months to assemble. It takes me about six month to a year to fill each one, so I will begin assembling a new one as I reach the halfway point of each journal. I was caught once without making one in time and spent weeks making notes that were stuffed loose-leaf into  the new journal because I need to write. As L.M. Montgomery wrote about her heroine Emily Starr, if she could not write "she would explode by the very reason of consuming her own smoke."

I spend most of the assembly time gathering pictures and fun clippings that speak to me, describe me personally, or amuse me. Each collage is culled from theatre programs, various magazines, newspapers, photos, cards, and other related sources. I also use product stickers--anything slightly clever-looking that might be a product label: they are promptly removed and stuck to my office door, waiting to be incorporated into the new journal. The actual journal itself takes about a week to a week and a half to complete. As soon as I have amassed a good amount of collage material, it all must be sized and placed together. It is a fun, yet consuming process. All clippings are laid out and compared. I use acid-free glue sticks and do one side at a time (I do the front and back as well as the inside covers=4 sides), leaving it to dry out completely for a whole day. When all four sides are complete, I take self-adhesive laminate plastic and "seal" each cover, one side at a time, trimming excess laminate as needed. The result is a protected composition book that bears a collage of my life in that moment. Not only can I track my age and "school picture"-type progression with the inclusion of an appropriate photo in the cover, I can also track my interests. Nobody but myself may ever be interested in those details, but they are fascinating to me. I highly recommend the process. It's taken me years to perfect, but it is special to me, just as the learning journals are an invaluable part of the learning process. It's all about discovery, isn't it?

Volume Fourteen: "Sun-drenched happy heart, a golden glow"
Alternate Title: "Eat, Pray, Love: You're gonna need an extra napkin"
Chronicles the dating and engagement period of Kevin & I

I was at a Road to Teaching Conference yesterday and the learning journals were brought up and the idea of doing art for art's sake was discussed. We were told that art should be purposeless. I understand that the point being made was that there shouldn't be a reason to create; one should create because he or she wants to.

But I don't think that art is purposeless at all. True that one need not have a reason to create, but I believe that the act of creating is purpose enough. It is expression, it is exploration. That's what my collages are. I don't care that people sometimes compare them to high schoolers' notebook collages; that's not what they are to me. My collages are a connected story of my life and mean something to me.

Clockwise, from right, Volume 11: "Twenty-five, in this year of grace",
Volume 13, Volume 14, and current Volume 16: "Lissa Michelle Supler Slay"

I need to work at this school!

It's been a very busy past few weeks. Our Language Arts Instruction Methods professor took us to a performing arts-based school that just happens to be a hop, skip, and a jump from where I live. I found the campus to be lovely and charming, the students articulate, expressive, and bright; the whole experience brought tears to my eyes. I wanted to say to everyone, See? See how invaluable the arts are to education? I am not just the girl with the theatre degree talking--here is a school of professionals putting it into practice!

Our Mathematics Instructions Method professor had us build cars with simple tools, first with no directions and only our own ingenuity and the second time, with various sets of directions. I was unsuccessful, but had a good time, anyway.

So excited...only to lose...

Non-school related, I attended the wedding of two very dear friends, Bethany and Jason. The wedding was beautiful, the reception dazzling, the company stimulating. Unfortunately, Kevin couldn't make it, but Bethany assured me that I would be seated with people I knew. I was seated at a table of directors, most of them friends! It was such a pleasant table, and I had a lovely time. Bethany and Jason have just moved to Las Vegas because Jason has been hired to perform in "Rock of Ages." Go love and go theatre! (It gives me such a happy thrill to hear when people are working. Exhilarating!)

I'm amused to see where my contrasting lives of theatre and education intersect and complement each other...

Back to school...In English Language Methods Instruction, our professor had us complete "English Learner Welcome Kits" for new students in our future classes. We finished with a potluck. What a great class, what a great professor.

As of right now, all of our actual methods classes are complete. All that is left is student teaching, and that will wrap up on December 15.

Kevin and I will be moving during that time, hopefully to a place that is only a couple of blocks away, to an apartment where we can, in my words, "just be married." Now, in our very New Girl set-up, I am the Anthropologie-wearing (and working) elementary school teacher living with three guys. Yes, one of them is my husband--but that's three guys, a cat, a dog, and a chinchilla. Whew!

Did I mention that I am now, at long last, working at Anthropologie? I am, and I'm loving it. Not only is the discount great, the company philosophy and culture awesome, my co-workers are really sweet and welcoming. I am enjoying myself immensely. I also have been bringing home lovely candles and home items that I can't wait to decorate our new place with. I'm ready for some nesting!

I'm working hard and being a dedicated student, reading and taking notes and actively reviewing and participating...Anthropologie gets to be the way I help contribute to the marital finances in a positive, healthy way (not adding to my stress level). There may be a trip back to CPK in my holiday future, but for now, I am content with encouraging ladies to buy pretty things and candles (I am the wax specialist at my store, word) and teaching weekends at the Playground.

I mean, what's not to love about a school called "The Playground"?

And now, lovely reader, if you have made it this far...I must leave you. Next time, we will discuss chalk, Mumford & Sons, and the Block 22 Celebration. Until then, I plan on working on some of these:

Super-Cute Tea Cozies!

You should, too! Have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving week!

A student made me a cupcake! I am thankful. :)

Best,
Lissa
xoxo