May 31, 2011

Featured on Bulletin Board Ideas!


I love creating bulletin boards!  I spend much time handmaking letters, boarders, and images for my bulletin boards.  I've said before if I was ever offered a job just creating bulletin boards...I might take it!   So it was so nice to be informed that one of my boards was being featured on Bulletin Board Ideas!  It's a fun sight with tons of ideas!!!  Check it out!



May 27, 2011

Featured Blogger: Ms. Chumley

Ms. Chumley is an art teacher here in Metro Nashville Public Schools.  She worked at my wife's school during their art teacher's maternity leave...and she would tell me how impressed she was with her.  Since then Ms. Chumley has had a full time position at another school in MNPS...and has continued to grow & become even more awesome!  She seems to be getting more into the blogging world as of late...so stop by & say hello! 
http://chumleyartroom.blogspot.com/

May 26, 2011

More Weaving - 4th








Here are the rest of the student examples I promised you!
 How do you do weaving with your students?

May 25, 2011

Weaving - 4th Grade






I had so many great student examples I'm going to break this up into two posts.  They were asked to create a "color story".  They could use 4 regular yarns & one specialty.  Some decided they would rather just use 5 regular, and that was fine with me if they could justify why.  I use prenotched  looms, but make students warp their own.  They are responsible for going to the yarn boxes, selecting & cutting their own yarn.  I love this lesson, and am always amazed how some students that struggle with drawing/painting find great success in weaving!  Stay tuned for the rest of the student examples!!

May 24, 2011

Great Find at Dollar Tree


My family & I were at the Dollar Tree last night killin' some time before dinner.  We love the Dollar Tree...you just never know what treasure you'll find(If you don't have them where you are..it is a store where everything is $1).  Well...this is what we found last night.... Crayola board "ish" books!!!  They only had Red, Yellow, Blue, and Green, but ya get what ya get and you don't throw a fit.  They are about 18 in. long and 4 or 5 in tall.  They have 6 pages of amazing color photos & questions.  Kids are asked to find things you can eat, how many bows can you find, where is the match of the pair...etc.  I think these will be great for some of my special needs students!!  If you have a Dollar Tree near you...go pick them up!!!

May 23, 2011

THE END IS NEAR!!!!!



No..I'm not talking about the missed rapture!  The end of school is near!!!!  We have a week & a half to go.  This week I'm handing back student art work and giving them a Finish Up Day.  I allow them time to finish work & I do a portfolio review with each child.  I had posted this lesson(see above pics) a couple weeks ago...but this was the 1st class that did the project. I had them work in colored pencil(but switched to marker for the other classes).  These 4 stood out from the rest.  I hope that the end of the year is going well for you all!!! 

May 19, 2011

Line Design w/Shading - 4th Grade



It's that time of year again!  The Line Design project I do with 4th grade every year is turning out wonderful!  I have some great artists in the 4th grade, and even some of the ones that struggle are doing well with this project.  I have included the link back to the steps so you can try it yourself!

May 18, 2011

The Painted Pot -2nd Grade


My second graders are painting their coil pots this week.  I use acrylic paint.  Though I'd love to have all my students glaze all of their clay projects...I just don't have the time or money to do so.  I use to feel guilty, but several years ago I went to a clay workshop with a professional clay artist(made his grandma into a pot!!..well..her ashes at least..anyways?!?!) & he said he often uses acrylic with his students(kids) do to time/money.  That made me feel better! ha ha  The kids love it..instant gratification.  I'm loving the results. I have them use one metallic acrylic & one regular(they pick). 

May 17, 2011

A CALL TO ENCOURAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey my bloggie friends!!  I have a fav. to ask of you.  I just found out that one of our fellow bloggers lost her position in NJ.  They cut the position completely from what she wrote.  I know that all of us art teacher are aware that this could happen to us(even those of us that are pretty secure & have been teaching a long time).  If you could, please send some well wishes her way....and if you are people of prayer...pray for her to find a new place to teach!!  Thank you so much!!

Watercolor/Tempera Skyline - 1st Grade





Students first draw an interesting skyline.  I encourage them to make each building unique & to vary the height. Next students use watercolor to paint a sunset.  They are encouraged to try wet on wet so the edges of  each color are soft.  I also showed them how to pounce in clouds(but not many of them tried it).  Last they use black tempera to paint the skyline.  I have them start at the bottom of the page to give the watercolor more time to dry.  This lesson takes one 1hr long class time.