Art Show 2014: Part 1

This is the art show that almost wasn't!  However, it turned out to be one of my best in 13 yrs at Tulip Grove Elementary!!  Parents were greeted as they walked into the school with a sign in table(always important for Title 1, but also great for personal reflection later!!).  There were thank you cards created by K-4th students right about the sign in sheets....a favorite of regular attenders!! 

The next thing parents came upon was an activity table!!  They were encouraged to set down...students, parents, and all guests....and create a bug for the spiderweb!!!  I had so many parents tell me they had never used construction paper crayons before...THEY LOVED THEM!! ha ha  This ended up being a HIT this year...the table was always filled with people creating the whole evening!! 

Then they entered the show.  they walked through "Mosquito Netting" curtains.  Had to set the mood!!

Yes...I put little bugs in the netting for "extra" POW! ha ha  You know me..I'm a little over the top.

This is where the bugs made at the art show will go(can't wait to share with you the finished work..AMAZING).  

My color coded fly swatters allowed parents/guest to find the grade level easily.  They then just had to find the teachers name!!  

My kindergarten team have THE BEAR CAVE where they were teaching about hibernation...the bears don't come out for another week...so I had to work it into my theme!  Spider's Cookie Cave ready to serve yummy cookies to the kiddos!!  Teachers donate a package (or two) to the art show....I always have more than enough!  

This year I decided to add a cause to my art show...Malaria No More.  It seemed like a perfect match for the art show's theme!!!  I'll let you know the results...and my thoughts on this in another post.  

Art Show Night

      

 The art show was a huge success!  I will have several posts over the next few days about Going Buggy For Art!!  Hope you enjoy! These pics are at the end of the show...my sweet family came to help clean up so daddy could get home faster!  

                                 

THE DAY BEFORE THE ART SHOW

So this is the week of my art show, and what happens....

I GET A STOMACH BUG THAT TOTALLY KNOCKS ME OUT! 

Then we have 3 snow days in a row!!!!!!!!  WHAT? IN NASHVILLE?

This the first picture is what I saw when I walked in at 7:30am this morning( Day 3 of our Snow Days).

I was motivated...and got to it!!!

Then I "HIT THE WALL"!

 OH MY GOSH.  

I powered through though....and worked till they kicked me out at 5pm.

Then I turned into a bug.  

All School Art Show Next Week!!!

        

  My all school art show(K-4th) is next Thursday!! So much work to do.....but I am so excited to showcase our amazing artists here at Tulip Grove!!  This year I am also trying to raise funds for Malaria No More!  I thought it was a great tie in with our bug theme...and would get students thinking outside of our comfortable school setting!  Stay tuned for pictures from the art show this time next week!

   

                                      

Self Portraits: Kindergarten

Forgive the shadows on the images...but look at these kindergarten self portraits!!!  I'm so impressed by these little guys.  I didn't even break out the crayons because they were so involved in drawing the details!!  

Officially Going To NAEA San Diego!!!

I am going to have a session again at NAEA National Convention (Blogs People Want To Read), but it wasn't a sure thing I was going to be able to go.  The application process for speaking at the convention was before we were pregnant with our 3rd.  Though the timing was once again EXACTLY what we were praying for(April or May)....you never know for sure.  So, when I found out we were expecting...and found out my session proposal had been accepted....I didn't know if I'd be able to go.  Financially, going to conference can be a challenge...for many!  With my wife working part time at our church....we don't have a lot of "extra" $$ laying around.  I missed out on the grant opportunity this year....and what was the likelihood someone would gift me with another hotel stay?!?!?!?!?!  Plus, what if my wife had a challenging pregnancy(the other two were fine...but...ya never know!)

Well, it was suggested to me that I try GO FUND ME.  After raising funds for an iPad this year...I wasn't sure if there was enough $ out there for something else for Mr. E.  Would people be tired of giving???

I decided to try it....it was an up & down process.  I'd see money come in...then nothing...then money come in...then nothing.  Finally...all the finances I set out to raise came in(even though..because of the timing..the flight cause more than when I started).  HOW EXCITING!! But wait?!?!?!?!  My wife did not pass her glucose test.  She would have to do the 4 hr test to see for sure if she had gestational diabetes or not.  If she did...I would not be able to go.  SHE PASSED!!!  I COULD GO!!!

So last night I finally booked my flight. So exciting.  OH OH...and I forgot to tell you another blessing... a professor friend of mine is letting me stay with him!!  So my room is covered!!!!  

I plan to bring peanut butter and bread....so I'm set!!!! ha ha  

I must be meant to be there...or things would not have come together AGAIN!!!!  So looking forward to meeting so many of you....and getting to attend so many amazing sessions that will SPARK my teaching!!  

Kindergarten Self Portraits

       

                         They make me smile!  This group has grown so much this year.

Texture Necklaces: Kindergarten

                                         

Oh how the kiddos love this project. A former student(now in high school) told me he still has his!! I use yogurt lids for the students to use to keep the shape better.  I love my old metal cabenit I store clay in..I just write with crayon on the shelf....then use a Magic Eraser to get it off when I am done.

More 1st Grade Watercolor Flowers!

Here are more of the 1st Grade flower paintings!!

 LOVE THEM!!! 

Something Fun for the Baby!

So we are about two months from Caroline Joy 

going from an inny baby to an outty baby!!!  

I found this little onesy at Dollar General...had to get it!!!! Thought it was pretty perfect.

ha ha  If you are a prayin' person...please send one out for my wife today!  She did not pass her first glucose test...and is now doing the 4 hour one!!! Not fun for ANYONE...and when your pregnant..I can imagine it is pretty horrible!  She's not had an issue with the first two....so the idea of gestational diabetes is a bit scary.  We already have LARGE babies naturally....if she has gestational diabetes....

we may have to take the baby even earlier!

Watercolor Flowers: 1st Grade

I was excited to paint with my 1st graders again...they had so much fun the last time we did watercolor!!  Over all the lesson went ok....but I'm thinking I may cut the paper down to 9 x 9...and maybe this will allow the students to really focus on painting each petal individually.  I love having them trace with crayon...the wax resist creates such a lovely effect.  

PD Day At TGE!

          I am not a fan of school based PD days...usually have little to do with what & how I 

          teach.  We started the day with a photo booth.  This is our speciall area team... 

          good people....AMAZING EDUCATORS!  

         Love being with dedicated teachers like this group.

UPDATE

It was actually a pretty good day!!!  We were able to pick what "classes" we went to, and the information was good.  

Very Mixed Media Bugs: 4th Grade

MIXED MEDIA

Tempera Paint, Collage, Sharpie, Watercolor Pencil, Glitter Glue

DAY1:  Tempera Paint Background - We discussed color: primary, secondary, analogous, tints.  

Students selected 2 colors they wished to use & created an over all patter in tempera paint.

DAY2:  Collage bugs using pattern paper & outlined in Sharpie.  

DAY3:  Complete bugs/Sharpie, draw spider web using watercolor pencils, and glitter glue accents in the same color as their paint.  

This didn't turn out exactly like how I had pictured it in my mind, but the kids really did enjoy it.  I was thinking it would be a bit more sophisticated & less cartoonish.  Oh well, they are still bright & attractive..and will look great in the art show!   

Incised Plate Prints:1st Grade

My first graders created buggy incised plate prints this week.  They are turning out pretty good.  I spray the paper with water first though...to help the transfer.  They are just using markers...didn't want to get into ink with this group of 1st graders!! ha ha