Ruth Ayres invites us the celebrate each week. Click over to her site Discover. Play. Build. to read more celebrations.
After more than a week of testing, my students and I needed to relax and make art. Rather than plopping in a movie like many of my colleagues, I decided we should make a complete mess with gel printing. They loved it! I celebrate messiness today.
My hands were printed along with the paper.
May is a stressful time, but one of the lights of the month is Teacher Appreciation Week. I think I gained 5 pounds eating all the goodies in the lounge. Wonderful meals and amazing desserts! I celebrate the weeklong lighthearted laughter in the lounge.
To celebrate our year of writing, my students and I are making repurposed books. I’ve written about them on this blog a few times: here and here.
My students are enjoying collecting their favorite pieces of writing in a “real” book.
A page of Emily’s book: A poem about A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord.
Reflections on the Teche 
I love how you saw the need to create and do something different with their minds. Students are so happy to create and your book pages look lovely. I now have to read your other posts on repurposed books. We are watercoloring and oil pastel-ing our poetry books this week for publication.
Our project is far from perfect but it is messy and creative. I’d love to see your water colored poetry books.
Love the way you are embracing what your kids need – to create, and be messy in the process.
I do love the way you created a project that will bring such happiness to the end of the year, Margaret, messy or not!
Oh, I need to go to the craft store. I need paint. Thank you for sharing the joy of creating.
Margaret, I want to know more about these repurposed books! I checked out the other 2 posts, but I want more! Do the kids paint two-page spreads and then let them dry? I love messes–when it comes to creativity, and kids definitely need making more than movie watching! Bravo for your important decision.
Kim
Sounds like the perfect thing to do after the stress of testing. Use another set of neurons and muscles.
Creativity and messiness- perfect antidote to all the testing.
This messy creativity looks like a lot of fun. 🙂