Have you heard of Scratch Garden?

Have you seen the YouTube channel, Scratch Garden? 

IT IS AMAZING!

I was working on patterns with my students, and was looking for some good videos I could share to reinforce the idea (and show the crossover between art/math/science and such). My students LOVED these videos.  Take some time and look through the channel to see what you might use in your classroom! 

Project for On-line Learning: Line & Pattern

Our district is doing virtual school till fall break in October.  So I've not had my usual content on my blog.  I thought I'd try to share with you some of the videos I'm doing for my students (we have "live" online time, and we have to record the same content to share for those students that are not able to make it for the "live" class time...or might need to watch it again to understand their work for the week.  So you may hear things in the video that are directed toward my students, but they are still "usable" for you to share if you need them.  You just would need to put a disclaimer on it....and give your due dates & other necessary information.  

Teacher Example

The Trickle Down Effect

OLD FART ALERT!!

YOU'VE BEEN WARNED....PROCEED WITH CAUTION!

I know I'm totally going to sound like the man yelling from his front door..."YOU KIDS GET OFF MY LAWN!!"  However, what I'm going to share is true/real & unfortunate!

There has been a great deal of change over my 20+ years as an educator.  Some of it I've agreed with...and others not so much.  One of the BIGGEST changes has been in Kindergarten.  Lets face it...Kindergarten isn't Kindergarten anymore.  The requirements have been upped...the rigor has been increased...and the focus is completely different.  I'm going to say it...."WHEN I WAS A KID..." Kindergarten was about learning to get along with others, tying your shoes, telling time, learning the basics of language & mathematics. Play was important because teachers knew that's where you learned skills to be a good person.  Creating was encouraged because that built hand skills, reasoning skills, and imagination....all important to be a successful student.

Now what are we seeing...kids that need "social emotional learning" because they don't know how to get along with others, can't share, and have their feelings hurt if someone doesn't bow down to their every whim.  You know what would help...time playing together in the lower grades instead of pushing rigor down their throats!

It is also impacting their skills/learning.  Kindergarten teachers no longer are able to do all the cutting and gluing they use to do because of all the requirements they have to get through that aren't developmentally appropriate.  So I'm seeing kids with very weak hand skills that can't cut, can't hold a pencil, and squeeze out a whole bottle of glue for a little piece of paper.  Kindergarten (at least in our district) no longer teaches pattern!  It is smacking me in the face this year with my 1st graders.  A project I've done for some time that use to have 95% of the class being able to successfully complete it...now only has less than 10%.  The implications go far beyond art.

They say we can't do what we've always done because kids are different...families are different...schools are different.  This is true, but if we really looked at the needs of our students...we'd realize some of the "old ways" were actually right on target for the needs of our students TODAY!

OLD FART RANT OVER!

The Patterns & Textures of Memphis

My wife & I celebrated our 10th anniversary by going to Memphis to visit the brand new IKEA & Graceland.  I found myself being drawn to all the patterns & textures at IKEA, our hotel (The Guest House at Graceland...highly recommend!!), and Graceland.  I think there is an art lesson here!!  Do you ever get fixated on things like this??  My wife was like..."ARE YOU TAKING MORE PICTURES OF THE WALLS?" ha ha

This first group of pictures were taken at IKEA...some are of bedding & others from their fabric area.  I LOVE THEM SO!!!! 

The next group were taken at The Guest House at Graceland.  

We loved our stay at this hotel..just beautiful! 

This last group is from Graceland! 

Sunday Devotional With Mr. E: Pattern of Love

                     

    

Growing up in Appalachia, I was surrounded by gorgeous hand made quilts!  My mom, my aunts, my grandma, the ladies at church, our neighbors....EVERYONE QUILTED!  Because of this..patterned  fabric was everywhere!  I loved looking through the fabric as a child....and still am very influenced by those patterns in my own art.  There is something about patterns that bring us great peace & comfort.  Knowing what to expect, how things will turn out, what will come next...it all brings peace to our crazy messed up world.  I treasure those quilts made with scraps of dresses, aprons, or other materials created with love by hands so precious & dear.  Wrapping up in one of those quilts, I can feel the love  of my family holding me tight.  

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Hebrews 13:8 

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Isaiah 40:8

If we are faithless, He remains faithful- for He cannot deny Himself.

2 Timothy 2:13

There is a pattern to our faith...the history of  God & man.  God loves us.  God pursues us.   God made a way for us to be in relationship with Him.  YESTERDAY/TODAY/FOREVER! Whatever your past, whatever your struggles/stresses/stumbling block is today, or whatever might come in the future....God is present.  You may not have seen Him in the moment, but He was there.  You may not "feel" Him in your current situation...but He is holding you tight.  The future may be unclear, but He is already there!  He is not only there....but loving you.  Our God is consistent.  Our God is a constant that we can count on.  He is the soothing pattern in this crazy upside down world of ours.  Knowing what He has done through out history(His faithfulness we see in the Bible!)...knowing what He has done through OUR history...knowing His promises...and resting in their truth....we can wrap ourselves in that knowledge...in that love...and find warmth, peace, love, and truth.  This can get us through ANYTHING! 

Pattern Fish: 1st Grade

        

End of the year is almost here!  I like to do some projects with my younger ones to make sure they they have mastered some of the important skills.  Cutting, gluing, pattern, craftsmanship(in coloring)...stuff like that!  These fish get all those skills into one project(two class times).  We looked at Zentangles for inspiration.  I feel that some of the sites out there can really open students eyes up to patterns being more than circle square circle square!!!  

   

     

More 3rd Grade Circle Weavings

I just discovered pictures I hadn't posted before Christmas break!  I love the patterns the students created this year on their looms!!!!  If you haven't seen the others....  

!!!CLICK HERE!!!

Amazing Kindergarten Pattern

        

I had several good pattern pictures from my kindergarten, but this one really was AMAZING!  I was reviewing patterns...and introducing colored pencils to my students in this project. 

Patterns & Snowflakes: 2nd Grade

This is a fun one day lesson you can do any time during winter(or..change it to a rain drop shape and do it in the spring!!).  I love winter blues/purples, but sometimes when the days are gray & gloomy....YA NEED A LITTLE COLOR!!!

I use this lesson to reinforce painting techniques.  We talk about colors, color color family, color mixing, brush control...etc.  It is pretty simple, but the kids love it & it gets some skills in!!

Circle Weavings: 3rd Grade

Hey gang!!  I know I post circle weavings every year...but I never get tired of them! Plus...this year I feel they "LOOK" very different.  We studied African art second nine weeks...patterns/colors/meaning/traditions.  Their weavings were influenced by that study.  

FOR CIRCLE WEAVING INSTRUCTIONS & OTHER EXAMPLES

CLICK THIS LINK!!!

http://www.artwithmre.com/2012/12/circle-weaving-step-by-step-guide-tips.html

Each class had a mandatory color of their choosing (from a list of traditional African colors) & black. They were then allowed to select 3 other colors.  I was not concerned with a set pattern to their yarn colors...just that they would use the same colors over and over.  The background was later colored using the colors(or as close as they could find) that they used in yarn  I feel this year the background were so much more dynamic!