Wall Of Success

As a continuation of the "You are Beautiful" door, I decided to make a wall which will end up being two walls when I complete it. I looked up the most successful Latino and African American business people in the U.S.. I asked our Digital Arts teacher to print the photos with the articles on those individuals. I wanted more people from different careers so I got a subscription to People Espanol which features mostly women. I need to find a magazine with some more Latino men in different careers also.
I also got a subscription to Essense to find more African-American individuals with inspiring stories of success.
I do have all ethnicities on my wall. However, my wall reflects the diversity in my classroom which is what I'm aiming for.
And the Olympics have brought new stories of perseverence and success.
Countless people have visited my classroom and tell me how welcoming, inspiring and joyful it is. Many tell me they don't want to leave. They want to be students in my classroom. I love it. Most of the time it has this calm exuberance going on - creativity at work with focus and patience. How beautiful!

You Are Beautiful!!!

I teach at the most diverse high school in my whole school district. On a daily basis I am touched with the kindness that I witness in interactions and friendships I see amongst people of all backgrounds. I hear my students freely speak about their dreams, fears, and thoughts about this world as they work on their projects.

But sometimes, and too often the conversation revolve around things they don't like in how they look. And I'm shocked by how many times I have overheard students say that they wish their skin was lighter. I know that it's typical for people as they grow up to want to look like those people that they admire. I remember when I was in high school perming my hair a couple of times a year - it would come off in inch pieces with the damage. I always wished that I had bigger lips, a smaller nose, dimples, and wanted so much to be slimmer. So how can we combat those feelings?

In The book, "The Secret," there is a woman that says that some of her heroes or sheros when she was growing up were Wonder Woman, and the Bionic Woman. She said that with her full lips, curvy hips, and curly hair, she didn't look like them. She didn’t like the way she looked and she kept looking for other people to make her feel beautiful. 

Eventually she learned that she needed to love the way she looked first. Then other people would see her beauty. So, how could I help my students see and accept their beauty?

I looked on the internet and found people of every background that are beautiful. Yes, there are more people with dark skin on my door. That reflects the people in my classroom. And what I see is that people with lighter skin are far more likely to be seen in the public eye. Using the woman in “The Secret” as inspiration, I felt that it might help if my students see more people that “look like them” that are beautiful.

I put the photos up and then played the audio of “The Secret” where the woman spoke of finally accepting her own beauty and how others then saw the beauty within her. 

My follow up project to this is my “Perseverance Leads to Success” Wall that I’ll post next for you. It shows photos with write-ups on people who have overcome circumstances through their intelligence, and effort to become successful. This wall features mostly people of Latin and African ancestry because I want my students to have a daily reminder of people who are highly successful and are making a positive difference in the world that “look like them” because that seems to be important to them. My students are my children and color doesn’t matter to me. But in over hearing my students’ conversations, color does matter to them. Hopefully, it will remind them that they can be successful, accepted, and respected. The more that we are thankful for everything that we have, the more that we see the possibilities and beauty that can be in store for our lives.

What Can I Do to Be Happier?

A few years ago, my husband and I were working too much, worrying too much, and not finding much joy in the present. 

We came across a movie on Netflix (also on Amazon Prime, and OV Guide says it can be downloaded for free but I have no experience with that site) called "Happy" that came out in 2011. 

The movie is about a director who goes all over the world to interview people who said that they are exceptionally happy on a questionaire to ask them why they feel that way. It was very interesting and led my husband to more research on happiness. He purchased "The Happiness Advantage," It is a short book. You can find a synopsis of it on Carpe Diem 101 - much more in depth than the synopsis that I give my students and will post here. However, for short attention spans, this synopsis works well.

So, here's what I learned from the book and I had posted on the door of my classroom for the first 3 months of this school year and all of the 2 past school years so that my students can stare at it the last 2 minutes of class before they walk out the door:

From the book, "Happiness Advantage"

By doing research studying some of the happiest people in the world, this is what researchers found:

1) The happiest people have enough money to buy food and have a place to live in (fulfilling basic survival needs).

2) The happiest people in the world are not rich. Rich people tend to think a lot about what they don't have: they are constantly comparing their possessions to others’ possessions and that makes them unhappy.

3) The happiest people do at least one kind thing for another person each day. An example could be as simple as opening a door for someone.

5) The happiest people do at least one fun thing each day. 

6) The happiest people think about 3 things that they are thankful for every day. They are grateful for what they have right now. They appreciate the good things that they have in life. They focus on the positive things in life. They don’t dwell on negative things.

7) The happiest people volunteer to help. 

8) The happiest people have at least 5 friends.

9) When the happiest people have big goals that they want to accomplish, they break a goal up into smaller goals that result in them more often accomplishing the big goal. Breaking a big goal up into smaller goals means that they can be successful more often (which makes them happier), and they are more likely to succeed at the big goal eventually.

10) The happiest people fail sometimes but they are able to see what they should improve on so that they are more successful the next time. 

11) Exercising 40 minutes every day makes people happier.

12)   The 200 research studies on happiness showed the author that happiness LEADS to more success in all areas of our lives, not the other way around. So, in other words, focusing on the positive now, will lead you to a more successful and happy life as you go on in life. Attitude is everything!

A Project for Happiness in Support of #3 on the List

When I thought about this blog article, the first thing that came to mind was an experience I had last year. I arrived at 6:30AM to find that the second floor of my building was plastered with sticky notes, photo below. My heart was happy as I walked through the hallway, read them, and took these photos. I was so happy to know that some people cared enough to go through this effort of writing positive notes for hundreds of students whom they didn’t know. I wondered, “Did they get class credit for maybe an English class or something else for it?” 

Then, a janitor arrived and began taking them down. I went up to her and asked why. She told me that the Plant Manager said that they would eventually fall on the floor and create a mess so she’d already removed those on another floor. She said that the people who put them up didn’t secure the permission of the principal beforehand. I asked her to stop and think about all of the work and care that was put into these positive notes and how much good this gesture could bring about. I told her that for the next week, every day at nutrition, I would pick up any notes that fell on the floor. So, an agreement was struck and followed. I tell you this because if you decide to do something like this, it’s exceptionally important that all people in charge are notified beforehand.

I went to the office and asked who put up the notes. I was told that the students who put up the notes were asked that no one ever be told who was responsible for this deed. They did NOT receive any class credit and had no teacher support for this. I was also told that they had secured prior permission from the principal. However, the principal did not tell the Plant Manager about it. 

The bottom line is that gesture brightened the day of many people that day including myself. And who knows? If the message was especially significant to the person who received it, it could effect them even years into the future.

In my study of psychology many years ago, I remember reading about a research study where one group of participants were asked to take an easy test and then payed for their participation, and the other group of participants were asked to take a long, arduous test and then paid. Outside was a person asking for donations for something (I don’t recall for what). 

The research was trying to answer the question: would there be a difference in the generosity of the participants depending on their experience beforehand? 

The results were that people were more than twice more likely to be generous when they were in a positive frame of mind beforehand (had taken the easy test). 

Before my husband’s research on happiness, he was a cranky guy. But he decided to actually do the things that he learned would help make him happier, and that change in him has made my life a lot happier and easier too. 

I have made changes too and focus more on the positive. It has changed my life experience.

In the book, “The Secret,” it says something like - even if you’re frustrated with everything in your life right now,  and you even must wear  eyeglasses, you can still begin with being grateful that you have the eyes to see. 

I wish you all much happiness on your journey. We are all in this together.

I Have Been Called a Mean Teacher and Other Things That Art Teachers Have to Deal With When Grading Students

I Have Been Called a Mean Teacher and Other Things That Art Teachers Have to Deal With When Grading

This school year I was blessed to have one of my prior students volunteer to be a TA in my class. 

After the first couple of weeks, my TA told me that she told a friend of hers who was in my class the prior year that she was my TA. Her friend said that she couldn’t believe that she would volunteer to be my TA because I was a mean teacher. My TA responded to me saying, “Don’t worry Mrs. Patten. I’ve got your back!”

But, my heart fell. How could anyone say that I was a mean teacher? Every morning get my positive attitude together deciding that I’m going to do the best job that I can with my students, and knowing that I can effect them in a positive way. I try to greet every student with a smile and ask how the day is going, and notice if a student is sad, or upset and offer a kind word of encouragement. I thought, “What more can I do?” Every moment that I am with my students, I try to the best of my ability to help them in their work, to help them in realizing their dreams. I try always to be kind.

But, I also expect effort. If someone tries to turn in a project early and it is definitely not their best work, I will ask the person kindly and gently to try to improve this or that. Almost without exception, my wonderful students have went back and put effort in to make things better and I am so proud of them for that. 

However, out of the almost 200 students I work with, there are bound to be a couple who just decide that they won’t put effort in. Those are the students that I can see online are failing all the rest of their classes also. They have checked out. I give them extra encouragement and most of the time am successful to at least get them to put in enough effort to pass the class. Those students tend to like me.

However,  there are a few other students who simply decide that they want to make a priority of socializing or being lazy. I try to do my best to encourage them. They complete the projects but not to the best of their ability since there is a lot of wasted time. Those students are not happy with me because I push them to be their best when they just want to be lazy. They don’t receive the “A”s that they believe they are actually entitled to. They don’t realize that the seasoned teacher knows that laziness if ignored, can infect the rest of the students which can change the climate of the classroom very quickly into an ineffective creative work environment. If I give them “A”s then more laziness will ensue.

I was the student of a Dean of the English Dept. at a university a few years back. He said that he had no motivation in high school. He never did well in school. Then, in his tenth grade year, he took a ceramics class. During that class he realized that he could do better at projects that many other people in his class. That accomplishment made him think, “What else could I do, and do well? “ Ceramics gave him focus. Ceramics gave him the patience he needed to accomplish great things in his other classes eventually. I mean, here he is the dean at a university now. Ceramics changed his life! That’s awesome! That’s what I want for my students.

When I became a ceramics teacher, I knew that most of my students would not decide to have a career in ceramics. My primary goal is to teach focus, patience, and give students the power to realize their artistic dreams. And that means that yes, there is some socializing in my class but that is secondary to getting things done. I realized that students who want to goof off and get an easy “A,” are not going to like me. Because I am going to gently push them to be better than they thought they could be.

Still, it hurt me terribly that any student would call me a mean teacher when I care so deeply about my students. I noticed myself separating myself more from caring about my students. I started to put a wall up because I didn’t want to hurt.

Then, I read “The Secret.” I realized that I was carrying my hurt to my students and I wasn’t having the joyous relationships that I had before. I realized that I needed to imagine that all of my conversations with my students would end in a positive way. 

I do that now and things turn out fantastic almost always. Even this week, I had two of my most challenging motivation-wise students (that are failing almost all of their other classes) say to me, “Mrs. Patten, I love talking to you and being here because you care and none of my other teachers care, but I really don’t like ceramics because it’s hard.” 

Now, I wish that they said that they like ceramics but it’s all a process, right?! And it’s sad that they felt that other teachers didn’t care.

I give those students more attention and more help on their projects because that’s what they need to be successful in my class and I want them to feel like someone cares. And my hope is that the focus and effort they put forth in my class will also eventually be put forth in other classes because they find that their effort is rewarded.

If a change doesn’t happen now, a change may happen for them after high school. Many, many adults have told me over the years that they didn’t put the effort that they should have put in high school, but now they are successful adults. 

The bottom line for me is that I try to see the good and bring out the good in every student. We never know when life will throw us something that is life changing. I want to give my students an open mind to forgiveness and starting over.

Students Ask, “Why Don’t You Give Everyone “A”s Because It’s Art?”

So, every year I have several students who ask the question, “Why don’t you give everyone “A”s because it’s art?” The reason why I don’t is because of research. Look at Psychology Today’s September, 2012 magazince article online called, “Forget Self-Esteem. You Need Self Compassion.” Self compassion is being able to see your weaknesses, but from a kind, understanding point of view. You understand that weaknesses are changeable with effort. In one research project, people were given a test that they failed. They were allowed to take the test again. Those people who were able to look at the failed results with self compassion, studied 25% longer for the test and scored higher compared to those who simply focused on bolstering their self esteem. 

The last 30 years’ research on success has found that effort and perseverance are the most important things that need to be developed and complimented according to the article in Scientific American online called “The Secret to Raising Smart Kids.” When complimenting those attributes, they found people would go much farther without giving up. Isn’t that what we want in our students?! Persistence helps us retain jobs. Trying our best to overcome obstacles, being able to do things through focused effort, diligence, and courageousness help us become productive members of society. And not only that, those qualities help us retain meaningful relationships. How people do in life has everyone to do with effort. What I have found is that the less you expect from people, the less they will apply effort. There will always be a few self-motivated students in the class who will do a job to the best of their ability no matter what but the majority of people when given the chance to be lazy with no consequences will be lazy and not only that, some will find inappropriate ways of behaving in the classroom because they don’t respect a class where they are not expected to do their best and learn. 

So, as teachers, it’s important to be like a parent with “tough love.” Having high expectations is exceptionally important. Most of my students appreciate me so much because they can see that I always try my best to be the best teacher that I can be for them and through my guidelines, it is clear to them what they need to do to earn an “A” in the class. But, there are those that choose to dislike me because I expect them to put forth effort, develop patience in their work, and complete projects that help them to realize their ability to accomplish, and create something that is a unique expression of their own making.

Students ask, “Why Can’t I Make Whatever I Want???”

I have been asked many times why I don’t just let everyone make whatever they want. This is the reason - students come to me at the beginning of the year wanting to make very complicated things that they don’t have the skills yet to make. If I have everyone just make anything that they want, how am I supposed to teach hundreds of different skills to over 40 students in each class successfully? I ask them to think of the learning curve of an olympic diver. If one wants to become an olympic diver, do we begin by teaching them complex flips? No, we begin teaching them in small, manageable steps so that they can develop skills sequentially in a way that makes sense so that they can eventually be successful at complicated maneuvers. 

Also, as a teacher in a public school. I am required to give grades. To make grades fair, students must be required to do about the same amount of work to receive an equitable grade. 

Additionally, since I have one small kiln for 170 ceramic students, a size limit must be attached to projects. Otherwise, firing cannot be completed on time.

But they do get a chance to make whatever they want. Read about it below.:)

Students ask, “Why Do I Have To Follow the Guidelines If It’s Art???!!!”

My students want to know why it is that they have to follow the guidelines to get a “good grade” especially because it’s art?” If a student decides to go into art as a career, they still need to develop many skills to be successful and I am accountable for teaching them many of those skills through State Standards, and The Common Core. But additionally it makes logical sense to have guidelines because 99% of artists must work in industries where there are very specific guidelines that they must follow for the customers’ needs. And in illustration, toy design, and graphic design for example, artists can follow their customer’s guidelines perfectly but the customer often doesn’t like the end result and the artist needs to start over or change many characteristics. So, guidelines are necessary to prepare students for a future in art. 

Also, I work in a public school where I must grade students on criteria that must be the same for all students so that students can see what is required to earn a good grade in the class. This is how they know how I will grade them for the class. 

Students earn the same amount of credits and grade toward their grade point average in my class as they do in a math or English class so of course my class must have guidelines. If they want to be in a class where there are no requirements, then they can go to an art center and pay for classes where grades aren’t given.

Still, making anything they want happens as a last project in my ceramics class each semester. Basically, they have 8 - 10 classes to make anything that they want and more classes to glaze the pieces they have made. Since students have been in the class for a few months towards the end of the first semester, they have skills to make many things. Of course, second semesters’s results are far better than first semesters’ because I have taught students many more skills to create more complex designs the second semester.

Students are graded on the “free” projects at the end of the school year because as I’ve said before, if given the chance to socialize and be lazy, I have found that the majority of my young adults will do that if there are not expectations. 

The way that I grade those “free projects” is this: If a student has 10 hours of class time to create an object, does it look like the result of that amount of time spent? Of course I take into consideration the class time spent deciding what to do, a slow start, and the complexity and finished look. And most importantly, I monitor my students on a daily basis to see how much effort is really being put into their projects. Effort to me is the most important indicator to me of future success.

In my Intro. to Art class, things run a little differently. The first semester is all about developing the skills necessary for them to express themselves through their art by understanding and implementing the Principles and Elements of Design effectively. It’s an intense learning time for my students. Students overcome lots of fears and learn the basics of design. 

However, the second semester is a time of few guidelines because students have the necessary skills to be able to do and express a lot what they want. My focus is making sure that they are challenging themselves enough and are creating work that they can feel proud of. This is the exciting part of the journey for me!

My Results at the End of the School Year 2015!!!:)

At the end of last school year, I gave my students a questionnaire. One question was based on focus. Another was based on patience. And another was based on growth. The last question asked what I could improve on as a teacher.

All students that returned the form said that my class helped them develop more patience and focus. They also said that they were able to do better than they had thought was possible. That is what I want for my students. All students who answered the question said positive things about me so that was wonderful! And there were also some wishes for a bigger kiln so they could make bigger things, another year of a ceramics class, and less writing but there are pluses and minuses to everything, right?! 

We need to focus on those joyful, meaningful relationships that we have with people who really care, and work on developing those attributes that will help our students be successful in all parts of their lives.

At least that’s my goal.

Keily - My Courageous, Creative Student!!!

Keily - My Courageous, Creative Student!!!

Keily was in my Intro. to Art class about 2 years ago. She sat between students who socialized too much and didn’t care about the class or their futures. In fact, Keily told me later that at that time she had no motivation for school. She failed a couple of classes that semester and had no interest in school.

However, the last part of the semester, a change occurred. She suddenly became charged like a battery and she would not stop working on her projects regardless of the socializing and distractions  around her. She would stay late working on her projects and take them home to complete them to the best of her ability. She asked tons of questions and when I gave the guidelines for a project, she always chose something challenging, something where she would have to investigate how to bring her idea into existence.

When the year was coming to an end, I wrote a letter to her counselor asking that she be placed in the AP class the next school year. She was shocked and doubted herself some but I reassured her and she decided to face the challenge.

The fall semester of her sophomore year, I convinced her to apply for the Ryman Arts Program where students go every Sunday to work on mostly still lifes. She came to me on the day that it was due, still asking questions about how to better her project, one self portrait, and one still life. We stayed after school together with her working on it as I worked on the next day’s prep but at 4PM she still had a ways to go. I thought if I went to the post office, with the exact weight that would be sent in the container it would be sent in, then I could get it post marked and she could send it that night when she was done with it. 

So, I drove to the post office and told the post man of my student’s disadvantaged background and would he please give her a chance? However,  he absolutely refused saying that it was against their regulations. But, he gave me an alternative. He said that I could purchase the postage online and it would show that day’s date. So, that’s what I did. I went back to school, made an online account with the post office, printed out the postage, gave it to Keily, and took her home where she completed her project, and sent it out. She totally reminded me of myself at that age. I would totally procrastinate when things were a bit scary and new. It’s how many of us are.

She was accepted in the program and within 2 weeks in that program found out about the Oxbow School, a school offering a one semester junior year program where all subjects were connected to art. They had one full scholarship opportunity.

She decided to go for it. I was so proud of her. Here is this person who never drew before, who never had an art class before her 9th grade year, and she was willing to put herself out there, accepting the challenge. For this application, she was asked again to make a self portrait. She came to show me her self portrait as it was thus far and asked advice. Honestly, I didn’t realize that it was a self portrait because she told me her idea of having half the head a half skull and insects of some sort crawling out of the other side of the head. This was Keily - she is I believe the most creative student I have had. We discussed the types of insects and how to search images that would be good to look at to understand their forms and how they look when they fly. We messaged back and forth looking at and discussing the details over the next couple of weeks until she completed it. I wrote her recommendation and sent it out. 

A few weeks later she called me. In disbelief, she told me that she was chosen  to have one of the 40 spots available out of over 5,000 applicants! And then a couple of weeks later, she was chosen to receive the full scholarship!!! It cost about $28,000 dollars for the one semester program!!!!! She was nervous about not being in regular school to prepare her perhaps better for the SATs. I assured her that if she went, she would be creating work for her portfolio that would get her into a good university.

She called me during her Oxbow experience, incredulous that her PE was kayaking!!!

She had an amazing time at Oxbow with a nurturing staff that helped her realize her wonderfully wild way of looking at the world.

She was excited when she arrived back and met several students that had good GPA's, not great ones, who were accepted into strong art programs that weighed portfolios much higher than GPA's when it came to being accepted into the art program.

She came back to our school for her spring junior year term. I was so fortunate to have her in my ceramics class where she is did some exceptionally creative work!

I know that Keily will do great things in this world. She also writes well so she may write for film too. The sky’s the limit for someone who has such perseverance and courage!!!

Keily was so very happy to have me show some of her work here and I am so honored!:) The work below are a couple of things that she put in her portfolio.

When she was deciding where she would like to go to college, Keily was given an expense paid visit to Princeton. She flew in an airplane for the first time! And they picked her up by limousine!













Here are some of her ceramics pieces. The first one here (3 photos) was shown in the American Museum of Ceramic Art in their High School Exhibition

This sculpture below was was part of her portfolio and I featured it in my You Tube video showing how to make Talons:


She ended up receiving a Free Ride (all expenses) Scholarship to Santa Barbara State, and a Full Tuition Scholarship to UCLA. It was an excruciating decision to make but she chose to go to UCLA!

She is now there and receiving great comments from her teachers! She is a magnificent young woman!!!

The Donation Art Project Part of the Argumentative Essay

The art Project Part of the Argumentative essay differs from year to year.
For last year, students made Celluclay earrings in my ceramic classes. I got parent permission to post photos of these students, of all of the students shown here. It wasn't fun getting those permission slips back so last year's photos of students will be the only student photos you will see. At my new work place, administrators are making a huge deal of posting photos regardless of permission on their paper. They said just don't risk it so I've removed photos of my students proudly showing off their earrings. Perhaps later I'll replace them.
My students had a tough time making the first photos of student earrings of Celluclay because it's very, very sticky/gluey when wet and it needed to be sanded afterward so that the paint would go on neatly.
This year students made little ceramic cats and dogs. I'll be attaching refrigerator magnets to them. That was a fun, and much easier process.
I ask them to make, and I grade two sets of earrings, or 2 magnets (this year). They are asked to donate one to the animal shelter where I adopted our 2 dogs, and keep the other pair of earrings as a memory/reminder of this project, or give them to a family member or friend. I think that it's important for them to have this reminder for the future and their choices whether to purchase a young animal or an adult animal.
Below, you'll find the process of how my Intro. to Art class makes "Shrink" style earrings. This is a fun process for students. If they "mess up" in their drawings of them, they can erase them with a pencil if they used pencil to transfer or colored pencils and try it again. The only time this doesn't work well is if the student colors in large black areas with the black colored pencil. It is difficult then to remove it completely.

My Intro. to Art Class makes "Shrinky Dink" type earrings.
I buy shrink plastic. I think that this might have been the one that I bought on Amazon:

Grafix KSF50-W 8-1/2-Inch by 11-Inch Shrink Film, Clear, 50-Pack. 

 

1.I have students fold an 8 and a 1/2" X 11" SHEET of paper longways 1 time and then 3 times in the other direction so that there are 16 spaces to draw 8 cats and 8 dogs.

2. Then, I use the paper cutter into 1"x3" or 1"x4" pieces (basically I'm cutting the shrink plastic the same sizes as the students drew the cats and dogs). I like to cut the shrink film 2 pages at a time so that the 2 pieces stick to each other. It's easier to pass out that way and I tell students to keep them together if they can because then they just sand one side. Then flip over the stuck together ones to sand the other side (they're only sanding one side of each shrink this way). When they get to the coloring part, they lay the stuck together shrinks on their paper, trace the cat or dog they're making on one side. Then, they flip over their stuck together shrinks and trace the shrink by just looking at the shrink under it - THIS IS EXCEPTIONALLY IMPORTANT WHEN THE STUDENT HAS A DOG OR CAT DRAWING WHERE THE ANIMAL IS TURNED TO THE SIDE - PEOPLE DON'T like to have the dog faced the same direction (like both tails are facing to the left) on both earrings. It just looks weird. If some students do this incorrectly, you can have them sandpaper the other side too and draw and color the image on both sides but it doesn't look as good this way - it's not as transparent and the colored pencil sometimes sticks to the tin foil while cooking (better to use parchment paper so they don't stick so much) if you put the colored pencil faced down on the tin foil.

3. They use 100 grit sandpaper (creates more surface for colored pencil to stay on plastic) or 300-400 grit if you want it to be more transparent - to ready the plastic to be colored with colored pencils (Or instead the students can use sharpies to color the plastic and then they can skip the sand papering).

4. They must put a piece of scrap paper under the "Shrink." Otherwise, the sand paper will ruin the vinyl on their desks. 

5. They have to sand the shrinks vertically all the way past the edges, horizontally al the way to the ends, and diagonally. Tell students that the "Shrinks" are ready for coloring if the whole surface is completely matt (not shiny at all). Have students show you that the whole surface is matt. Most often students don't realize that they need to focus on getting the edges and if you don't catch it early, you will have unsaleable "Shrinks" because the colored pencils will not color the shiny plastic.

6. I tell them that the only way that they will be able to see the details on their cats and dogs is to use contrast. Use a black tracing line and contrast it with light colors for the animals like pink, light blue, yellow, etc... and a dark background to make them show up. Brightly colored animals look really cute and are joyous. If they make brown or black animals on a small "Shrink" surface, you will not be able to even see that it is an animal on the "Shrink" once it's shrunk unless they use white tracing lines and a brightly colored background because they end up so tiny! However, if they really want a darkly colored animal, they can choose to do the silhouette of an animal in black or brown. Just know that if they don't use white or a very light color for the tracing and background, it will turn out looking like a blob, not an animal because they just shrink so tiny.

7. They also must use a hole puncher to punch a hole (not at the very top! - the shrink will break!) about a quarter inch from the top of their "Shrinks" - it really helps if you ask them to color the spot where they want to put the hole first and punch the pair of earrings at the same time. Then they're not uneven.

8. Ask them to sand all of the edges of the "Shrinks" so that they're smooth - otherwise they get really sharp after shrinking (or students can cut off the edges with scissors but some students end up with uneven edges when they do this).

9. They must write their names on the bottom area (or top area) of the "Shrink."

10. You take them home and shrink them.

11. I quickly brush varnish or acrylic (can use spray acrylic too) on them to make sure the color stays really well and doesn't get scratched during storage. 

11. I get 26 gage silver wire but any kind is fine.  Also, this 26 gage wire you can bend with your fingers to make the earrings - no tools needed. I had troubles with disappearing tools the first year (you can imagine with over 40 students in each class, it was tough to make sure that the tools all ended up back in their places) so I decided to take tools out of the equation. Students can cut the wire with scissors and you can recut it later with a $4 jewelry wire cutter you can get for cutting wire close so that it doesn't scratch people. Actually, I precut the wire to about the right sizes so that students only had to cut one end off when they're done putting them together (that way, spools of wire also don't go missing - live and learn:)).

13. I get these cheap earring hooks from Amazon for less than $2 for 100 and they're still available for that price as of 2/14/16: That way I don't have issues with allergies with my students and the earrings are wearable to everyone. 100-PieceSilver​PlatedSurgicalS​teelEarringHook​s,Hypo-Allergen​ic. 

14. I also did supply students with little beads that I bought at the jewelry district but they're an optional addition.

 15. Look online for bending the wire correctly if you'd like. I tended to begin teaching students I thought might be good at it, and appointed those that learned the technique quickly to help other students.

These students are showing off their Celluclay Earrings. I'll show some "Shrink" earrings too.

I brought the basket to the shelter at which they have a store to sell the earrings.

Here are the Shrinks in the oven at 300 degrees for about 1 and a half minutes to 2 and a half minutes. The Shrinks have a tendency to roll up as they shrink and then only half straighten out as they finish shrinking. Right when half of them stop moving, it's best to open the oven and use wooden chop sticks to press the remaining ones flat while they're hot. You might even have to continue pressing even up to the first couple of minutes after you remove them from the oven. The directions for the Graphic film that I buy in clear for this project say 350 degrees. However, if they're cooked that high, they're sometimes hard to flatten completely at the end of the cooking process. This is a full sized cookie sheet below. You can do about twice as many at a time but make sure to give them room because as they curl up, they sometimes will try to hook to each other if they're too close. Sometimes they stand up sideways. That's okay - just press them flat when they stop shrinking.



Here are before and after photos. The ones on the left (all pink and red backgrounds except for the grey dogs on blue background on the very left side of the second photo) aren't cooked yet. The ones on the right side of each photo are shrunk already. What an amazing difference in size, right!:D


And here they are all ready to be donated. I bought (I believe) 3"x2" plastic bags to put them in from Amazon. There were 100 to 200 per pack for I think about $4.


I feel so much joy when I see my students from last year wearing the earrings that they made. Students feel such a sense of pride when they accomplish making such art and when people comment about the earrings, it's a great opportunity for students to talk about the Animal Rescue Project!:D

Resources for Argumentative Persuasive Essay and Student Example

HERE ARE how I found great ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY GUIDELINES THAT I USED TO HELP ME CREATE MY OWN:

1. A STUDENT'S THINKING MAP: Google this: "Thinking Maps argumentative Essay or Persuasive essay" and press "Images"
You'll find tons of thinking maps that way

2. Argumentative Paper Format:
https://depts.washington.edu/owrc/Handouts/Argumentative%20Paper%20Format.pdf

3. My favorite was this one found on a site called "Beat the GMAT" under the title:

Argument essay template, if anyone wants it.

To me, I just felt like it was explained so well:
http://www.beatthegmat.com/argument-essay-template-if-anyone-wants-it-t38032.html



Articles shelter dogs for essay

Bonding very well

“Top Ten Reasons You Should Consider Adopting a Rescue Dog”

Mary Clark

http://utahdobes.org/ten.htm

MATCHMAKER MAKE ME A MATCH. Puppy love is often no more than an attachment to a look or a color. It is not much of a basis on which to make a decision that will hopefully last 15+ years. While that puppy may have been the cutest of the litter; he may grow up to be superactive (when what you wanted was a couch buddy); she may be a couch princess (when what you wanted was a tireless hiking companion); he may want to spend every waking moment in the water (while you're a landlubber); or she may want to be an only child (while you are intending to have kids or more animals). Pet mis-matches are one of the top reasons Rescues get "give-up" phone calls. Good rescues do extensive evaluating of both their dogs and their applicants to be sure that both dog and family will be happy with each other until death do them part.

RESCUE DOG BOND. Dogs who have been uprooted from their happy homes or have not had the best start in life are more likely to bond very completely and deeply with their new people. Those who have lost their families through death, divorce or lifestyle change go through a terrible mourning process. But, once attached to a new loving family, they seem to want to please as much as possible to make sure they are never homeless again. Those dogs that are just learning about the good life and good people seem to bond even deeper. They know what life on the streets, life on the end of a chain, or worse is all about, and they revel and blossom in a nurturing, loving environment. Most rescues make exceptionally affectionate and attentive pets and extremely loyal companions.

Why do dogs die?

http://www.petmd.com/blogs/fullyvetted/2011/apr/why_dogs_die-11013

Young dogs die of eating stupid stuff and getting random infections while older dogs die of cancer.

According to Animal People Newspaper, >1.2 million dogs were killed on U.S. roads in 2012, and most of them were likely chasing something…a ball, a child, a cat, a squirrel.  And, >5.4 million cats per year were killed on U.S. roads most of them at night. Check out this link for more information on Roadkill Avoidance Tips:  http://www.animalpeoplenews.org/IMPORTANT_MATS/roadkillsTips.html

Halo Pets at http://halopets.com/inside-halo-pets/key-programs/rescuefilm-series/

Watch Le Sauvetage Film (6 minutes)  and the Olate Dogs will load right after

Young dogs die of eating stupid stuff and getting random infections while older dogs die of cancer.

Dogs of War Shelter Dogs helping People with PSTD

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4727157766001/fbi-releases-video-of-fatal-shooting-of-oregon-occupier/?playlist_id=trending#sp=show-clips

https://www.ml.com/articles/healing-vets-rescuing-dogs.html#financial-goals-and-priorities

Robots Will Bond to anything that feeds them:

“Proof That Dogs are Loyal to Anything That Feeds Them” at

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2420793/Dogs-loyal-ANYTHING-feeds-Scientists-bond-robots.html

Thoughts about the “No Kill” model introduced in “Redemption”

The San Francisco Kill Model and how it would work for us:

http://outthefrontdoor.com/2015/11/01/the-san-francisco-no-kill-model/

Book: Animal Behavior for Shelter Veternarians and Staff, p. 46

Relinquished dogs tend to be more than 5 months and less than 2 years old.

Videos of dogs in your area!!!

http://shelterme.com/

Shelter Dogs used for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=Shelter+Dogs+PTSD&ei=UTF-8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001

From Shelter to K9 Unit: Group Gives Dogs Second Chance and a Duty

PTSD Combat Vets Gain Therapt from Rescue Dogs

Rescue Dogs used for Performances

http://olatedogs.com/videogallery/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-smartest-dog-in-the-world/

The smartest dog in the world - CBS News www.cbsnews.com The following is a script of "The Smartest Dog in the World" which aired on Oct. 5, 2014. Anderson Cooper is the correspondent. Denise Schrier Cetta, producer.

J..J.

Mrs. Patten- Ceramics

February 7, 2016

“Some People Say That Purchasing a Puppy Is Better Than Adopting a Shelter Dog”

            Some people say that getting a puppy is better than adopting a shelter dog. However, I disagree with this statement because it lacks logic, knowledge, and has no research to support it.

            First of all, a shelter dog requires little training compared to a puppy that takes a lot of training. You need to potty train puppies because they lack bladder control. Shelter dogs are usually older so they’ve already got control of their bladders. Additionally puppies are teething so it takes about two years to stop them from destroying possessions. If you purchase a shelter dog that is over 2 years old, they are often out of the teething phase or are old enough to accept chew toys as an excellent alternative to destroying your property. Another reason that puppies are harder to train is that they have less experience and attention span so they take longer to train than a dog you adopt from a shelter.

            Second of all, people tend to buy puppies more because they are cuter. However, puppies don’t stay cute forever. They only look like a puppy for about six months. Then for the many years of their lives thereafter, they are dogs anyways. With a shelter dog you already know how cute they are going to stay.

            Third of all, puppies are more expensive. They cost more because they need to get lots of shots. Compare this to shelter dogs that already have most shots and are neutered or spayed before you even bring them home. In addition , with puppies you need to purchase more pee pads, more chew toys, and replace more possessions. If you compare this to shelter dogs, they are usually no longer teething, or so young that they need pee pads so they cost much less in replacing damaged property and in defecation materials.

            Lastly, some people think that puppies will bond easier than shelter dogs. On the contrary, dogs instinctively bond with anyone who feeds them according to “Proof That Dogs Are Loyal to Anything That Feeds Them” at Dailymail.com. Also, dogs that are abandoned or experience loss often bond even more strongly than a puppy one raises according to “Top Ten Reasons You Should Consider Adopting a Rescue Dog” at UtahDobes.org. So bonding depends largely on the love and care you give to your shelter dog or puppy. If a dog feels loved, it will repay you with love a thousand fold.

            In conclusion, I have disproved the statement in the topic sentence using logic, knowledge, and research. Many people don’t know that even now 5 million pets, half of them dogs, are killed every year. The best reason for adopting a shelter dog is to save its life. Give an animal a second chance and make a positive difference in our world.

“Some People Believe That Purchasing A Puppy is Better Than    

                                      Adopting a Shelter Dog”

            Some people believe that buying a puppy is better than getting a rescue dog. However, they don’t realize that there are many advantages to getting a rescue dog as compared to a puppy.

Firstly, there is a myth that shelter dogs are damaged. In fact, most rescue dogs have not been abused, and many are strays. Also, rescue dogs bond just as well or better than a puppy that one raises, according to many articles such as “10 Reasons to Consider a Rescue Dog” at Utahdobes.org.. In fact, dogs can even bond to a robot if the robot acts social and feeds them according to “Proof the Dogs are Loyal to Anything that Feeds Them”, from Dailymail.co.uk.. If you pet, play and feed a dog, it will bond very well with you.

            Secondly, there are many people who think that a shelter dog may be vicious. They do not realize that all shelter dogs have been tested for aggressiveness against people and other dogs. If they are aggressive, they are euthanized. Therefore, you are assured that the dog you adopt is friendly.

            Thirdly, the benefits of getting a shelter dog in regard to behavior is that they will usually be easier to train because they have a longer attention span than puppies, and have more experience with life. That means that training shelter dogs the rules of the house is easier and faster than with puppies. Often shelter dogs already know the basic commands because the volunteers at the shelter have taught them. Also, shelter dogs are usually house broken so they won’t be defecating and urinating all over the house. In addition, teething won’t be much of an issue because the dogs are usually through the teething phase.

            Lastly, people say that puppies are cuter than adult dogs. However, “puppy looks” only last about 6 months. After that, you’re going to have an adult dog anyways. So, why not adopt a shelter dog instead?

            In conclusion, I have written many reasons why in actuality, there are more advantages to adopting a shelter dog as compared to a puppy. In addition to the previously stated advantages, when you adopt a shelter dog you save a dog’s life and give it a second chance at happiness . Every year, we needlessly kill 5,000,000 pets in shelters. We need to have a “No kill” law like many other large cities, such as Reno, Nevada and Austin, Texas have accomplished. Be part of the solution – adopt a shelter dog rather than a puppy!

I met her in a home center. She purchased this terrier from a Shelter about 2 and a half years ago. She asked the price of other dogs there. Each dog was $100., $90., or $110. When she asked how much this dog was, they said $10. She asked why. They said, “He will be euthanized in 3 days if he doesn’t get an owner. She got him, loves him and said that he is exceptionally attached to her and she can bring him anywhere without problems.

These are a friend's dogs. She prefers laborador retrievers. I let students know that they can request any type of purebred dog from a shelter. About 1/3 of shelter dogs are purebred and there are many rescue organizations that have specific breeds.

Here are the doggie pics. The chocolate lab is Coco and she is a delight. She was agreat companion to our 12 year old lab Khobe. We did not choose a puppy bbecause of his age. He has since passed and we knew we wanted a rescue lab. They are so sweet and appreciative of their new family. Her name is Layla our black 5 year old purebreed rescue lab.

this is Kobe. We rescued him when he was two from the Palmdale shelter. No dog was loved more. I have had other dogs sin ce they were puppies but Kobe bonded with our family just as well. We were heartbroken when we had to put him to sleep.

BoBo is part of our family & is included in all of our special occasions. He also thinks everything is his bed lol.

 this is our BoBo. He was 5 when we rescued him from the Central LA shelter. We have had him for a year & 1/2. We have completely bonded & fallen in love with him. A rescue dog is grateful & doesn't forget that you saved & wanted him. Saving a life is so rewarding & satisfying. There isn't a feeling like it. ADOPT!!!!!

No-kill shelters

Most nonprofit no-kill shelters are privately run. They are not associated with any government, operate on donations and fund-raising projects, work closely with rescue organizations, and try a variety of innovative programs to reduce the numbers of stray animals in the community. They often spay or neuter every animal that leaves the premises, check for heartworm, treat dogs with minor illnesses or injuries, organize feral cat care colonies, conduct obedience training classes or work out training agreements with private instructors or membership clubs, and offer pet care education programs to schools. Some no-kill shelters work with service dog organizations to provide dogs for training as helpers for handicapped owners. Many offer spay-and-neuter assistance and vaccination clinics for low-income and indigent pet owners.

Volunteers often flock to private shelters because people are more likely to work with a dog if they know the end result is a chance at a good life, not euthanasia.

No-kill shelters do euthanize some dogs – old, chronically ill, severely injured, and aggressive dogs that cannot safely be put in new homes do die to make room for more adoptable animals. They also keep waiting lists so that needy animals can get in as soon as space is available and prospective dog owners can be referred to those who have a dog of a specific breed or type to give up.

Public shelters

Most states have laws regarding the incarceration of stray dogs, vicious dogs, and dogs that are impounded pending outcome of court cases. In many areas, these laws are carried out through contracts with private, nonprofit humane societies; since the contracts require that stray dogs be picked up and held for a minimum number of days, these societies are placed in the untenable position of killing some dogs to make room for others. Thus many healthy, adoptable dogs are euthanized.

Many of these societies also accept dogs and cats surrendered by their owners. These animals are also likely to be euthanized to make room for others if they are not adopted quickly.

Some public shelters are run by city or county governments. They are generally supported by tax dollars and dog licenses and their programs are limited by government budget allotments.

Since space is a problem in public shelters, the dividing line between adoptable dogs and unadoptable dogs is easy to cross. A dog that rebels at a dose of intranasal kennel cough vaccine, one that develops kennel cough or has ear mites, one that comes into heat, cowers in the corner, or growls at the kennel attendant is likely to be euthanized to make way for the next truckload of strays or group of owner-surrendered pets.

Public shelters also offer many of the same programs and services as private shelters. They work with rescue groups, offer some type of sterilization service, vaccinate adoptable animals, check for heartworm, and microchip outgoing dogs and cats. Some even provide counseling services for adopters and obedience classes for adoptees.

All shelters – public and private – need volunteers and funds if they are to reduce euthanasia of adoptable dogs.

When students are at that conclusion paragraph, I ask, "What's the best reason to adopt a shelter dog?" And then I show them these photos, show them the poster that they helped write that has the things that they can do to make a difference, and that inspires them to add more passion to that final paragraph.

The movie "Redemption" showed us that it doesn't have to be this way. We need to make a change.

We are human. Are we humane? 

This photo was taken at the Jacksonville Animal Shelter, where puppies are often crowded into pens only to face eventual euthanasia.