O'Keefe up the good work TLES.

Sitting in the art classes is always fun. We sat in on a couple different art projects yesterday. One that the Year 8's are working on is a cubist-like still life. They were instructed to use multiple different mediums like newspaper, magazine, water colors, and oil pastels.

We're also constantly admiring their great sketchbooks. They're almost writing their own textbooks, with full sketches, details about artists, and notes on every page. It's something we certainly want to explore and try to incorporate into our own lessons.

This is a sixth form painting about to go in a school exhibit. Based on the work of Georgia O'Keefe. We were really impressed with it, and have been with most of the older students pieces.

Here are a few more sketches the Year 7 students have done for their Elephant Parade project. They are begining to complete their research and come up with a final sketch to be used on their clay piece.

 

Hand written self-portrait updates for the year 9 group of students, just a few examples.

 

We got to sit in on a lesson for the year 9 group. The students were doing 3-Dimensional wire sculptures of shells, based on the artwork of Dale Chihuly.

 

 

Of course we had to get in on that project! We hope the tissue paper shells can make it through the flight home.

 

This is Long Eaton on an afternoon when it wasn't raining. We got lucky. Then walked down to Nottingham University and enjoyed the lovely weather. A very brief break from the rain showers.

Of course we think of you all often, but we're trying to soak up every experience here. We know these last few days here are going to fly by. Missing you.

Never agree to plastic surgery if the doctor's office is full of portraits by Picasso.



Why was the art dealer in debt?- He didn't have any Monet.

What did the artist say to the dentist?- Matisse hurt.

Vincent van Gough walks into a bar, and the bartender offers him a drink...No thank -you, said Vincent, I've got one 'ere.

We're 'avin a laugh. : )

N&K

A little tea, a little teaching.

Just a few pictures of some of the classes we've been watching this week.

This project is with year 12 (11th grade).

They are researching 21st century modern artists in their sketchbooks using multi-media.

 

I think we brought some bad luck over here. It has rained non stop for the past week. You'd think this was typical in England but... The Wettest April in 100 Years.

N&K

Entertainment.

Here are some short-ish videos from our visit to Paris. I apologize in advance for Natalie's annoying southern charm. She can't help what comes out of her mouth at times.

Eurostar.

The Louvre.

Notre Dame Cathedral.

Walking up the Eiffel Tower. 


View from the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower at night.

Enjoy!

N&K

Keep Calm and Visit London.

.BLOG GOT A MAKEOVER.

Thursday and Friday proved to be a bit hectic at the school. A government organization called Ofsted popped in on a surprise visit to evaluate the school based on lesson plans, teaching methods, and even private student interviews. This put the school in a frenzy as teachers prepared for their visit. That meant lots of lesson revamps, grading, organization, and panic. There obviously isn't anything like this in the States, so it was interesting to watch everything play out. School evaluations like this are done roughly every three years and the school is awarded a 'ranking' of less than satisfactory, good, and outstanding. Long Eaton has been 'outstanding' for the past six years so it was a lot of pressure for the teachers to keep the status.

We managed to escape getting observed by the gentlemen in suits, but it was funny to watch everyone be ducks. (Calm and collected above water, but frantically trying to stay a float under water.) Needless to say there was much rejoicing at 3:00 Friday with a celebratory night at the pub for all the teachers. We had our own reasons for rejoicing as we were catching a train to London.

Muswell Hill Highstreet

Upon arrival in London we visited Katie's home town of Muswell Hill and Natalie enjoyed her first proper fish and chips, at none other than Toff's, a famous restaurant in North London.

We were then very generously taken in by family friends of Katie, The Whiteheads. They were running their own B&B it seemed and we were so grateful for their hospitality. (Thank you so much again, if you're reading this.) We really should've taken a picture, but in the rush of our activities, it slipped by.

That night we went out for a walk to Ally Pally, a large palace on the top of Muswell Hill that has a great view out over the city of London. Easily the best spot in London. Photoshoot followed.

Ally Pally

Saturday we woke with the rain and started our day off by taking the tube into London, about a 30 minute ride from where we were. We're quite experienced tube-riders at this point. Getting off the tube we came out at Buckingham Palace, just in time for the Changing of the Guards. We were amazed at how many wet tourists put up with cold and wind to see those furry black hats.

We walked down the Mall towards Trafalgar Square. Took some pictures with some giant lions. Laughed at some soggy pigeons. And witnessed some spandex clad bike parade promoting safe riding on London streets.

Buckingham Palace

Walked over towards Parliament and heard Big Ben chime once, for 1 o'clock. Saw Westminster Abbey, where the fab Kate and Will were wed. (Anniversary yesterday!) We braved the horizontal wind across Waterloo Bridge and walked down the Thames toward to Tate Modern (Free). We hesitated on going on the Eye, but then realized it was 30 pounds. Nope.

The Tate Modern was lovely featuring a Damien Hirst exhibit and tons of great art. We collected some post cards for our future art classroom. Highlight: Afternoon tea on the top floor of the Tate. Included: Scones with clotted cream and jam, and Earl Grey Tea. We sat with a great view of St. Paul's Cathedral and the Millennium Bridge.

The Tate Modern

View from the cafe in the Tate

Tea and Scones

 We whizzed by the Globe theatre (Shakespeare) and then across the Millennium Bridge (famous from Harry Potter) to make it for the Even Song service at St. Paul's. (Free entry). We're glad we got to experience that because the choir was extraordinary and the architecture rivaled that of Notre Dame. (See Paris post).

The Millennium Bridge

Our day ended at Covent Garden, where we ate an excellent, hot out of the oven, triple chocolate chip cookie. Why not? Ben's Cookies. Recommended by a friend. Stuffed, but still couldn't stop eating, we topped it off with Paella from a gourmet food stand serving hot paella in the middle of the market. We watched a few performers, and did a bit of window shopping before heading home. We're not really keen on the new fashion look of bum-revealing-daisy-duke-denims and tights that so many of the girls are wearing. Keep an eye out, because I'm sure it'll reach America before too long.

At this point our leather boots were filled with water and squishy, having walked in the rain for about eight hours. Our pruney toes were ready for some heat when we got back to the house in North London.
We got up early for worship Sunday morning and had a good service with the Christians meeting there at Katie's old church. It was lovely to see them again for a second time, but certainly hard to say goodbye.

By the time worship had finished Pizza Express was calling our name.

The three hour train ride back to Long Eaton was a killer, but we made it home safe.

Another whirlwind weekend checked off the list.

Much love,

N&K.