I feel like I've disappeared. The rest of my life has been put on hold. I'm a student teacher. I split my time between an elementary and a junior high artroom, and I oscillate between feeling overwhelmed and out-of-place. One of these days I'm sure I'll find the grace I'm looking for to make a classroom a smooth-running operation... or close to that anyway.

Although they're by far the most challenging, I have the most amusing moments with the 6th graders at the elementary. One boy gave me a token for a free coffee at a local diner for helping him draw flames. Since then he has told several of his classmates I'm a professional artist. Of course I never dispute his claim, because I can now draw anything and the kids think it's awesome. Ah! The praise I longed for in art school!

When I was first assigned the junior high, I got chills. What a scary place! Now that I'm getting to know the students, it's really amazing. They're so willing to explore materials and try new things. With only the slightest prodding they will jump into a project head first.

I'm putting together lesson plans for K-8, so if anybody has any fantasy art projects that I should unleash on my students, do share! (I wouldn't be a true zinester if I didn't incorporate zines into my lessons, so that base is already covered.)