Why do I write about art shows I have attended and what is my media

 I hate labeling people but I guess you could but a bunch  of labels on me if you wanted to. I like labels on my bins of art supplies however just fine. I consider myself and art teacher and an artist. Some people would say that I am a Substitute teacher and therefore not a "real teacher" I hear that one a lot an it hurts. I write my own lesson plans I conduct art lessons even though I currently do not have my own classroom within a school. I have heard people cal me a painter, a jewelry maker but I consoder myself an artist plain and simple. I do not want to pigeone hold myself in to a specifc media. I actually fimrly belief that anyone who wants to teach art for k-5 should not specialize in  specificmedia because the best way to reach your student is to let them sample them all. Id students learn to use several materials and you as a teacher feels comfortable with several of them I think this is the best way to reach students.

I also belief strongly that  art teachers should know what is going on in there local community especially within their arts community. It keeps you from not getting trapped in a bubble of teaching, grading an lesson prep. It gets you outisde you classroom.  It gives you relevent thingsto talk to students about that are happening right in their community that they tocan be involved with. It takes learning outside of the door and makes it relevant to students in the "real world"

 I also do beleif that besides being a teacher that I am an artist to my core. This is why  I am not certified to teach another subject althought I have considered it and have taught preschool before. I love to look at art and talk  to other artists it gives me inspiration it gives me a sounding board, it gives me ideas and it gives me hope..

Everyone knows that the arts are the least appreciated field in schools and often in our communities. I think that artists need to support one another and not treat each other like competition....  I think that Good Karma is a good way to go. I give shout out to artists whose work I have enjoyed in order to help continue to promote the arts to advocate for the arts and because I hope that some "good Karma exchange will be put out there.

Decisions and realizations

So I am an art teacher. Most people ask me after that statement " Where do you teach?" I always assume they want to hear a school name. Some are really impressed when I say "I work at an art gallery". I am working other jobs where I teach art too. Each different job requires a varying amount of instruction and preparation. I have considered working a new full time job doing something other then teaching art..... Mostly for the consistent pay. It is so important to me that my work includes my passion. I am an artist. I love teaching.

I may be able to find other full time work that allows me to pay my bills more easily. But I worked very hard to stay in school and continue to follow my dream of being an art teacher.A Masters degree for me was harder then it is for some.
I have never considered myself brilliant, I do know how to teach art and I am very comfortable doing it. Working at coffee bucks and being a sandwich artist would just not be the same thing as making a joke and hearing kids laugh or hearing "Whoa you can really draw." From a group of kids. I have been doing this for a long time. I have, along with the degree all the children's drawings I have been gifted with over the years to prove it.