Changes are coming....

Last year at this time I was told that my prep time specialist position was being changed. Our school lost funding for the arts grant that we had that made it possible for a full time music specialist and then my part time art specialist. The faculty had to decide which subject they wanted a specialist to cover. And, they choose music. I was given the opportunity to teach the music but declined it. At the time I thought I would easily be able to go to another school to teach art. But sadly it hasn't happened. I loved teaching art everyday. It feed my spirit to be drawing and creating daily. I really enjoy feeling my students energy and love of art and being able to see what they created.  At times when I was out and about the community I would hear, "Hi Mrs. Adams!"  It makes you feel like a rock star!  The students would say that their favorite class was art.  I would tell them, "Mine too!"    When I was young and going to school I was good at art. I was horrible at reading and math. Art is what got me through. Interesting enough when I was in middle school I took all the art classes I could. But, when I got to high school there wasn't a art department. No money for it back then. So my mom made sure I was enrolled in every summer art class, private art class, and USU sponsored program that I take. My mom and dad are both very artistic. So my home was filled with drawing paper, pencils, paint, glue, etc. It was fun! I am grateful for those years. When I was teaching myself I came to realize what those teachers where talking about when they would draw blind contour drawings and circles. Drawing is a skill that is observational and only gets better with lots of practice. My skills got better after drawing everyday with my students. So now, even though I am not teaching formally in a classroom right now, I still have a strong desire to create art daily and to be able to teach it. It is so gratifying to see a student progress and learn. To watch her blossom and be excited about creating on her own. I am not sure what changes are coming ahead for me and my family but I am pretty sure it has something to do with creating art everyday!