Teaching students

is sometimes like dragging the voice out of them... attacking the inner critic, arming them with media and forcing them to make a choice. I try to give them a formal framework so they are not standing out in a barren field of ideas. They have to think of composition, placement, color, value...look to light sources, inspiration, use their eyes!
But its just a rainy day and no one seems able to invest themselves in the process to the level I want them to. Shapes dribble out on the pages. I wipe them off and make them start over.
Are we getting anywhere, I wonder?
Tomorrow, it has just been announced, is "Mountain Day"... so no classes will be held. Will the kids remember what we went over or will we have to repeat everything in two days?
ARGH!-
says the wicked teacher