Reverse Coloring Book

For my birthday, my wife bought me a Reverse Coloring Book.  They have been all over social media, and looked like a lot of fun.  THEY ARE!!!  So as we are approaching the end of the year, I am trying to keep my students engaged in meaningful art activities.  I thought that having them make pages for a reverse coloring book would be a great way to review some painting techniques. I also thought we could make little booklets for all the students in the school.  I'm doing this with 4th & 5th grade this week, but may need to do it with third next week so I have enough pages to make the booklet.  My 4th and 5th graders are extremely excited about this project.  They were asking me when we are going to give them out, how many pages would each booklet have....they are all in!  I'll show you the final project in a couple weeks when we hand them out! 

 

End of the Year Activity: Marker Check

 ALL HANDS ON DECK!! 

The last week or so of school can be kind of crazy with celebrations, field days, and other activities that require us to be FLEXIBLE!! Have students help prepare your classroom for summer/start of next school year is a great way to have students stay active & take ownership!!! A major help is checking markers!  I have 16 tables in my room and a box of markers for each.  For me to check them all would take a long time....but a class makes short work of it (and they really enjoy doing it!!).  I give the students our "mat" papers we've used for Sharpies over the year and have them make a quarter size circle on it with the marker (coloring it in of coarse).  I show them what a good marker & dry marker look like before I let them get started.  I set out new markers and have them make sure the boxes are restocked with all the colors. This takes 10 min. or less when you have everyone working.  Then...you can move on to another task!  

End of Year Activity

 I'm seeing my classes for the last time this school year.  

SO WHAT DO YOU DO ON THE LAST DAY?

I have my students help me get ready for the next school year! I really dislike a boring blank hallway.  So I have my students make turtles (my thing!) that I glue together and have cascading down outside of my classroom.  I use color themes in my room.  This past year I used purple, red, and blue. Next year I'm using yellow, blue, and green.    All my bulletin boards, displays, and chair footies ( https://www.artwithmre.com/2012/07/chair-footies.html ) will be changed yearly to go with that color theme.  I have a big basket of fabric I've collected over the years that I use for my boards(back when Wal-Mart had $1 a yard table!!).  If your wondering...I don't do themes like jungle, space, dinos for my classroom..because they 

I separate out the blues, greens, and yellows so that there aren't any mess-ups! 

END OF THE YEAR STRESS!!

 It is coming up on the end of the year for those of us in Nashville, TN & surrounding areas.  I know that most of the country may have a few more weeks left.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

The end of the school year can bring a lot of stress. I have to admit...I'm feeling it!  Part of it is of my own making.  I'm on a lot of "teams" for the district, and we are trying to get a ton done in a short period of time.  That is in addition to the regular end of the year craziness.  

So how do you avoid/reduce this issue?!

I wish I could tell you I had it all figured out. I'm the king of over-committing. I love to be on the teams that are having impact in our district on art education. I want my say/place in the decisions being made. I also tend to procrastinate more than I should.  In addition....I've got horrible sleeping habits!  So I'm not one to see advice from on this topic!!! ha ha  I can tell you what not to do!

SO WHAT DO YOU DO?
How do you manage the stress?  Is it working?
Share in the comments!  

4th Grade Weaving

My 4th graders are a couple weeks in to their weavings....and it is going great with most classes.  It is amazing how there seems to be "THAT" class that struggles every year?  Is it group think?  Is it the placement of certain kids together?  Is it the end of the year hitting harder in some rooms than others? I love weaving, and am very excited to teach it...and to help kids that are struggling.  However, with "THAT" class...I feel like I need to clone myself once or twice?!!?  How are the rest of you doing?  Do you have the same experience?

I personally do feel that there are "classes" that don't mesh, that are heavy on children that struggle in mental, emotional, or behavioral ways, or that have a classroom teacher that can be inconsistent.  All of which can greatly impact how the group responds to other teachers & other subjects.  

HOWEVER

I do believe that we have the power/ability to change the direction they are going.  I do believe that they can learn, grow, get along, and create amazing works of art!  I do believe it takes different strategies, different ways of encouraging, different levels of patience & grace.  I do believe expectations should be reexamined without lowering!  

Sorry....I think I was just giving myself a pep talk right there.  Maybe you needed it too? 

Reflecting On A Year That Was

So even though school has been out for over a week now...I've been back to my room 3 times!?!!?  

I wanted to finish cleaning my supply closet (my one place of disorder in my room), and wanted to start prepping my bulletin boards for next school year.  Today I'm back because I forgot something I needed for the summer.  In another week or so I'll be back to start setting up for my summer workshop?!?!?!  I promise...in July...I more than likely will not be back to my room (I think?).  

With my room looking like this...it makes me very reflective of what I've done, what I could do better, and what needs to change.  We all need to tweak things...even with 20 yrs under my belt...I know that I've not arrived & can not cruise on through till retirement (which is probably not in 10 yrs when I hit the 30 yr mark of teaching...because I'll only be 53 & I'll have an 18 yr old, a 16 yr old, and a 13 yr old!  Yep...Mr. E will be teaching till he is a 100!!! ha ha)  I had an especially odd year with my diagnosis and subsequent 101 trips to the doctors (I'll share an update soon on my health!!).  I'm looking forward to getting back to "normal" & being more mentally/physically present doing what I love!!!

What are your tweaks/changes for the new year?

(My room is going to be very colorful this year...after the past few years being more subdued)

In the Art Room Jammin'...

Love jammin' to Mandisa in the morning!!! I've got so much still left to do to get my room summer ready!??!  Though...I'll be back in just three weeks for the 2nd Annual Art With Mr. E Summer Workshop!  Hope you all are having a great end to your school year...I know a few of you area already done!!  I'm actually prepping for next year as I am cleaning up! Already put up my fabric on my bulliten boards for next year(doing primary & secondary colors...it is going to be a BRIGHT year!)...and I'm putting my new chair footies on!  

Another School Year Ends

We are at the end of another school year!  It is hard to believe how quickly the year & years pass by.  I know that makes me sound old...and I kind of am.  This was my 20th year in Metro Nashville Public Schools (though officially 19 because I subbed one of those years).  So much has changed over the years!! 

However, what stays the same is 

ART IS IMPORTANT!  

YOU ARE IMPORTANT! 

 THE KIDS (even if they don't act like it) NEED YOU! 

I know that at this point in the year we are just tired...done...burnt out.

  You know why that happens?  

Because you care about what you do! 

Because you give all that you are! 

 Because teaching isn't easy!!!! ha ha  

Please know you are valued!!!  I'm so glad you are out there teaching art to children of all ages!!  The world needs more of you!  

Now go clean up your room...get yourself set up for next school year...and enjoy your summer.

Teacher Tip For End Of The Year

End of theYear Blues?  Behavior Issues on the Rise?
Here are my thoughts on the subject!

First Day of Summer...

       

So Friday was our first official day of summer break(kids' last day was Wed & teachers' last day was Thurs).  I however have a bunch of things to do to get ready for my upcoming conference I'm hosting in my classroom....and my wife is trying to finish up homeschooling(yep..she kicked me out cause she said I'd distract the children?!?! WHAT...ME??? ha ha).  You might notice my bullitin boards are switching to blues!!!(they were green & grey last year)  Stay tuned for posts through out the summer!!!  Mr. E never rests!!!

The End is a Blob

So yesterday was FUN DAY at our school! Special area's did not have classes...just had to help out around FUN DAY & Lunch Duty(I'd rather teach classes!).  Most of the day I was taking down the art show(finally...just so hard to take it down after all that work to put it up!! ha ha).  I've shared in the past...I use the wall tack you can purchase almost anywhere.  I'm not brand specific...but the one with the yellow duckie seems to be the best.  I place tape in each corner so the wall tack down not damage the art work(it has an oil in it to prevent drying up).  So it pops right off when you pull the art down.  I know some of this blog is over 10 yrs old!!!  I add a few new packs to it each year. 

For me...this has worked the best to hang my shows/displays.  This year I did not even have one piece come off the walls!!  What do you use??

Ummmmm.....

Do you ever come across those 

pictures that make ya giggle...

like a middle school boy???  

Preview of 2014-2015 School Year

This is my art room sign above my door made from Fun Foam.

So I like to get a few things done for "next year" (which is really less than 2 months away) at the end of  "this year"!  With our special area team all on board for doing a "global theme"...I decided blues & greens would be a great choice for my room! (I change my color theme every year...I have enough fabric so I can have 7 yrs in a row be different if I want to...warm colors..cool colors..primary..etc....and I make all my letters and borders by hand each year to match the colors...oh..and the chair footies too!)  

Last week of school every year I have my students make turtles in my room's color theme...that way I have something to hang up at the start of school.  I was just checking to make sure I had enough..I'll store them for summer way from lights.

Getting Ready for Next Year

With a little over a week left of school...I'm in the midst of getting ready for next school year.  I'm going to be going with a cool/icy color theme.  I've gotten most of my letters cut out for my boards....and I've had my students create these fun turtles to hang outside my room at the start of the school year.  

So much still to do...but I have a jump on thing at least.

A Mess & A Preview

So this is our last day(teachers) and I'm finishing up packing my room(we have to every year so they can clean the floors and such) & doing my bulletin boards for next year.  If you look to the back of the picture..you can see a glimps of what next year is going to look like.

Guess What I'm Doing?!?

So my life is going to be pretty much jammed packed this summer!!!  We're writing the elementary art curriculum for the district, developing an inservice to introduce the new curriculum/standards/pacing guide to the elementary art teachers of Nashville(over 100 of us), I'm on the state text book adoption team for art, I'm teaching at an art camp....OH...AND WE'RE HAVING A BABY THE FIRST PART OF JULY!?!?!?!?!!? (not to mention that my daughter is full out terrible 2's!!!)  I usually go back to school mid/late July and start working on my room. I hand make all my bulletin boards & boarders, and it takes a good bit of time.  So I decided to start now while my 4th graders are away at camp(and I have an extra planning time).  It's odd doing it now while I'm still looking at this years room....but I know I'll appreciate it when I come back to set my room up!!

Beginning of the End: Part 2

Reorganize! Now is the time to take stock of what you have & where it is located. Every room is different in regards to storage space...there is no excuse for you not to be organized. I have been in a portable, a regular size classroom, and a room designed as an art room. I've even helped a friend get organized who did art-on-a-cart, and had a small closet for storage. You need to make your space work for you no matter. What do you use most often? What don't you use often, but are not ready to get rid of? What have you held onto for years, and should have been recycled or trashed?

***********************************************

If you are blessed with a classroom, what do you keep out in view of the kids? Do you have a shelf for everyday supplies? Are there things that could be put up that would declutter your room? Clutter can derail some of your students...not to mention mess with the fung shway of your room!!(ha ha) What kind of storage do you have that you can utilize better?? What products could you buy for your room that could help it to become a more organized place? ***************************************

If you need help processing through your own situation...e-mail me and I'll see what I can do to help! I'd love to have a show on HGTV or TLC where I go into classrooms and organize/decorate them!!!

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!

End of the Year Art Room Prep

The last week of school is here! I've been taking my time

at prepping for summer & the next school year.

• The kids art work is the first thing that needs to go! I still have a few things left, but for the most part all of that was handed back last week or the week before.

• I also started a few purging activities. I know that most art teachers are natural pack rats, but that can get you in a whole lot of trouble. I tend to purge things throughout the year, but at the end of each year I evaluate what I've been using, and what just doesn't seem to serve a purpose anymore. GET RID OF STUFF PEOPLE!! YOU CAN DO IT!! I'm a bit OCD, and have issue with clutter...so it is a bit easier for me, but I think it is important that we all do this.

• Take an inventory of what supplies you have, and what you will need for the next school year. I usually have an order ready to go for the next school year(even though I'm not able to place it till Sept/Oct). Be ahead of the game so you know what projects you have supplies for to start the year!

• CLEAN! CLEAN! CLEAN!!!! I usually have my last class or two go through all of my supply boxes(I've got a total of 14 boxes per supply) and check for broken, dried up, over sharpened..etc supplies! I give a table or two all my marker boxes and a piece of paper. I have them make a circle about the size of a quarter and color it in to see if the markers are dried out or not. Then we see what colors we are lacking from the box and replace them with new markers I give a couple other tables all my crayon boxes, and have them pull out little nubs and paper. I like to get rid of anything smaller than half, and put some new crayons in their place. With colored pencils, we check for split, too small, and shavings in the box. I also have those students sharpen the remaining pencils and then add new to the box. That way they are clean & prepped for the next school year.

• I go through my classroom and see if anything isn't working ergonomically. What supplies can I put away on the top shelf of my supply closet and what do I need easier access too! Getting these things taken care of now at the end of the year will make a smoother beginning to the next.

• Art for the hall ways! WHAT?? Yep, I have students create some art that I'll hang at the start of the school year. I use a different color theme in my room each year(on a 5 yr rotation). I also love turtles. So the last week of school I have my students make turtles in that color them that will be hung outside my room for the first day of school! It helps set the mood for the year, I feel.

• I'll also start working on my bulletin boards for the following year. I hand make my letters, boarders...pretty much everything. So, anything I can get done now helps me out a ton!!! Plus, this is a great time to laminate things. Usually at the start of the school year, the classroom teachers are so busy laminating EVERYTHING....it is either always busy or empty by the time I reach it! I find that at the end of the school year, there is less demand.

• If time allows, I'll also go through all my example boxes(I have 5 boxes: paintings, weavings, collage, drawings, and odds & ends.) and make sure everything is where it belongs and that I don't have 20 examples of the same project. I try to get my duplicate examples to my student teachers, but there are times that they build up. I have 5 of some grade level...so when I start the project fresh with each class....the examples pile up!

I hope this helps some of you! If you have any tips, please share!!