Tunng- King

In Honor

A quick comic I made last year about my late kitty cat, Issy. We'd call her "Grandma cat", and I sometimes liked to think of her as "prissy Issy". I often pictured her wearing my hat, drinking red wine, and reading my books whenever I'd be out of the house, so here is that in comic form. 

New Found Land- Mirror

A Dancer's Paw

Chillin' with my dawg, Willie cat

Marissa Nadler- Bird Song

Good Morning, Zachy G. & Bonnie P. B.

S- A- T- U- R- D- A- Y

And that is that! Nothing like a thought process that sucks you in and spits you out, leaving you so certain and forgiving of how you could have been blinded. 

Step away from any silly situation, realize what you are doing, and make a better decision. "Decide"... that is the name of my game now. Student teaching is finished as of yesterday, and I'll graduate in one week. A fresh slate, going forth! 

Last night I dressed and danced all country western with two best girlfriends of mine. It started to snow a little, but there is more in the forecast for tomorrow. I'll move back home this week... looking forward to coffee in the mornings with my parents, to seeing hometown friends, fresh air on my face as I run around the backyard, and sitting with my brother at his gravesite.  

Homegirls at Stomp, sophomore year of high school

My parents

Me on the volleyball court, 2007

My siblings and our neighborhood gang, 1993

My brother, Christian

Keep Shelly in Athens- Hauntin' Me

Riding the Internet Highway ("I-Way"- Labrynth Lov)

Student Work

I taught a "large animal" lesson to the Kindergarteners in which we talked about using squares, rectangles, vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines to draw horses, bulls, giraffes, and elephants. They've already learned how to draw small animals (dogs, cats, bears) using circles and ovals, so this was the follow-up lesson to that. 
I especially loved discussing line directions with them (sweetest little voices trying to say "horizonal" and "diagonal")and using our arms and whole bodies to act them out. It is so fun to see 25 pairs of eyes so excited, each of them half way out of their seats, so intrigued. 



^^ A fourth grader's open studio clay sculpture of a dog. 

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Sunday morning, and I'm feeling good. Big furry cat asleep on my feet and having coffee. Jumpin' into the book I'm reading (Birds of America by Lorrie Moore) here shortly and then it'll be time for a jog on this warm and sunny December 2nd. 

Also, I'm going into my 16th and final week of student teaching! I was full-time teaching at both schools for 3 weeks (this last week as the exception since a new group of middle-schoolers started), so this last week I'll spend finishing up lessons here n' there and also observing other specialty-area teachers at the elementary (library, music, and special education). 

The next step... graduation! I feel sad about this, but mostly psyched and very ready for a new chapter. COFFEE CHEERS!

Max Richter - The Four Seasons (Recomposed)

Today

 

 

Today I had the opportunity to visit another art classroom within the school district. It was super cool to see a new room after being in the same two rooms (elementary and middle school) as a student teacher and also to speak with a different teacher with different approaches. I took a ton of photos for ideas in my future classroom... whether small (yarn and clay storage, clean-up strategies) or big details (lesson stations, introduction videos, end of class reflection/share time). Above is some documentation. 

I get to spend another day there, but even after today, I come away with a ton of confidence in my own approach to teaching and reassurance that I can pick a little from here, pick a little from there.

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Just came across this entry on Rookie about the artist Chris Ware. He holds a special place in my heart since lighting the Muybridge Horse in Motion spark as inspiration for mine and my sister's idea for our Sister Tattoo. What a great artist! 

Student Work

 

 

Up top: Kindergarten turkeys
  
Middle: 8th grade mandalas

Bottom: 6th grade masks

On Being Not Dead

NY Times: "On Being Not Dead" by Bill Hayes • • • HERE

Sigur Rós - Ekki múkk

"Sigur Rós gave a dozen filmmakers the same modest budget and asked them to create videos for their album Valtari. The filmmakers had complete creative freedom and the band was completely unaware of what to expect..." - Unwashed & Somewhat Slightly Dazed

Jet Screamer on The Jetsons

Designer: Jessica Hische

Designer Jessica Hische - her project "Daily Drop Cap". Check out her work here.

Von Trapp

Just listened to this interview with Christopher Plummer on Weekend Edition, and they ended the segment with a recording of him singing "Edelweiss" from The Sound of Music. A favorite song of mine. Listen to and watch the clip here.

Mazzy Star- Blue Light

Today

 

 

Above: 2nd graders' work from today's open studio. They amaze me and warm my heart every day.

 

 

Above: the 1st graders' turkeys are finished! They've been taken home, accompanied with proud smiles and love for their work. "Happy Thanksgiving, Tom the Turkey!" 

 

 Above: 8th graders' still lifes. One more day for them to work, one day for critique, and then I am finished with this group. I'm sad for this as I've grown close to them, but as they say, "It's a part of being a teacher". 

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This is my own still life for tonight. Back at home to drink beer, eat these chips (very sweet), watch the coverage of the raids in Gaza, and talk with my parents. They're sleeping now, but the fire's still going. So here I sit, warming my back, ready for another brew, and then up to my room to listen to this Big Box record, "Die Now". One last thing: a herd of gobbling turkeys charged me after school this afternoon! It was intense and exhilarating! 

Ok, godnat, goodnight, sove godt 

Circus in Stop Motion

Paper circus in stop motion by artist Anna Pfeiffer from Hase Weiss.

Also, Hans Christian Andersen papercuts found here. 

Sufjan Stevens- Djohariah

Student Work

Above: 7th graders working on self portraits, and 3rd graders learning how to blend chalk pastels to finish their still lifes (using an Elmer's glue resist). Soon I'll post photos of the 6th graders' masks, 8th graders' still lifes, and K & 1st graders' turkeys. 

Above: New wall art I have... is a gift from a first grader, given to me on a stressful day. She approached me so sweetly saying, "Ms. Sogaard, here", and walked away. I feel peaceful every time I look at it.

Student Teaching

 

 

• First photo- the sky on my drive home from school one day. 
• I was so happy to be in the elementary school for Halloween this year, even if it meant 0 focus from the students in the classroom. They dressed in hilariously cute costumes and paraded around the town (a surprisingly large portion of the community comes out to see this!) 
• Last photo- went up the street to visit the high school, and displayed here are my students' final pop art pieces. Fantastic!