I’ve often though of myself as a one trick pony, especially when I look at friends who paint, take fantastic pictures, knit, create graphics, pottery, sew, and make amazing meals. Me? I can write a story. Oh, I’ve tried photography. I don’t think I have an eye for elements in a frame. I’ve tried watercolor and acrylic painting. Remember those art projects brought home from third grade that hung on the refrigerator until the corners curled and caused it to get bumped onto the floor? Yeah, that’s what my brush strokes create. I made an ebook cover once for a short story. It was very obvious it wasn’t professionally done. I spent time at a pottery wheel, then painted my creations. The clay could have been made into something usable or event cool. I have my grandmother’s sewing machine. I’ve bought fabric and patterns, sewed the whole dress or shorts or shirt (including ripping out a seam at least once) and created colorful comments when trying to do a button hole or zipper or even have the hems the same length. I cook to survive. I love to look through cookbooks, but I’ve never been an adventurous eater. I haven’t tried knitting, but given my past attempts at other art forms, it isn’t likely to work out.
Having finished the final project from my classroom materials tubs and returning things to the garage, I realized that I’ve always used my creativity to make materials for students to learn and practice concepts in ways that are brain friendly. I made games, partner activities, centers and menus, projects, and alternative assessments. I remember studying the standards and making notes on what hands-on activities students could do to learn rather than me lecturing the whole class period. Even with all the materials that I recycled in this reorganization, it was a small part of what I’ve done over my teaching career.
So when I jokingly/truthfully say I’m a one trick pony, it’s because I no longer create materials for students. I’m grateful for all the years I was in the classroom. I didn’t think of making things as being artistic or creative. I believed I was doing what was best to help kids. I wanted to finish that project in December 2025. I pushed through to finish digitizing what I thought was easiest and most helpful because I didn’t want to have a few pieces hanging out in the back of my mind or to keep that on my to-do list.
I feel I’ve completed all I want to do with those materials. I’m happy to retire that particular trick 🙂 Now I have the one artistic endeavor in front of me that I’ve had success with, find joy with, and look forward to creating more stories.
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