Pouring Slip Molds

  The first thing you want to do is to clean out your mold.

 I just use a plastic dish brush - something stiff enough to get the debris, but not stiff enough to damage your mold.

   Wrap securely with large rubber bands. This small mold doesn't need too much support, so I've had good luck with just one.

   If your mold is large then you REALLY need to secure it. You'll thank me later for doing this! You will be pouring a LOT of slip in the mold and the weight of the clay will push the mold apart.

  Check your mold for additional fills. This hole is on the side, so it will need to be poured at a later time. Keep all pieces wet until you can join them together.

Fill your mold to the top with slip. It's ok if it goes over a bit. Now the hard part - let it sit for awhile! Don't forget to monitor your pour.

 





The plaster will start to absorb the liquid from the clay and you will see the clay go down. You will want to watch the thickness of the sides. If the sides aren't as thick as you'd like them then refill with slip. You can see by this picture that the sides are a decent thickness.




















Turn your mold carefully over your container to drain the excess slip. This is how you get your mold hollowed out.








Set aside to continue draining and drying. You will want to remove your mold slightly before it becomes leatherhard. If you leave it in the mold too long it may crack when it shrinks during the drying process. In my room if we pour at the beginning of the day we can remove the clay from the molds by the end of the day. My counter is directly below the heating vents.


One last piece of advice - it's a good idea to let the molds dry overnight between fills. The plaster loses it's ability to absorb the liquid from the clay when it starts out damp.

KEEN Conference

KEEN (Kansas Exemplary Educators Network) Conference was held mid-February in our capitol city of Topeka. It was an incredible experience, listening to the KS Commissioner of Education Randy Watson speak, attend workshops based on individual interests, and network.

I attended workshops on mindfulness and civic engagement, both of which are high interest to me currently. I was also able to hang out with some of my KTOY team, which is a worthwhile endeavor at any time!

Civic Engagement:
#10 - Make connections to the real world - make it relevant!
#9 - Use classroom discussion - use moderated classroom discussion to talk about issues considered important to students
#8 - Teach Reflection - improves self-awareness, openness, perspectives, and builds a community of learners
#7 - Demonstrate enthusiasm and passion - enthusiasm is contagious
#6 - Student choice - where to sit, what kind of assignment, assessment, perhaps even what to study
#5 - Student voice - allow students to create tasks, rubrics, and/or classroom rules
#4 - Comfort the uncomfortable - students who witness it tend to imitate it
#3 - Make the uncomfortable the comfortable - challenge their thinking, perceived realities, prejudices and biases
#2 - Be a role model - be the change you want to see in your kids
#1 - Be a mentor - some kids need more help than others

Maize - 4th Team Visit

Maize was yet another awesome day! Getting to tour these schools and seeing the best, most interesting things they have to offer is the BEST professional development available!

We started this day meeting the superintendent and seeing a presentation on their district. We loaded a bus and drove to the middle school. A group of middle school student leaders showed us a presentation on their clubs and student leadership opportunities. We visited a classroom with flexible seating, and saw the coolest affirmations wall. "I'm Loving It!"

We then traveled to the less than 2 months old Career Academy. This was the MOST incredible school I've ever seen! You can graduate high school with an LPN certificate, learn culinary arts, fire & police science, and build an actual airplane (every single part!) that will one day fly.

The next stop was so inspiring. It was at the completion school, an alternative high school. We were able to witness the graduation of a young man who had made some bad choices and turned his life around. What a humbling experience, just to witness this graduation!

At the elementary school we learned of a program DOGS - Dads Of Great Students. What a cool way to get dads involved in schools and make them feel welcome!

The next stop was the brand new pre-school. Opened just this past August it was solely designed with 3 & 4 year olds in mind. The soothing colors, programs, classrooms and playground were most definitely going to be a place parents would want to send their children, right down to the teeny tiny little toilets!

Our last stop of the day was to MOXI's. This coffee shop was opened so that Mother's Of eXceptional Individuals would always have a place to work. The mango smoothie I had was incredible, and I admit I spent a bit on the crafts that were for sale!

Gifts from each district are always appreciated. This etched thermal cup with my name & KTOY team will be used for years. The cookies didn't last a week!

Caldwell - 3rd Team Visit

Our 3rd KTOY visit was to the tiny 1A district of Caldwell. We started our day at the district office where we were treated to pastries and a greeting by district administration. We then started our tour by watching the Monday morning weekly mindfulness routine at the elementary. Students danced, did yoga, and celebrated birthdays. We then visited Bluejay Outlet, a student run printing class. They printed our KTOY t-shirts and showed us several skills they had acquired.

We ate an amazing lunch at a home that was once a bed & breakfast. While we were eating we were joined by some "Ladies of the Night" actors. We visited the Caldwell Visitor's Center which has been restored with the help of high school students. We went to the Opera House where we were treated to "Talking Tombstones", a skit performed recreating the lives of past citizens. The Opera House has these amazing chandeliers that were purchased from the state Topeka Capitol Building, and donated to the Opera House. Visiting a restored brothel and gentleman's parlor completed our historical tour.

Back at the school we visited a classroom that uses Classcraft as a classroom engagement/management system. The Emerging Technologies class was incredible as students proudly showed off their 3D printed busts created from their 3D scanner and a video they created with their drone.

Since it was Kansas Day we were treated with an adorable 1st Grade performance, a visit to the shop where we were gifted student created wooden pens, and a stop at the Caldwell alumni room, which was filled with a century of memorabilia. It was another incredible visit!