Pop! goes the pottery (in the tunes of Pop Goes the Weasel)

This semester I am teaching ceramics (or 'Hand building with Clay' as my school calls it).  For the most part things are going much more smoothly than first semester.

Here are some perks:
1) I know ceramics and LOVE it, therefore have been much more confident in what to teach.

2) I have more students and am in the building more, which means I have been interacting with more people (students and peers) and feel more a part of the school community.

3) I learned A LOT first semester and am trying put into practice some of the very helpful lessons.

The one BIG thing that has been a learning curve thus far has been using the kilns (ovens/furnace for clay) and firing (baking the clay to the point that it becomes hard) other people's work.  Clay is temperamental.  It is very important to give it the opportunity to dry out properly prior to and during the firing.  

The first firing I did, the pieces were NOT as dry as they seemed when I put them in the kiln.  Also, I did not let them dry out as much as I should have prior to letting the kilns getting up to temperature (1900 degreesF).  This was disastrous.  Some might say FATAL for several pots, as they had major cracks or explosions occur in the kiln.  If one were to have been around when this happened, I'm sure they would have heard POP!!! 

I felt horrible when I opened the kiln and saw shattered pieces :/  

The upside?  I am now being super cautious.  I have been reading the manual and learning more.  I have asked several people for advice.  Results?  So far no more explosions.  Fingers crossed for expected results!!!