January 28, 2016

OCD or ESSENTIAL?!?


This "bath" is long over due!!  Yes, I'm giving my watercolor cases a bath.  It is true, I'm a bit OCD....but this is more than wanting them to look nice.  Washing your cases serves a couple purposes.  We want students to respect our supplies...because when they do...they last longer!  When you have cases that are "dirty"....and paint is in the lid, around them lip of the paints, on the back hinges of the paint sets....students will begin thinking this is "ACCEPTABLE".  They will treat it as you have allowed it to be treated.  You need to hold your students to a higher level!  They WILL rise to your expectations if they are clear, consistent, and practiced.  
The other benefit of the bath....the cases will last longer.  A build of watercolor on the hinges will cause them to get stuck, pop off, or even break.  Semi-most watercolors like my PRANG(which if you are not using...you really should...they are sooooo much better than other brands serving the elementary age)......are kind of "sticky"  That yields great color, but causes a lot of build up if allowed to accumulate.  A little work will ensure that they last a long time!!  


4 comments:

  1. How often do you wash your cases. I wash mine every May, that way they are clean before summer break starts.

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  2. I try to soak them 2x a year...a run a wet brush inside and rinse off several times a year.

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  3. Prang is better than crayola? I am in love with crayola...i might just try prang!! :-)

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  4. I take mine home every summer to wash. That way I can enjoy the sun outside with big buckets and the hose.

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