2024-2025 School Year!

Welcome to a new school year!  Not a lot has changed in my room. 

 I always tweak little things here and there. 

I've been in this classroom for over 20 years, and feel very blessed to have this space.  

 

Please feel free to ask any questions you might have as you look through

 my pictures (or any post on my blog).  

I have a nice big reading area.  I start every kindergarten class with a story.  I love children's books, and feel it is important for children to have people read to them.  I believe it truly helps to ignite creativity. 

Not Just The Kids...

 This made my heart so happy!! A few weeks ago I taught a lesson on the artist Romero Britto. A para-pro (someone who works with children that need extra assistance) loved the work I shared from Britto, and ordered a new phone case for herself.  She had to share it with me!! 

We are influencing more than the kids! 

2019-2020 Classroom Pictures

I was trying to free up space on my iPad, and realized I never posted the pictures from my classroom from the start of the school year.  I had posted a video, but not the pictures.  So here ya go!! Please feel free to ask questions!

..purple is my color theme for the year..

....wish list...tulip..schedule...

(We are Tulip Grove Elementary...every teacher has a tulip.  I painted mine like stained glass when I first came 19 yrs ago...the principal loved it...then told me to repaint the whole school!!! OMG...I've painted too many tulips over the years!! ha ha)

....view from the door....

...view from the back...

...a new addition this year...

Tap Lights to indicate what standard is being taught!

...Visual Thinking Strategies... 

...magnetic word wall...

(The strips are from Dollar Tree!)

...reading area...

I start every kindergarten class with a book!

....my selves of still life materials....

..."everyday" supplies...

1st Week K-4th Collaborative Project

Every year I try to kick the first week off with a large collaborative project......something that will get the kids excited about art...and something that will have great visual impact in the school!

  Some years I paint....some years not.  This year I decided to use marker. I pre-cut the circles in different colors.  Each child created a "face" (Person, Animal, Monster, Alien) and were limited to two colors and black for outlining.  I had some students help re-outline some that were not very solid or those that were not finished by class end.  I also had students help arrange and glue the circles together for display.  I was thrilled with the results....however....there was a problem!!!

My inspiration for this project came from fabric I saw at IKEA in Memphis,TN.  I snapped a picture of it, but did not have the name of the design or artist.  I thought...no problem!  GOOGLE!!!  Well, much to my surprise...Google doesn't know everything.  I also tried uploading it to Pinterest to see if it would populate other images of the fabric/design.  NOPE!  Finally, this week I Tweeted IKEA USA, IKEA Canada, and IKEA UK and asked if they could help me out.  IKEA Canada was the only ones who responded(THANK YOU!!!).  They were able to give me the name of the art work (ALIEN CROWD) and that it came from Graham & Brown. I then Googled that information and came to a design firm website.....AND I FOUND THE ORIGINAL ARTIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

His name is Kev Munday...and his work is AMAZING!!  You have got to check him out!

https://www.kevmunday.co.uk/

So armed with that information...I found his Twitter account and Tweeted him a message & picture of the kids artwork.  AND HE RESPONDED!!!!!!!!!!!!  My students were beside themselves!!! 

CHECK OUT MORE PICTURES OF THEIR WORK BELOW!!!!!  

Back....but I've not posted!!

Old age, 3 kids, super busy.....

I'm not exactly sure my excuse, but I've not posted my room tour/bulletin boards, K-4th collaborative project...all that great start of the school year stuff?!

I'M SORRY!!

My goal is to post early this week with all the fun pics and such!!
Until then..here is one bulletin board! ha ha

Instagram vs. Reality in the Art Room

I love for my classroom to be a refuge, a place like no other, well organized, and clean.  However, that doesn't just happen!!  It takes a lot of work & planning....oh....AND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME!!  I took these pictures and chuckled to myself at the Instagram "worthy" classroom picture verses the reality of the situation picture!  How many of you worry about not measuring up when you look at all the picture perfect classes on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook?!
 RELAX! YOU DO YOU! 
You need to be the best version of yourself.  You do not need to be a copy of your favorite Instagrammer, YouTuber, Facebooker, or Twittererererer(help me..I can't end this word!! ha ha).  You have a unique skill set, a unique teaching situation, unique students....and they need YOU!!! No one else.....just you!! You are enough!!!

Rainbow Find

For those of you who love rainbow everything...

I found these at Walmart!
Could be fun for decorating your room!

Tour of My Art Room

    Cassie Stephens inspired me to do a video tour of my classroom after seeing hers!! 

 Just in case it doesn't work on your computer, I'll throw in the pictures as well!! 

Basically the same layout I've used the past few years.  My room is about twice the size as a normal classroom.  It was designed as an art room when the school opened in 1989.  I'm thankful for the space!!!

This year I'm really going to push geography/social studies...each nine weeks we'll go to two continents and visit a bunch of countries!!  Stay tuned for our adventure!!!

I have a box for each class.  Makes storing things so much easier!!

BELIEVE IT!!!!!!

I have A LOT of books!!  I read to Kindergarten every time they come, 

and sometimes to the older students as well.

This is supply central!

Each table has a number(which I match to my color theme every year), an eraser, and two sharpeners(in the plastic container).  I sometimes have problems with students stabbing the erasers...but other than that...this has worked for me.  I'd rather them have it at their table then getting up to sharpen a pencil and get an eraser.  I know some of you fear the students taking the sharpeners or erasers...but I've never had that problem.  Sometimes things end up in the crayon/marker/color pencil box...but they are always found.  

Art Room Set Up 2011

 The view as you walk into my room.

 Other side of the room view.

 Supply Area

Reading Area(Kindergarten starts class with a story.)

The Reading Area

I have had many people comment on my reading area.  I am blessed with a very large classroom, and have the space to create a reading area.  I know that many do not have this kind of space.  HOWEVER!  I think if you have a room...you can make your space work for you so you can have a small area.  I read to my kindergarten students every time they come in...so it is important to me to have it.  I also have a large section of art related books, animal books, season based books..etc. 

All great for students to look at if they have a question about what something looks like.

Best reason of all........I LOVE KIDS BOOKS!!!!!!

Beginning of the End: Part 1

The end of the year is just around the corner, and I'm already preparing for next year. Today I went through all of my tempera paint...got rid of soured bottles(have you ever had any go bad...OH MY!), married bottles that were partially full, and took account of what I needed for next year(as always...blue & white!). I like to make my list now, so that at the beginning of the next year when my funds become available to me, I'm ready to order without a second thought!