The "Correct" Tools?

I just finished my morning summer routine of looking through websites and reading all the fun preschool blogs and I HAD to get something off my chest! One of the preschool art blogs mentioned "making sure you use the correct tools". The site mentioned the different types of paint brushes (their uses), easels and smocks for cover ups. REALLY? WHY? I'm sure there may be hundreds of reasons we should use the correct tools at some point in our lives, but preschool art should be the exception. My class has always loved painting with different objects. Part of what makes my class fun is the uncertainty of what we will discover in class. I love finding strange and unusual objects to use for art. There are days when we do pull out a paint brush, or two or three. But for the most part we experiment! We have been known to paint with feathers, baseballs (my personal favorite!), celery, toilet paper/paper towel rolls and even communion cups (that's a whole different post hahahaha). The list could go on and on. The "correct tools" in my classroom are ones that encourage fun, creativity and yes, lots and lots of giggles. Why in this world would anyone settle for just paint brushes when there is a world of possibilities out there? Oh well, thanks for listing. I guess I should stop the ranting and do something productive today. Maybe I'll mop the kitchen floor? Hmmm . . . I don't think we have ever painted with a mop! NEW IDEA, LOVE IT!

What's Wrong with Me?

It's summertime and aren't teachers suppose to be resting and enjoying their time off? Well, I am . . . uh, sort of! I wonder if there is something seriously wrong with me. I can't stop thinking about school. I'm already excited thinking about September and a class full of new faces. Now don't get me wrong, I love being home with my sweet hubby and doing little home projects. Especially those that we've put off WAY to long. I love heading to the lake and enjoying time with my family (oh, Father's Day is next Sunday and we are planning a big surprise for my husband! shhhhhhh, please don't tell!). But I'm get up really, really early in the mornings and I try to be quiet until my husband gets up. I do my daily walk for exercise (which by the way doesn't seem to be doing any good) and then I have my "play on the computer time". This is when the trouble begins. I start reading blogs and getting ideas. I start making notes and printing new and cute things for September. The next thing you know it is 10:00 a.m. and NOTHING has been done. I was at the grocery store yesterday afternoon and I found myself staring at the school supplies. Now we all know that no teacher buys school supplies at the grocery store, too expensive, but I saw a wonder FAT marker that I really could use. Don't worry, I didn't buy it, but I did write down the name of it so I can try and find it later. That's another problem I'm having, my list for next year. I have the longest list of the "things I want" and "things I want to do". There is no way that we will have time to do all of them next year. There just isn't enough time. Hmmm . . . maybe we could extend our school year! Probably not. I am hoping to run by school next week and grab some construction paper and few of my supplies that I should have brought home this summer but alias I didn't. The way I figure it, I can at least start cutting out some fun stuff. Okay, I have got to calm down. I just will not make it until September. I will start repeating to myself, "I can calm down", "I can calm down", "I can calm down" . . . OH NO! I just received an e-mail from our director! She attached our clandar for 2011-2012! Oh my! The thoughts started running through my head again. I think there is something seriously wrong with me. Maybe I should look into find summer school work!!!!!