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. 

Start of the Year Collaborative Project

Dot Day/ Collaborative Work

I love to start the year with an all school collaborative project.  This year I gave the students two dots.  They had to turn the dots into funny fish faces that expressed a mood/emotion.  We used construction paper, pencils, and construction paper crayons.  You don't need elaborate supplies to create collaborative projects! This display is on a bulletin board by my room that is by an empty classroom.  It will remain to beginning of next year (I've been using the space for the past 4 yrs for these type of projects.)  I also have displays in two other spots in the school.  They will be up for several weeks, but then I'll change them out.  

 

1st Week Collaborative Project

At the beginning of every year, I do a collaborative project with the whole school.  This year our theme is GROWING TOGETHER.  I thought leaves would be an appropriate subject matter.  We talked about color families & pattern.  Students used Sharpies to trace their pencil drawings & markers to color.  They were so beautiful & vibrant.  I  displayed them in 7 black frames around the main hall of our school & this large bulletin board in the 3rd-5th grade hall (all students pass it on the way to specials/related arts).  I'm so excited with how it turned out.  The students are loving hunting for their special leaf! (each student made two)  

 

Oh No!

I've been so excited about my new kiln room!  It delayed the cleaning of my room (and me getting back in my room to set it up), but it would totally be worth it. When I was finally allowed back in my room....I found this! There were actually 3 places on the brand new wall that were gauged (but I didn't get a picture of the third spot).  MY BRAND NEW WALL!!  I was so sad.  I loved my lovely green new wall.  When they moved my stuff back in my classroom after waxing...this happened. I did not get to fill it in yet, but I did cover over it with paint for the time being so it wasn't as noticeable.  

I'm still happy that we're closer to doing clay again!!!   Yes...I did say closer.  They still have not vented the kiln.  So...as soon as that happens, I'm in business!! Stay tuned.   

 

Virtual Visual Art Inservice

 It's that time of year! That time where you are made to attend district trainings when all you want to do is work in your classroom.  Sometimes you can do both! This was my work area during our art in-service. This is not to say that I didn't enjoy the virtual visual art in-service, but I had to get some things done!! What has your desk looked like as you were preparing for the school year?

  

START OF A NEW SCHOL YEAR: The Struggle is Real!!

As if the past year and a half hasn't been crazy enough....we have new custodians who are still figuring things out (This is not a slam on them...there is a learning curve when you start something new!). Add to it that they built a kiln room inside my classroom this summer which delayed waxing & putting everything back?!?!?!  We go back starting Tues for 4 days of inservice.  I hope we have a chunk of time in our schedule to work on our rooms!! ha ha  I'm still figuring things out with my kiln room taking up space & having to get rid of two metal cabinets that I use to use to block off my kiln.  

HOW ARE YOU ALL DOING?!?! 

Who has started, is starting soon, has a month left?!?  

Ever need to share/vent...I'm hear for ya!! 

 

Things aren’t always as they appear!

Don’t look at pics of actual/virtual classrooms & compare. We all have our own style, teaching situations, & time we can invest into our spaces. What I want to know ....do you love your kiddos, are you doing your best for them, do you love what you do?

Looking Out For You

At a professional development I led up in Elizabethtown,KY....I was given a face shield to wear.  I knew about the mask, but was surprised by the face shield.  However, I'm a rule follower....and if that what they wanted me to do....I'd do it.  Within a minute or so.....my face shield was completely foggy.  (I've since been told to try bar soap to the clean the inside, lipstick, and/or shaving cream! There is also a product divers use on the scuba masks to keep them from fogging up!).  I ended up not having to wear it for long.....because it POPPED off my head!  I have a very large head....and it broke the band across the face shield!!  ha ha  It got me thinking though about when we do go back in person.  We are going to need a few masks each day to make it through teaching.  They become moist from talking/teaching...and it would be uncomfortable to try to make it through an school day with only one mask!  If we have to wear face shields...hopefully you can try out one of those things to prevent fogging up (and get one that actually fits your head! ha ha)  

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!!!!!  

Art Room Tour 2019-2020

Welcome to my art room!! 

Stay as long as you like, and feel free to ask questions. 

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

KICK OFF THE YEAR WITH COLLABORATIVE PAINTINGS

For several years I've kicked off the school year with a collaborative painting project with all my students.  This year because of how they scheduled Kindergarten...I was only able to have one of their classes participate.   

• We looked at the artist Jason Woodside (http://jasonwoodside.com/)  He is AMAZING...and has a large mural here in Nashville! If you don't know his work..check it out.  The kids LOVED IT! 
• I had a very thick/canvas type material donated to me that I used for the students to paint on.  I used a cheap plastic table cloth underneath knowing that some of the paint would seep through.  
• I used a yardstick to draw basic lines down first. Later I had students help in drawing the smaller patterns after the first class each day painted in the background color.  I had rulers and circle shapes available for them to trace.  
• The class was working on self portraits at their seats while I brought groups of four back to paint on the collaborative piece.  We used tempera paint because of its fast drying & washability(it was not washable paint, but most tempera does wash out fairly easy if messes are made...and on the first days of school...messes can be made! ha ha)  
• The last group of the day used asked if they could add black out lines...I was ok with that, but once they did it...it looked more like Romero Britto than Jason Woodside.  Oh well...still beautiful! 

DAY ONE                           DAY TWO

DAY THREE                        DAY FOUR

After the work was dry...I cut out sections of the fabric and mounted it on the cardboard backing of these picture frames.  They use to have class in them...but over the years the glass had broken.  Lucky for me...they had just shoved them in a closet!! I asked the principal if I could repurpose them...and she was more than happy for me to do so!  I had to fix some hooks, patch up some scratches, and rewire some backs...but it was totally worth it!  I was able to get 7 works hung from the fabric we painted in the four days.  The halls look lovely & kid focused....and everyone has commented how much they enjoy them!! 

CLASSROOM TOUR 2018-2019

I have been slow to post this year guys...I'm so sorry!!!  It has been such a busy start to the school year both at school & with my kiddos!!!(I have a 3rd grader, 2nd grader, & Pre-Schooler!) Such is life with a busy art dad!! ha ha  Hope you enjoy the tour...please let me know if you have any questions!  

Mr. E's Art Room: 2017-2018

I have been so slow about getting this posted! Please forgive me.  So here is a look into my classroom this year! I do a different color theme every year in my room...this year it is BRIGHTS!  It overwhelmed me at first because the past two years the colors have been much more subdued, but we all need a jolt to our system from time to time! ha ha  Feel free to leave a comment, email, or contact me on social media if you have any questions.

A few from the hallway!  I do have a nice large room..which I'm thankful for!  When the school was built in 1989...this space was designed as an art room(although it only has one small sink that is too high for young children to reach..that has always puzzled me!)

A few from the supply closet.

A view from my supply shelves.

Here is my reading area!  I read to my kindergarten students every time they come to art! I've had 20 yrs to collect all these books...grants...parent donations...and my family giving me sets of books for birthdays/Christmas.  It takes time, but a great classroom library is worth it.

The little table was made by my dad when he was in high school!  It is special to have something made by his hands in my space.  The chair...has seen better days! ha ha  I got it at a yard sale about 16 yrs ago for $5!! I'm actively looking for a funky new one!

My supply center!  These are more my everyday supplies that I allow students to pass out  & such.  Each color box represents a different supply.  The yarn boxes are so awesome!! Have had them for probably about 15 yrs or so. The top shelf has all my old teacher examples.  (I really need to clean them out and organize them better!!)

This is how I store student art work for the 9 weeks.  Each class has a box.  It keeps visual clutter down & keeps things organized!  I've had these boxes for about 6 years...maybe more?

Art Shirts!  I have people donate t-shirts for us to use in the art room.  They work out great.  We have a washer and drier at our school so I can keep up with them!!!

I painted the knight GREEN!!! I LOVE IT!!!  I've wanted to do that since I "adopted"

 him. The kids noticed right away the first week of school.

Word Walls...still in fashion?  I like mine.  I use the words on magnets and move them over to my example board when the words go with what we are studying.  Plus..the word wall acts as a word bank when we are writing about art that students can use.

This is my THINK ABOUT, TALK ABOUT, WRITE ABOUT board.  I have questions to get students thinking about their work & the work of others.  

I'm going to change a couple of the sections later on, but used the posters as a place holder for the time being.  I use to get all kinds of bent out of shape if that were to happen before...but since having kids..and my health issues...I've gotten more laid back! ha ha 

I did a post about this board a day or two ago....I LOVE IT! 

Every year I redo above my classroom door with foam to match my color theme I use in my room. .  It stays bright and colorful all year & sets my room apart from others.  

This is my " OUTSIDE THE ART ROOM" board. It is literally outside the art room.  This is where I put the pictures kids make me at home or at recess.  They are always so proud to see these pieces displayed. 

The last few days of school...I have my students make turtles in the color of my color theme for the next school year.  That way I have art hanging when kids get back...and it is super fun seeing them try to find theirs!! ha ha

HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE TOUR OF MY ART ROOM!!!