Welcome to Grant Woods!

Welcome!

This blog is a resource for ideas, instructions, helpful links to be successful in Woods.

Today Ms. Kirschner, an old friend, is leading class. I'm very sad to say that after a run of 45 years, I'm missing a first day of school, I have a viral infection in my throat, and would be risking infecting all of you were I to come in to teach today.

I should not be contagious by tomorrow, so I look forward to meeting you tomorrow and Wednesday.

Today, I'll try to give you a little overview of what you will learn and make in this class.

Let's start with what, but be clear that the sine qua non of "how" is safely.

The first major project for Woods will be childern's toys; the second major project will be a cutting boards.

For examples of some amazing toys students made last year, look at the last blog entry for last year.

If you'd like some more ideas here is a prompt to give you more ideas to think about.

Wood working is about a lot more than sticking pieces of wood together to make interesting, useful, and beautiful things. This class will teach you how to:
think creatively;
pay attention to detail;
behave professionally;
solve problems;
be creative;
and to utilize the design process.

Designing is a skill; people in all sorts of jobs and in their personal lives design. Learning to think systematically (including being systematic about being open to inspiration) is a great skill to develop. There are many ways to think about the design process (click for more of them), but here is one of my favorites:

There are lots of things we will do in order to learn about the various tools and machines in the shop, and about how to use them safely and effectively. You will need to pass a written and a hands on test for each machine (and of course there are ways to accommodate all learning styles -- so don't sweat the tests.) One great resource is maucks.com/safety/ In fact virtually everything you need to know and might need to study can be found there. Safety tests are pass fail; passing your safety tests will be 10% of your grade (in other words since you have to pass them; and since you can retake them; you are kind of guaranteed all those points!

Creating a shop like ours, and the great new one we will have at new Grant, takes a lot of money. A lot of that money comes from the Federal Government who recognize the need to train and hire thousands and thousands and thousands of carpenters, construction workers, and other trades people who build with their hands. These jobs are and will be in high demand now and when you graduate (from Grant or from college). In order to qualify for these federal dollars some of the wood working we do will be more like construction and carpentry, but whatever we are building will help you learn to problem solve and design: this is a great class for future engineers as well as future furniture makers; construction workers; architects; and in fact for any human!

As a CTE course a large chunk of your success in this class will be based on doing what is required in the world of work. Did you see the sign over the door? "On Time; On Budget; According to Plan; Safely; Together"? What do you think these words and phrases mean? How will learning to meet these goals help you through your future?

There will probably be NO materials fees this year. Carpenters (literally) build community. Last years classes built stages for the dance team and other clients; we built sets for the spring musical. We'll have similar jobs this year, and some of these jobs help us to purchase materials or tools for us to use.
I hope each student will have some in the Spring Art Show Experience Art. This is another opportunity for us to earn money for the program (and possibly for yourself).

Each woodworker will need a notebook (and keeping an accurate and useful note book will be part of your grade). I prefer an unlined notebook since mine if filled with drawing and illustrations, but whatever kind you prefer is fine.

We will provide you with safety protection for your eyes and ears, but you should plan on wearing long pants and closed toed shoes when working in the shop.

I'm very sorry to have missed you today, and look forward to seeing you tomorrow or Wednesday.

If time remains I'd like you to wander through the shop (avoiding touching anything that looks possibly sharp, or like an "on" switch), for the purpose of asking questions you'd like to have answered next class.

Send your questions (including a photo if that will help make it clear) to my email: jzartler@pps.net 

Please include your name and period.