Mrs. Ballow's Messy Desk

My friend and former Band Mom TaShane Hill-O'Haver is running a Dance & Theater camp at Randle HS this summer. She's a fantastic teacher y'all, and if your kiddo is interested in musical theater, this is a great opportunity.

https://trhsdrama.ticketleap.com/tada/

Description:
Open to current K-7th grade students!

Campers will spend four days with the award-winning Randle Royals Dance Team and National-qualifying Randle Lions Theatre putting together exciting performances from your favorite Broadway musicals! Each day participants will learn choreography and practice singing and acting technique to showcase at a public performance on Thursday!
A limited number of 'backstage' spots are also available; please email Mrs. McManus for details and availability.

Campers will learn from the best that high school dance and theatre have to offer! The Randle Royals were named Overall Grand Champion at all of their competitions this season, and Randle Lions Theatre is a 3-time National Qualifying program and has received 20 Tommy Tune nominations for excellence in musical theatre in the last 2 years!

June 24-27, Performance at 4:30 on June 27

Camp Cost: $175.00 (plus processing fee)

Early drop off (8 am) and late pickup (4:30 pm) options available for purchase at checkout.

Please bring a sack lunch. No peanut butter please!

For questions please contact:

Coach O'Haver, Head Dance Team Coach at [email protected] or

Mrs. McManus, Head Theatre Director at [email protected]

I'm all my feels today. If you see me ugly cry, I'm okay. Just full up to the top with love.

On to the next one...

Currently on view at : "The Story of You," Middle - High School edition. Artwork will be up for viewing through May 28.

Post morning workout sweaty selfie, but had to do it! I love our PTA!!

UPDATE: The Museum decided to display the student's artwork! They will be putting up a statement at the beginning of the show, something like "Artists views are not representative of the Museum," etc, which it totally understandable. I think it's a win for the student and for the rest of us.

Yea for Art as a conversation starter!!

*******************************
What do Artists do?

Artists make statements.
Artists make work that is unpopular.
Artists make work that is banned.

This is how one of my junior high school student's art is being displayed (for now) at the venue where our show is held, a children's and family museum. The art piece has a handgun in it. It's a WWII gun, but it's still a gun.

I allowed him paint the image (our school does not have a "no weapons" policy). But we had two LONG conversations about how his art may not be well received b/c of the content and the venue. We discussed that may even be banned from the show. I asked if he cared more about having the gun in the image or having his work be displayed. He chose the gun, and I let him.

And the venue is deciding tonight whether to display the painting. I told the museum folks the story, and that I was behind whatever decision they made 100%.

Part of me hopes that if they do decide not to display it, that they leave it up backwards. If someone wants to look, then they can. If someone wants to start a conversation, they can. But maybe that's too much to ask of a venue staff that wasn't prepared to host that conversation.

I am proud of my artist for sticking with his original idea. Do I agree with his point of view or his statement? That's not the point. The point is that the CHILD is the Artist, and the classroom is the CHILD'S studio.

What do artists do?

They make Art.

(Swipe for image; artist statement in the comments)

What do Artists do?

Artists make statements.
Artists make work that is unpopular.
Artists make work that is banned.

This is how one of my junior high school student's art is being displayed (for now) at the venue where our show is held, a children's and family museum. The art piece has a handgun in it. It's a WWII gun, but it's still a gun.

I allowed him paint the image (our school does not have a "no weapons" policy). But we had two LONG conversations about how his art may not be well received b/c of the content and the venue. We discussed that may even be banned from the show. I asked if he cared more about having the gun in the image or having his work be displayed. He chose the gun, and I let him.

And the venue is deciding tonight whether to display the painting. I told the museum folks the story, and that I was behind whatever decision they made 100%.

Part of me hopes that if they do decide not to display it, that they leave it up backwards. If someone wants to look, then they can. If someone wants to start a conversation, they can. But maybe that's too much to ask of a venue staff that wasn't prepared to host that conversation.

I am proud of my artist for sticking with his original idea. Do I agree with his point of view or his statement? That's not the point. The point is that the CHILD is the Artist, and the classroom is the CHILD'S studio.

What do artists do?

They make Art.

(Full image and artist statement in the comments)

I love it when my kids really ham it up. 😂😂😂

Buttons with faces next to the face of the artist. Why? Why not?

What do artists do? Artists work in series.

"Can I make another one?!?"
"Yes, you can."

Also, the salad spinner was a winner (couldn't resist)!

T-10 minutes and counting until the NAEA webinar I'm co-presenting starts.

Y'all, there are 600 people registered for this event. 🤯🤯🤯 I am beyond excited!!!!!

So, I'm doing a thing on Wednesday...

I'm presenting an NAEA webinar with another fabulous art teacher, Janine Campbell ( ). Super excited to share my classroom and my kids "on the big stage"!

If you're a HS or MS teacher who wants to try adding choice into your classroom, Janine has some FABULOUS resources. And if you're in Elementary, I've got you covered!

Webinar is free for members, $49 for non-members. Head over to and you'll get where you need to go.

It's coming...