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Neurographic Art

Recently my students and I have been creating Neurographic Art drawings! It has been such a wonderful process, that I thought I would share it incase you had not heard of it.

Neurographics is a way of drawing that recreates the outer from the inner. The world is a reflection of the beliefs we hold.

NeuroGraphic Art

A way to allow a person to transform one’s stress and fear by drawing freeform lines and then later using a specific algorithm to transform the stress into a beautiful work of art.

Neurographica™ is a simple and effective method for working with the subconscious mind through drawing. This creative method stimulates new neural pathways by combining art and psychology. It was discovered and developed by Pavel M. Piskarev, PhD, a Russian architect, psychologist and creativity entrepreneur. This art style deals directly with our thoughts and emotions in a non-interpretive, non-dogmatic and thought-free way.

https://www.neurographica.us/about

Neuroplasticity

Neurographic art

The hand and brain are connected, and in tandem, or we would not be able to pick up or touch what is in front of us. 

Neurographic art uses that connection to loosen and redirect the habitual thought patterns that create fear and confusion and creates a new way of thinking and being. 

A new line; a new neural pathway.

Algorithm

  1. Use a dark color to draw a wide scribble on your paper.
  1. Think of a problem or issue you are facing while you draw the line.
  1. Find any sharp corners where lines cross or turn and round those, filling in the gap with ink.
  1. Add “field lines” or shapes that extend to the edges or overlap, then round any new corners.
  1. Add color!
  1. You can turn some of the lines into something recognizable or keep it abstract. 

I felt way more relaxed while I was focused.
E.S.

It made me feel more focused.
K.H.

Reflection

How do you feel? How did you feel going through the process?
The reflection process is one of the most important aspects of this practice. When one does this activity with intention and focus, there will be an affect on their perspective of the situation. Reflection asks for your attention on the matter. What did it feel like, what did you notice, describe where your thoughts went…

I feel like there is so much more that can be done with this, and I have only skimmed the surface!

Hopefully you have a chance to try it for yourself! I have created so many already! Let me know how it goes!

<3 Raine Dawn

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RMS after Quarantine

Today I went into my classroom to grab a few things.

It was like the twilight zone.

I felt like the kids would walk in any minute!

It felt so familiar, yet students working in the classroom is such a distant memory.

I took pictures of some unfinished artwork; that really had me feeling disappointed and sad. The students were doing so well and created so many amazing things that they just had to leave behind.

It felt like I’m living in two realities at once.

Such amazing artwork… So much to look forward to. My only hope is that the time we had together taught them how to be creative no matter how good they thought they were at “art”.

I miss my students and my classroom.

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RMS before Quarantine

Here are images taken throughout Ridgely Middle school before quarantine.

TEAM RIDGELY STAGS

ART STUDIO 200

 

MANNEQUINS & DOODLES

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL ART PROJECTS!

 

TEAM RIDGELY STAGS!!

 

TEAM RIDGELY FACULTY!

 

6th GRADE ARTISTS

 

7th GRADE ARTISTS

 

8th GRADE ARTISTS

 

GREEN CLUB!

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2019 – 2020 School year

Yesterday we found out that all Maryland schools will be closed for the remained of the 2019-2020 school year. We have been out since the end of the day on Friday March 13th.

Friday the 13th was the last day I saw my students before being quarantined.  Friday the 13th was the last “normal” school day of my career.  Things are so different , and will be from now on.

Virtual learning is the name of the game.  A few years ago, I had the idea things would be digital sooner or later… but never did I imagine it happening like this.

Today was my first day meeting with my students after learning we aren’t going back to school. The students will be receiving a pass/fail grade for 3rd and 4th marking period, as well as for their final grades for the year. As of right now, we do not know how we are going to assess them and decide who passes or fails. I couldn’t imagine any students failing in this crazy unsettling time. There are so many students who do not have the support they need to succeed during this crisis.I have so many questions, I can only imagine how my students are feeling inside. How will we go on? How will this affect us in the long run? What will happen in August and September? These questions run through my mind, without any sure answers in place.

Today we reflected on what we are grateful for, using this time to remember that even in the face of uncertainty… there is still always something we can find to be grateful for.

On a brighter note, this week is teacher appreciation week… some of my students sent me messages and really pulled at my heartstrings.

 

 

In all of this uncertainty, one thing that’s for sure… is how much I love and miss my students, my classroom, and our school community.  Absence does make the heart grow fonder. I truly hope I am able to see everyone again and show them how much they mean to me.

If I can give one piece of advice in this time, its to KEEP CREATING!

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4 more weeks

Wow so much has happened in a week….yet so little at the same time!

This time last week I was writing about how it felt after 3 days of being off of work.

I feel different than I did last week, that’s for sure. Still a little uneasy, however I feel like this has strengthened my center so I might be more balanced in all things.

So we found out on Wednesday that all Maryland schools will be closed until April 24th. We will find out more about how we are going to implement online learning, sometime next week. I am excited about this new adventure and the opportunity to flip my classroom and lead the way into this digital age! I’ve messaged my students to ask them what type of things they would like to learn about so I can start making some videos. Friday we had our first Zoom faculty meet up! It was nice seeing everyone’s faces!

It’s almost time to get out of my comfy clothes!

Tomorrow starts a week of online professional development about how e-learning will go with my students. Anxious to find out what I am going to have to do so I can start preparing!

I have been messaging my students on Schoology for the past two weeks. A few students have emailed me and sent pictures of their artwork! Check some out below:

<3 Be well

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Mother to Teacher

While being off of work we are getting into a totally new schedule. This whole time has been about transitioning and adapting… changing old ways of doing things so they are effective for the now. Or sometimes letting go of things completely to make room for something totally new, like with the online learning!

Not only is a new chapter beginning in my teaching career, but also in my role as mother.  Previously, as mother I would come home and spend time playing and doing fun things with the kids. Also making them do their chores and holding them accountable for completing the work their teachers gave them.

My previous role description no longer suits the current situation. Now more than ever I am fulfilling my role as a leader and a teacher. I feel right now we are all being called to step up, knowing ourselves deeper and sharing our gifts as they serve us in this moment in time.

Having a career as a teacher gives me a slight advantage over this home e-learning business, however it is also proving to be challenging. There is a HUGE difference between teaching students in school every other day, and teaching your own children in your home, while being with them all day every day, 24/7.  I am feeling for those parents who are not natural educators. If you are charting the new territory of teaching, here are few tips:

  1. Breathe, what’s important is not necessarily what you are teaching, but that you are getting your kids to think!
  2. Learning can happen in all ways, not just in a school type setting where kids sit still at a desk and do their work. Think of different ways to incorporate learning into the things you are already doing.
  3. Create a schedule or structure that you and your kids can agree upon. My kids aren’t waking up by an alarm, we have let them wake up on their own, but once they are up they get themselves ready for the day and then begin their school work for the day.
  4. Be flexible and adapt!
  5. Don’t take things personally.
  6. Let most things go!
  7. Remember to smile <3
  8. Give lots of hugs!
  9. Take a break.
  10. Remember to breathe

<3 Be well

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3 days in…

The first 3 days off of work because of the coronavirus came and went.

On Sunday I thought about how I would handle the next day. Was I going to get up, business as usual… or was I going to take the well needed rest.

I decided to take it one day at a time. So on Monday, I woke up without my alarm, around 6:30 am. I decided that it was the perfect day for me to start with yoga. I love being awake before everyone else, and watching my Sara Beth yoga on youtube! I really enjoy her flow.

After yoga, I had some coffee and read a book. It was nice to be able to sit still and quiet for a little while. However there has been this underlying unease… a type of energy that is constantly on… buzzing underneath it all.

When my kids woke up we did school work, and made art!

Two weeks off of work, for social distancing purposes. So I stayed in the house, finished reading the Alchemist, and am working on finishing Mitakuya Oyasin. I am also working on Braiding Sweetgrass.

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I worked on a few paintings, did printmaking with my daughter, and cleaned and organized the house.

We also went for a run on the trail, and a hike in the woods.

The grocery stores have been hit or miss. In Pennsylvania the Giant wasn’t too bad… but when I went down to Maryland and their Giant was empty! It’s very interesting to hear how different areas have different reactions to the quarantine.

I have been taking it one moment at a time, trying not to over schedule anything, but also not just sitting around doing nothing. Though sometimes I catch myself sitting and staring. Thinking about what’s going on with the world!

What if we don’t go back to school in 2 weeks? There are rumors of more quarantine, of longer time off of school, if not the rest of the school year… there is so much to process.

Today I emailed all of my students… letting them know they can message me any time. I miss them. I can’t imagine not going back to school for the rest of the year!

Day 3 in the books… 11 more to go… as of today.

Be well.

<3

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For the First time…

All Maryland public schools will be closed from Monday March 16th until March 27th because of the coronavirus.

As of this moment, we will not have to teach for those two weeks. However they mentioned that we will have to use our spring break time to make it up.

This is the first time something like this has happened to me, as I am sure its a first for many. We are history in the making.

So to keep track of my experience with this virus, I thought I would write about it.

Students are aware of a lot of information about the virus. They have researched, watched and listened to information about it. A lot of students mention to me that they didn’t understand the hysteria around it. While there were a few who voiced their anxiety about it.  Most students were excited by the idea of getting out of school, and being apart of something so… historical.  They even shared information that in every decade in the 20th year, there was some type of pandemic! The black plague, spanish flu, and now the coronavirus.

Most of my friends online have expressed concern for the elderly and the sick, however they also do not understand the hype. Why are people purchasing all of the toilet paper? We went to the grocery store and the toilet paper was all gone, as were all of the cleaning supplies!  Those were the only two things missing on the shelves.

I also want to mention that the stock market is crashing, and people are promoting using digital platforms to help eliminate spread of the virus. There could be a correlation between the idea of money spreading the virus and the use of digital platforms as a financial solution.  Though cryptocurrency is also tanking… at this moment, it is down to $5k.

So as I prepare for my last day of school tomorrow before our 2 week closure, I want to remind you, change is inevitable… so just breathe.

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Hampton Art Experience

For the past 6 years the Historic Hampton Inc. non-profit has hosted an art show for any Maryland students and teachers to submit work inspired by Hampton National Historic Park.  It was always a wonderful show, however this year we decided to work with BCPS Visual Arts office to create our first Hampton Art Experience at the historic site.  I took my 8th grade GT students!

Teachers in Baltimore County signed up to bring 20 of their students to the Hampton mansion for a full day art experience.  Students rotated between 2 of the 3 art stations which included:

  • Gardens & Light where students learned about the history of horticulture at Hampton Mansion, and about the properties of light as they created cyanotypes using natural objects located on site.
  • Understanding Architecture where students learned about the history of the architecture and engineering at Hampton Mansion, and were able to work on creating their own mansion, or recreating the Hampton Mansion in a drawing like an architect.
  • Fibers on the Farm where students learned about life on the Farm at Hampton Mansion and used fibers to create artworks that were inspired by Hampton.

My students attended the Understanding Architecture station, lead by architect Anne Boyce and Gretchen Maneval.

and Gardens & Light station, lead by Carroll Cook.

On Saturday, the student work was on display in the orangery for a reception.  Families were able to come and see their students work, as well as take a tour of the Mansion!

This was by far the best art experience and we are looking forward to hosting our second experience next year.

<3

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Ridgely Gardeners

Yesterday we had a master gardener come to green club! She presented on pollinators, and pollinator gardens. We learned a lot of information about the different types of pollinators there are… did you know the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterfly was the Maryland insect?

We have a pollinator butterfly garden which was created about 5 years ago. Over the past few years, the garden had been neglected due to a transfer of responsibility. Taking on this new role as green school coordinator, the transfer of information from the last coordinator was not easy. After experiencing this, I have decided its best to keep very well organized records. I plan to remain the green school coordinator for a while… but if I were to move on from the position, I want to be able to give the next teacher all they need to be successful in the endeavour of keeping the green school climate going. If my goal is to assist in a climate and culture shift in perspective in terms of reducing the amount of pollution and waste…then it only makes sense I keep in my the future of what I am creating and not only thinking of the future of the earth. Micro/Macro. I’ll talk more about this in an upcoming blog.

Back to the garden…

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Here is the before:

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and after:

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Big thank you the PTA who sent out a signup genus to find some parent volunteers. There were 3 parent volunteers who were a HUGE help.

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Our garden turned out completely transformed, and we now can start to think about planting some more pollinators, and adding some type of art installation! It was such a wonderful time, being in nature and helping the pollinators!

<3

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