Work Experience- Day Eight

Work Experience 

Today was my eighth day of work experience and there wasn’t a lesson before break. In this time I looked over the samples I made yesterday with the teacher and we discussed ways to develop these samples which I then proceeded to do in this time. I used different machine stitches and also used the free embroidery foot to create lined which developed two samples. I then used some already painted transfer dye  paper to cut and layer more colours onto my screen print samples. 

Before this lesson I made sure that the booklets were laid out in the table so that the students could start the lesson straight away. The first lesson consisted of the class making bondaweb samples, to help with this I made sure to stand around the irons to answer people’s questions. This was useful as the students had lots of questions and were asking for assistance when completing their samples. In this time I also sorted out and make sure all the colouring pencils were in their right places and sorted by colour. I also tried to combine two trays of colours but as there was so many pencils I couldn’t. I wanted to keep these still separated by colours but I couldn’t find any rubber bands and didn’t want to interrupt the teacher so I overcame this by using masking tape to hold the pencils together in a bundle. This worked well to keep the pencils together and it will be easy to undo and reseal. 

In the last lesson we screen printed so I got all the materials we would need and putting them onto the table. This process overall went well but a few times the students struggled to make the ink go all the way down to the bottom of their page so I offered some advise- for examples, adding more ink, holding the pressure all the way down the screen and changing the angle. After this I washed all the screens up and the other things we used up and put it away. Next the students needed to irons their hems to see in the next few weeks I stayed by the irons again to make sure everyone was confident in this. I was left with the responsibility of making sure all the glues and scissors where put back in the pots so I counted them up before the class left to check they where all there.  

After school I did a general clean up around the room and brought any spare sheets of work to the front in a pile so that the room will be ready for tomorrow. 

Tomorrow I want to make sure that all my samples have been handed back to the teacher and the instructions I left with them are legible. I think I have developed my confidence well with talking to students so I will make sure to keep this up tomorrow. 

Work Experience- Day Seven

 Work Experience 

Todays lesson started off by me continuing to make samples while completing task if the teacher asked, for example cutting up fabric or getting the teacher something. 

In the break between the lessons I made sure that the watercolors, paint brushes and water pots were out for the class to use them. In this lesson I continued to work in on the samples and made a layered slashed sample. I think this samples will work well as it was easier to make but still improves sewing machine confidence and skills which will be good for the middle school years.  

In the last lesson of the day I helped a student understand there pattern they wanted to use for the final piece. I helped her to understand the order she should sew the panels in and how to shift the fabric to make the shape better. I also cut fabric up for people. On of the students asked for my advise on some samples and she had run out of ideas. To help I shared some of my ideas with her and some of my previous works. This then started a conversation between a few of us about discussing colleges and what they want to do in the future. I found this really interesting learning what people want to do and which colleges they are considering. One of the students is considering going to this college so I offered some insight and my points on it- positively. 

I really enjoyed this lesson as everyone is really nice and talkative while still getting the work done. 

At the end of the day I stayed on and completed screen printing to be used for the teaching samples. This went really well as I managed to make samples after seeing what I could improves from the samples before. I also think this is really doable for the students as it’s a technique they learn in year 7 which they can then develop. 

I think tomorrow I will get the teachers opinion on the work I completed so I can then develop this in the way that she wants me to. 

Work Experience-Day Six

Work Experience 

We started the day off with screen printing with year 8 and this went well as we managed to print everyone’s work quickly. This helped me develop my screen printing skills and I feel confident doing this. When doing this I also gave students advise on how to try to make the outcome of the print improved- add more ink onto the silk screen or to adjust the frame of the imagine there printing so it fits the fabric better. 

After this I cleaned the supplies up and wiped down the work surface so that the it would be clean for the next section of the lesson. 

In the second lesson there was a new teacher who is temporarily taking over for the art teacher so I tried to make sure that the materials she would need where easily accessible and that they class books where ready for them when they came in. As this teacher was new she also didn’t know where anything was so I tried to get the things she wanted for her. I helped the students with their work when they weren’t sure what to do. I also helped hand out samples the students had made but this was abit difficult as I don’t know the students names, I had to look at the names on the front of the books so this did take a little longer than a normal teacher would however this wasn’t an issue because this wasn’t on a time constraint. To end the lesson I made sure everything went back in the classes box ready for the next lesson so nothing got lost. 

Today went well although the second lesson was slightly stressful as it was the teachers first day but there was no issues. 

I think tomorrow I will try and create more samples and I think I will try and do this will screen printing as I am more confident in this now. 

Work Experience- Day Five

Work Experience 

This was the last day of work experience this week and we started the day off by preparing the machines for the next lesson. I volunteered to change all the machine feet as I am confident in doing this, when the teacher said she would ask somebody else to do this. After this we changed the thread and bobbins to the appropriate colour. As there was a few of us doing this task didn’t take too long and we still had time to prepare of things for the next week. For example helping to refill the transfer dyes and watching the process of how to mix screen printing ink together. When this was done we tested this by screen printing the way the students will to see if the ink is concentrated enough. We left this to dry and we were happy with the result and it didn’t need to be adapted. 

Whilst lessons were going on I helped to prepare lesson planned materials for next term. This involved cutting up pattern paper for a project. As I didn’t want to take too long doing this it allowed me to work on my accuracy whilst not being to nitpicking or too careful on my work. Allow I did make sure it was right to be able to be used. I also cut up material and counted them making sure they will be enough for the class load. 

At the end of the day I made sure to help clean up so that the classroom would be ready for after the weekend. 

I think that today went well as I managed to help prepare lots of things for when I leave work experience making the preparation for the classes easier and a lower load for one person. 

Work Experience- Day Four

Work Experience 

Today was my fourth day of work experience. The day started of with a year 11 class who didn’t need much help with there work so I carried on making samples. One of the students asked me how I made my lino print and if I could show them how to do it but they didn’t get time to do this this lesson so I will try and show me them at some time during work experience.  

In the middle class of the day I helped students change there machine thread and bobbins so they could stitch how they wanted. I also helped a student who wanted to resew they like by suggesting using seam ripper to undo their line. In this lesson I also tried to have what the teacher wanted before she asked I think this went well as when she asked me to get the water colours out I also thought to put the paint brushes and water pots out. 

I also made sure that all the chrome books were away and charging after the teacher and I sorted them out yesterday. Yesterday, I had to speak to someone who came in asking about them which made me further push my confidence. 

As today was mostly upper school classes I wasn’t working with the students and much . In this time I just carried on with hand stitching on my samples with has helped me with improving it. 

After school finished I stayed to complete more samples and so that I could also be there when some students work after school. In this time I made two dissolvable fabric samples which I thought would be a good idea as they were simple to make and quick. I also made more prints of my lino so that the variants can be worked into more. 

Overall, today was a bit slower in the lessons but I still enjoyed working and making samples especially after school. 

I was also able to show the teacher some of my previous work and she like it and asked me questions of how I achieved the work and the techniques I used. This was good as it meant she was able to think of things that she can use and her students can. 

Work Experience- Day Three

Work Experience 

Today was my third day of experience and it started with a free double period first thing. In this time the teacher wanted me to mount up a students work. To do this successfully I made sure to photograph the original laid out work before I took sections off to glue them down to make sure I would put them back in the original place. This worked well as the end result looks the same as the original and the teacher was happy with how it turned out. 

After this I prepared the studio for the lesson by putting the students books out. I think this lesson went well because I managed to help the students with computer query’s so that the teacher didn’t have to take them all. This lesson was mainly independent mood board work so I didn’t need to help much so in between helping I decided to also continue making samples so that I can get lots of these done. 

In this lesson I wanted to complete a target I set for myself yesterday that was to go up to students if they looked confused to help them before they ask for help or before the teacher was asked. This went well as I managed to help a student with computer query to help him before he needed to ask the teacher, I think this was also successful as he felt he could then later as me again to help him. 

In the next lesson we completed screen printing again which went really well as we managed to do it quicker than the last lesson as we where more confident in this technique as we did it a few days ago. Again in this lesson not all the transfer dyes papers got heat pressed so I decided to stay after school again to complete these so the teacher wouldn’t have to do it before the next lesson. When doing this I realised that the last class that I printed I only did it once instead of one then changed the papers directions 90° and reprinting it, once noticing my error I put them back in the heat press so they would be ready for there lesson. However this was not an issue as they had not had there lesson yet and me printing them wouldn’t have taken anymore time away form there lesson as if I wasn’t not here they would be only starting to print them in that lesson. 

I think that today went well as I managed to get a lot of preparatory work done for the next few classes and I pushed myself to speak to the students even more before they ask for help. 

Today I further pushed my independence when mounting work up and I think I could develop this further by seeing if I think there is anything else I could do. 

Work Experience - Day Two

Work Experience 

Today on my second day of work experience I started off by learning what samples the textile teacher wants me to make over my work experience. This was before the class started which was useful as I had time to think of any of my own ideas I had to contribute. 

Within the lesson the teacher had requested that I help a student with there work and ideas to help them develop their work. I think this was successful as they managed to complete and new sample with a new technique and this has given them another ode for a sample they can complete next lesson. I think working with this student also went well as it gave me more of an idea of how to work and communicate with the students one on one. 

In this day I also located materials for the students who where unsure where things where which made me more confident in the layout of the room and I was also asked to cut up materials. This was asked of me without measurements which pushed me to be independent and decide the size of the fabric quickly as I was being waited on which meant I didn’t overthink this task. 

Today there was a double lesson without any lessons on so this meant there was time to make samples for the teacher which she would then show to give ideas to the younger GCSE learners. In this time I made samples with ideas that I personally had which I thought would be relevant. Once I had made these the teachers reviewed them and she was impressed as I made made samples with things she had never seen before or would have thought to do which gave me motivation to make more. 

After school some students stayed to catch up with work so I made the decision to stay so that I can be of help if needed. When I wasn’t being asked to help students I decided to create another sample, this one Lino. After I checked it was okay to do this I started carving it out, not wanting to distract the teacher from the students I chose to draw design which looked appropriate for the theme. Once I had carved it I did a first print to show the teacher. She was happy with the design which was good and then we discussed ways to develop this sample which I will complete in the next few days. 

I think today went well as I managed to help students individually and as a collective. Tomorrow, I will try to talk to students first if I think there is an issue instead of waiting for them to come to me.