Charity Mika
  • Gallery
  • Student Artwork
  • Art Activist Blog
  • Art Education Blog
  • About CharityMika
  • Press
  • Contact
  • Gallery
  • Student Artwork
  • Art Activist Blog
  • Art Education Blog
  • About CharityMika
  • Press
  • Contact

The Art of Education

​Surviving and thriving?!

5/21/2021

2 Comments

 
Picture

We made it!  This is the last week of work for many of my fellow teachers, and here at the University, we just finished our commencement ceremony.  I’m not sure I can convey to you the grand challenge that this school year has been, but trust me, it was.
 
Taking some time this last couple of days to relax, I realize how high my anxiety level has been.  It was high for so long I stopped noticing it.  I remember looking at my new college students, some of them first-year students or transfer students and new to the university themselves.  They wanted to learn but had to deal with stress, anxiety, emotions, and sometimes sickness all at the same time. We were fortunate that our students were face-to-face all year, the ones that choose to attend school.  The students had the option of being online if they needed to or felt it was in their best interest. However, they came, wherever they were, I taught them. I taught them as they sat at desks away from one another. I taught them from behind a hanging piece of plexiglass. I taught them from under a mask, while they wore masks as well. I taught them from the other side of a computer screen, simultaneously as students in the classroom. I taught them from videos I made in the middle of the night.  I taught them while passing out hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes.
 
What I remember most is how big and unsettled their eyes were and how I secretly wondered if they would get sick.  If I was going to get sick.  I taught them through an ugly election, rioting, and no spring break.  Amid such awfulness, my courses did well, and I felt like I was making connections in Emporia and with my students.
 
On this morning, I am sitting here looking at pictures of a house I might purchase, to further put down some roots in this town.  I’m thankful I made a move to Emporia last year and thankful that God guided this teacher through the storm and onto another year.
2 Comments
Zona Woodard
5/21/2021 07:57:06 pm

What an amazing year for you.

Reply
Gwen
5/21/2021 10:53:44 pm

I am so glad you made it! I have no doubt that your creativity, professionalism, and dedication were clearly evident to your students. Best wishes for a restful and productive summer! I look forward to hearing more about your next accomplishments.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Professor Charity

    I teach future art teachers at Emporia State University.  Here is what is going on in my classes.

    Archives

    January 2023
    May 2021
    April 2021
    January 2021
    August 2020
    July 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    July 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018

    Categories

    All
    2020 School Year
    Accommodations
    Adaptive Art
    Alien Name
    Andy Goldsworthy
    Artists Retreat
    Art Pong
    Back To School
    Blessed
    Blessing Box
    Books
    Bubbles
    Christian In Public School
    Claes Oldenburg
    Class Critiques
    Classroom Management
    Color Wheel
    Covid-19
    Dot Day!
    Escape The Art Room
    Face Masks
    Fiber Art
    Film Review
    Food Art
    Food Plate
    Fred Rogers
    Galentine's Day
    Getting To Know You
    HyFlex
    Ice Dying
    Job Hunting
    Mandala
    Marbling Paper
    Mondrian
    Music
    Nature
    Nature Mandalas
    Nelson-Atkins
    Online Learning
    Painting
    Painting With Bubbles
    Pantry Painting
    Papier-Mache
    Pop Art
    Screen Printing
    Screensavers
    Sculpture
    Self- Care
    SOAP Notes
    STEAM Night
    Sticks Of Fate
    Summer Reading List
    Teaching In A Pandemic!
    T-shirts
    Waffle Postcards
    Weaving
    White Noise

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Gallery
  • Student Artwork
  • Art Activist Blog
  • Art Education Blog
  • About CharityMika
  • Press
  • Contact