Here we go!

I am an elementary art teacher. I am the only one of my kind in my district. While the fourth grade teachers are collaborating to find creative ways to present their curriculum to their students I am discussing my ideas with myself. Occasionally I run my latest spark by my wife or the music teacher across the hall, but that is largely just to hear my idea spoken out loud. I have been craving a way to really work with others who are trying to help first graders create space in their drawings by overlapping images, or fifth graders to design and construct a dwelling specifically for an exotic environment. Much of my collaboration with my colleagues is in the form of supporting something that they are working on. I enjoy this and have developed some great art experiences for my students this way. I do need, however, a way to discuss the problems that I face in my day to day interaction with my students and to share the failures and successes I encounter along the way.
I also need a place that I can share images and pieces that I find inspirational, comical, or dumbfounding.
I want this to be a positive place. Feel free to be critical, just not cynical. I enjoy a passionate discussion exploring two opposing ideas. I do not enjoy close minded or rhetorical rants.
I hope to get a group of artsy followers who can help me be a better art teacher and I would love to share what I think works to help others.