In the Art Room

Preparing To Go Back

Today I stopped in at my school to connect with my long-term sub. It amazes me that I head back to work next week. Has it really been eight weeks already? *Sigh* It has. As much as it pains me to leave my Sweet A with another, I’m kind of excited to go back to work. There’s going to be a lot of adjusting over the next month or more as there are big changes in our life right now (more on that in a bit) and at work. I lost my classroom over the summer, but fortunately they were able to build me one in the 6th grade pod. Unfortunately, it’s small. There’s only room for enough tables to tightly seat 24 kids, and I’m pretty sure I have a couple of classes this year with 29 or more students. On the plus side, I finally have sinks, cupboards and shelving, things that I didn’t have last year. Oh, and no nasty carpet!

On another positive note, I’m only returning to work part time. As you know, I was really distraught over returning to work and leaving my babe in daycare. Fortunately, Mr. ATHG was offered a new job, and he took it. This new job means I don’t have to work full time, yay! Now I’ll be working three days a week, and I can be home with my sweet girl Monday and Friday. I also managed to find a fantastic daycare arrangement for Sweet A, at least for the month of November. Because Mr. ATHG’s new job is further away, we’re looking to move at the end of November to a location more central to both our work places. *Sigh* A new baby… back to work… a new classroom… a new job for Mr. ATHG… moving… all in the span of three months. Oh, and then right after we move, Sweet A has to have minor surgery. If I make it to Christmas, it will be a miracle.

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In the Art Room

Show Me Your Apron, Recessionista!

Art and science often go hand-in-hand, so why not wear a lab coat when creating and experimenting ?
    

Recessionista says:

“I use a lab coat for my apron. :)”

Thanks for playing along, Recessionista!

Here’s how you can be featured…

  • Upload your picture to the Art Teachers Hate Glitter facebook page (You’ll have to “Like” ATHG in order to do so. See the sidebar for a link to direct you there if you’re not already a fan/follower/whatever they’re calling it these days) -or-
  • Email your picture to artteachershateglitter (at) gmail (dot) com
Photo requirements…
  • Be creative! Put your apron on display, photograph yourself wearing it, photograph someone else wearing it, whatever strikes your fancy!
  • Keep the file size small. I don’t want my inbox to get bogged down.
Other…
  • If you have a blog or website, include the web address with your photo so I can link to it when/if you’re featured.
  • Be patient. I have no idea what kind of response I will get for this. This idea may bomb or it may really take off.
  • Have a story to tell about your apron? Share it with me. I’d love to share it with my readers.

I look forward to seeing all the different aprons out there. Have fun! 
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In the Art Room

Show Me Your Apron, Kathy!

Kathy makes her own aprons. Here’s one of the aprons she’s made.
  
Kathy says:

“I wore this one last week when I introduced my western art theme.”

Thanks for playing along, Kathy!

Here’s how you can be featured…

  • Upload your picture to the Art Teachers Hate Glitter facebook page (You’ll have to “Like” ATHG in order to do so. See the sidebar for a link to direct you there if you’re not already a fan/follower/whatever they’re calling it these days) -or-

  • Email your picture to artteachershateglitter (at) gmail (dot) com

Photo requirements…
  • Be creative! Put your apron on display, photograph yourself wearing it, photograph someone else wearing it, whatever strikes your fancy!

  • Keep the file size small. I don’t want my inbox to get bogged down.

Other…
  • If you have a blog or website, include the web address with your photo so I can link to it when/if you’re featured.

  • Be patient. I have no idea what kind of response I will get for this. This idea may bomb or it may really take off.
  • Have a story to tell about your apron? Share it with me. I’d love to share it with my readers.

I look forward to seeing all the different aprons out there. Have fun! 
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A Day In the Life, Gripes

Thank you!

A couple posts back I ranted about mediocre (okay, lousy) maternity leave and having to return to work. I want to take a minute to thank everyone who commented and showed so much support and encouragement. Thank you. I know a lot of you have been in my shoes; my problems are certainly not unique. After mulling it over and discussing our situation with Mr. ATHG, I decided to call human resources and look into taking a couple of more weeks off. I was informed that after my six weeks of short-term disability time was up, I could then tack on some FML (Family Medical Leave) time on, up to an additional six weeks. Well, Mr. ATHG and I had concluded that we could probably afford for me to take two extra weeks off, especially since we weren’t counting on me getting any short-term disability pay (I had previously been informed by co-workers that if you gave birth outside of the contract calendar, you were not eligible for short-term disability). So, I put in the paperwork that would allow me to stay at home with Sweet A for two additional weeks. Hooray!

Unfortunately, after submitting my paperwork, getting all excited about extra time at home, delaying my daycare search (something I’m sure I’ll come to regret) and making plans for visitors, I was contacted by the company that handles our disability. As it turns out, the woman who initially handled my claim messed up, and I am, in fact, not eligible for disability. Apparently I would of had to be employed with the school system for a full year before I was eligible. I was six days shy of making that full year. It was explained that I would have had to have given birth to Sweet A on or after September 1st in order to have qualified (although my official hiring date was August 30th). I was crushed. Granted, the STD pay would have only been for about one week (after the 20-day period was up), but some money is better than no money, right?

Debt be damned, I’m still taking the extra two weeks off.

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In the Art Room

Show Me Your Apron, Katie Morris!

          
Our first apron feature was submitted by Katie Morris, author of the blog Adventures of an Art Teacher. Check out those brush (hand?) strokes!

Here’s what Katie has to say about her apron:

“Here’s my apron, purchased at the KAEA conference a few years ago. The logo says Art: A Sign of the Times. Kids ask me why I wear an apron and I tell them if I didn’t, that’s what my clothes would look like!”

Thanks for playing along, Katie, and congrats on being the first featured apron!



Here’s how you can be featured…

  • Upload your picture to the Art Teachers Hate Glitter facebook page (You’ll have to “Like” ATHG in order to do so. See the sidebar for a link to direct you there if you’re not already a fan/follower/whatever they’re calling it these days) -or-
  • Email your picture to artteachershateglitter (at) gmail (dot) com
Photo requirements…
  • Be creative! Put your apron on display, photograph yourself wearing it, photograph someone else wearing it, whatever strikes your fancy!
  • Keep the file size small. I don’t want my inbox to get bogged down.
Other…
  • If you have a blog or website, include the web address with your photo so I can link to it when/if you’re featured.
  • Be patient. I have no idea what kind of response I will get for this. This idea may bomb or it may really take off.
  • Have a story to tell about your apron? Share it with me. I’d love to share it with my readers.
I look forward to seeing all the different aprons out there. Have fun!
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