Flash Back to TG Art Show '07-'08 A NIGHT AT THE ZOO

A NIGHT AT THE ZOO! These are a few pictures from last years art show. Enjoy!!

TULIP GROVE ART SHOW

THE TULIP GROVE ELEMENTARY ANNUAL ART SHOW In celebration of Youth Art Month Diving into Art (an art show with a watery theme) Monday MARCH 2nd 2009 5pm – 7pm Our annual art show is always an exciting time for the students, faculty, families, and guests of Tulip Grove! Imagine walking through the halls that have been transformed into an amazing gallery showcasing over 500 pieces of art created by our extremely talented students (K-4th). We try to have one piece of art for every student in the school, but there are times where some are not represented (this is due to absences & newer students who have not been able to produce a work for the show). All students must be accompanied by an adult the night of the opening. The show will remain up till the end of April. PLEASE COME AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE ARTS AT TULIP GROVE

Student Teachers

I'm presently working with my 5th student teacher. I truly enjoy the experience, and enjoy the energy & ideas a new teacher brings to the table. If you are going to work with a student teacher in your classroom, there are some things that you need to consider.

First, you need to want to have a student teacher!!! I've heard sad stories of student teachers who were placed with cooperating teachers that did not want them. This is so sad to me & I truly have no idea why a teacher would take a student teacher if they did not want them?!?! You can say no!

Second, you need to know the expectations of the university that you are working with. Each one is different. I've worked with 3 universities in the Nashville Metro area. One only once...because I learned after the fact that they really didn't want my opinion on their program!(they were truly doing a disservice to their teachers by not preparing them...and not holding them to higher standards!! I wanted to fail the student teacher & they told me no. She later got "let go" from three different school districts.) Some universities offer orientation for new cooperating teachers, and I highly recommend you attend. Also, most have a guide book that will provide you with all the information you need. If there is something you don't understand, ask their advisor. They are usually very greatful that you have opened your room & life up to their students, and more than willing to help you out in any way you need!

Third, share the good, bad, and ugly with your student teacher. They need to hear it all, because at some point they will be dealing with all that you have dealt(well, they might not get their classroom picked up and dropped on a car by a tornado like I did my first year of teaching). They need to hear what you've struggled with, where you have found success, and how you deal with the day to day.

Forth, be prepared!!!! I have a book for my student teachers to look through when they first visit me. I has my background information, my classroom mission statement, my expectations, images of student art work, classroom procedures, standards, and curriculum. This will provide a strong beginning to your student teacher's time with you. They will have a good sense of what you do in your classroom & what they can expect from their time with you.

Fifth, always be honest & encouraging. Sometimes they do not seem like they can go hand in hand....but trust me...they can! They need to hear from you, and you're not helping them by sugar coating everything. I keep a daily log book(just a notebook). In it..I write the day, class, and comments I have for the lesson. Sometimes I write more than others. This gives them direct feedback to what they are doing & specific situations. The university advisers seem to like this as well. They look through it when they come to do their observations, and it allows them to see how things are progressing.

Finally....ENJOY IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't tell you how much fun I've had over the years working with student teachers. Yes, it is a lot of work...but so worth it! Investing into others is what we do as teachers, and becoming a cooperating teacher allows you to experience this at a different level.

Kindergarten Collage Self Portraits

Ok...I just thought these were too cute not to share with ya'll! My kinderbabies are growing up!! I was really amazed at the proportion & details some of them were able to achieve. Remember people..these are 5 yr olds we're talking about...this is wonderful!!!!

NEW FEATURE & CALLING ALL ART TEACHER BLOGGERS!!

I added a new list on the side of my page featuring online art related games & activities. As I find more...I'll add to the list! Thanks to those of you that have shared some of your fav. sites. I appreciate it! Also, I have seperated out/weeded out/and renamed some of the link & lists on the side. I would love to add more art teacher blogs. I feel that we can be a wonderful resource to each other!!! If you are an art teacher...have a blog...and would like me to consider adding it to my list...please leave me a comment with your web address!! Also, I'm going to remove my label list. I'm just not sure if it is actually being used, and it takes up such a large space!!! If any of you want me to bring it back...please let me know!

Artfully Yours, Mr. E

Tunnel Books

My student teacher, Ms. Edwards, introduced me to a project I had not seen before...TUNNEL BOOKS. We decided that it might be best if 4th grade attempted the project because of the degree of difficulty(though I now think 2nd or 3rd may be able attempt it). We used an aquatic theme, but it lends itself to any theme!! She taught the lesson this past Monday, and the students LOVED it!! On Tuesday, Ms. Edwards had to attend a Job Fair, and I was left to teach Tunnel Books for the first time. It went great...the kids loved it....and I'll be adding it to my bag of tricks!!! I did some research(when attempting new projects...I always try to find out as much information as possible first!!). Here are two sites I found on Tunnel Books that I thought were WONDERFUL!!

http://www.artbookscreativity.org/curriculum/book-instructions.html

http://www.popularkinetics.com/gallery_tunnelbks_page.html

...a sweet & artsy gift from Rowan...

Rowan is one of my 4th graders. You may remember her from the trash art contest in a previous post. She's an artsy kind of girl, and extremely thoughtful! A month or so ago she asked me what my baby's name was going to be, and when she was coming. She was working on a special project, and wanted to make sure I got it before the baby came!!! I had no idea what she was planning.....until today! She worked on this poster for the past month her mom told me, and used her own money to buy the scrapbook stickers for it(two of the light up!!!!!). HOW SWEET!!! I love it!!!! The blanket was created by her grandma, but I'm sure with guidance from Rowan...it has my signature turtles on it(the boarder is small pink turtles) & pretty butterflies(which I'm not sure if she knew were were doing a butterfly theme?!?!). That will be a special blanket for daddy to use with Margaret(mommy can use some other blanket!! ha ha). Then, at the bottom of the bag I found this sweet charm bracelet. Rowan, thank you so much. This means a ton to me! I just had to share with all my blog readers!!!

...Research on Color...

Take a moment and read this artical I found on yahoo news. It's interesting how color impacts people!! Feeling blue could be a good thing for an artist!!!! Check it out!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090205/ap_on_sc/med_color_psychology

YOU NEED THE ELMER'S GLUE PUMP!

This product is a must have for any art room, Sunday school room, or excessive glue user! If you buy Elmer's gallon glue jugs to refill your classroom glue bottles.....YOU MUST HAVE THIS PRODUCT! There is a cap on the end of the pump to keep the glue from drying up inside. It averages around $25, but is worth EVERY penny!!! Just a side note..if you aren't using Elmer's glue...you should be!!!!! I've used a variety of glues over the years and have found Elmer's to be the best quality at a good price. Here in Nashville(and I figure this is the same across the country), Wal-Mart has a Back to School Sale where you can get Elmer's glue for around 25 cents a bottle. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME....JUST LOOK HOW EXCITED MY STUDENT TEACHER, MS. EDWARDS, IS TO BE USING THE ELMER'S GLUE PUMP!!! YOU CAN'T DENY THOSE KIND OF RESULT!!!!

ART THOUGHT FOR THE DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint you can on it." -Danny Kaye

ART GAMES ON-LINE

I found some great online games that are art related. If your curriculum/standards have technology/digital art listed,this might be a fun way to meet that standard for the elementary age....it could be a fun reward for students....or if you're a parent looking for safe & fun sites for your child.....HERE ARE THE LINKS FOR YOU!!!! ENJOY!

http://www.kids.albrightknox.org/index_launched.html http://www.childrensmuseum.org/games/index.htm http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/Learn_About_Color/index.html http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/van_gogh/menu.html http://www.metmuseum.org/explore/dancers/index.html http://www.getty.edu/gettygames/ http://www.haringkids.com/ http://artpad.art.com/artpad/painter/ http://www.iknowthat.com/com/L3?Area=L2_TheArts http://www.crayola.com/gamesfun/index.cfm?n_id=2 http://www.alifetimeofcolor.com/main.taf?p=4,1 http://www.alifetimeofcolor.com/main.taf?p=4,2

Results from the Trash Art Contest

Results from the Art Contest: Unfortunately my girls did not win the Beautification Art Contest sponsered by Metro Public Works (..though I thought they should have!!!). However, they did get their art placed on the side of two trush trucks.....and the art-on-wheels will be rolling around Nashville for the next 6 months!!! Congraduation girls...I THINK YOU'RE BOTH AWESOME ARTISTS & IT IS A JOY TO BE YOUR ART TEACHER!!!!!!!!!! I'M GOING TO MISS BOTH THE GIRLS NEXT YEAR WHEN THEY GO ON TO MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!

The first picture is of Rowan's work. She did such an amazing job!!! Rowan is my fun artsy student, and I can always count on her to think outside the box!! The middle picture is Rowan & I in front of the trash truck that has her art on the side....I'm a proud art papa! The last picture is Rowan with Mayor Karl Dean in front of LP Fields(the home of the Tennessee Titans!!!)....HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!

The first picture is Kira's beautiful art work. She has been such a consistantly good artist over the years...and one of the most pleasant students I've ever worked with! The second picture is of Kira & I in front of the trash truck that has her art work on it(I look like a giant beside her!! ha ha)....once again...I can't help but be proud of my kiddo!!!

* I asked the parents of both girls if I could use their name & pictures in my blog. THIS IS A MUST IF YOU ARE GOING TO POST PHOTOS OF YOUR STUDENTS!!!!!

My Art from Grad School Fall ' 08

Winter Bulletin Board

I'm responsible for the main bulletin board in the hall way as you come into our building. I try to keep it simple, bright, and with something school related. This winter though, I decided to have my students help me out with it. I had all of my 4th grades, two of my 3rd grades, and one of my 1st grade classes make collage snow men/women. I was just going to use 4th grade, but they made them too small OR I underestimated how big the board was. They had a blast creating their snow people, and I loved seeing their creations. I laugh as I look through the gathering of snow people...seeing each one has their own distinct personality.

...Oh Turtle Tree...Oh Turtle Tree...

So I found my old fiber optic tree up in the attic and decided to bring it to school & have a little fun! My kids know how much I love turtles, and have gotten a kick out of my "Turtle Tree" for "Turtlemas" What is Turtlemas you ask? (The kids asked too!) Well, it can be celebrated all year long...and it is about taking the time to enjoy people & things that are in your life. It's not about wanting more...it is about enjoying what you have! So as I was putting my fun foam turtles hung with pipe cleaners on the tree...I was singing "O Turtle Tree...O Turtle Tree...how lovely are your turtles". The kids were laughing their heads off, but I have a feeling the music teachers are not going to be happy with me when the kids start sing my version for the Christmas program & not theirs! ha ha

A Winter Art Thought.....

My dear friend, fellow art teacher, and Art Gang member, Ms. O'Brien, sent this e-mail to me today. It made me laugh so hard...I had to share it with the rest of you. "So, as I guide my babies through winter scenes, I can’t help but ponder that the snowman is the stick person of the winter time scene." The collages are provided by two of my ELL Kindergarten students after reading Snowmen at Night.

Christmas Mugs

Tis the season to ask the age old question....WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH ALL THESE HOLIDAY MUGS?!?!?! Don't get me wrong, I think there is nothing sweeter than a child bringing a gift for their teacher. As an art teacher, we can often be over looked though! So, I will receive any mug or present with great joy!!! However, for a person that doesn't drink coffee...what will I ever do with all those mugs???? Here is my solution. I use them to store my paint brushes & other assorted items(clay tools, spoons, pencils..etc). This way the children can see their gift being used...and I have a place to put stuff! I will usually write the child's name on the bottom w/ the year. What do you do with all your holiday mugs?? I'd love to hear!

Paper Bowls

After seeing this bowl project in a Recycled Art book from Lakeshore Learning Store..I HAD TO TRY IT!!! The kids loved it. I loved it. The end product turned out wonderful! I had my students add an acrylic glitter glaze over top of the final air dried paper bowl to add some extra strength & sparkle! ___________________________________________________________________________________ I had an art teacher ask for an overview of this lessons. LESSON OVERVIEW: I have the students take construction paper from the scrap box(or you could give them new sheets). Using scissors, the students cut the paper into small pieces. You can also have them add in magazine, tissue paper, or newspaper. The students place the cut pieces in the middle of the table in a container. Collect the paper and place in a container with boiling water(don't let the kids help with this part!). At this point you can do two things. 1st...drain the water and squeeze the paper....then add liquid starch OR 2nd...add in plaster pulp(it comes in a bag..it's a mix of plaster and a cottonie material). The students are each given about a half cup of the mixture. They then separate out the paper and place it in a Styrofoam bowl(place a piece of masking tape on the bowl for the students to write their name on it). Have them start at the bottom & work their way up. You need to make sure that the students are not clumping on the paper too thick. You could also pre-cut the paper and pre-soak it before the students arrive..and then pass it out when they get there...giving them more time. The bowls need to dry completely before you pull them out(they'll fall apart if not!!). After the bowls have dried the students can put a layer of glitter glaze/tempera varnish I placed some of Crayola's Pearl It medium in the glaze also.

Mr. E's Hand Exercises!

My poor hand has had a rough life! In first grade, Mrs. Winter wrote on my report card, "Ted grips his pencil too tight!" It was true then...and is true today!! You should see the big ol' callas on the inside of my middle finger! In college, I had a terrible accident in sculpture class...and the doctors thought they were going to have to amputate my thumb, index finger, and middle finger(by the Grace of God...that did not happen!!). For the past month or so, I have been having pain in my right hand & my knuckles have been locking up on me in the morning. I feared arthritis. That is not good for a person in my profession that depends on his hands! I have an amazing & trusted chiropractor that I wanted to talk to about the situation. After examining my hand, Dr. Ed felt that the problem was being caused by an over development of muscles & such in my hand in the "grasp" position. With grad school underway, I have been drawing & painting more than I have in YEARS, all the day to day activities in the art room, and a life time of gripping too tight. He felt that if I would begin doing hand exercises that the problems I've been having would subside. So...now if you come to my school and see me with a rubber band around my right hand fingers...you'll know I've been WORKIN' OUT! :)

Student Paper's Mr. E Interview

********************************************************** Mr. E and His Dream by Tre'Jerr (this was an artical written in the Tiger Times, a publication created by our 4th graders here at Tulip Grove Elementary) Mr. E became the art teacher at Tulip Grove in 2001. A big project Mr. E did was with the third graders. They made 5 foot tall imaginary trees. Mr. E wants his art to be popular, but he would really like one of his student's art work to become popular some day. Mr. E says his wife said they will probably have to drag his cold dead body out of the art room. Mr. E wants to open up his own art center if he wins the lottery, but he doesn't play. Weird! ******************************************************************* Tre'Jerr's artical is an interesting one! There are a few holes in the story though, but it kind of makes it more fun that way!!! I'm just excited that the 4th graders are doing such a wonderful project like this! They come out with a new Tiger Times every month. WAY TO GO KIDS!!! PROUD OF YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

Circle Weaving - 3rd Grade

Circle Weaving is one of my all time favorite projects to do with my third graders. Now, for the first class time or two...it is kind of like pulling teeth, but after that it is a joy to watch my student get so involved in a lesson! I often have students come back years later and tell me they still have their circle weavings.

Fall Art(NOT HALLOWEEN!!!!)

I do not do "Holiday" art. Holiday art is good for a day and then needs to be taken down after the holiday passes. Seasonal art can be hung for a few months with no problem! Plus, you avoid stepping on anyone's religious points of view on holidays(not usually a big problem in the south, but sometimes you have children that do not celebrate holidays). I had my forth grade class work on color blending with pumpkins. They really enjoyed themselves & did a great job on blending the crayons! I'm NOT so happy with their copy-cat ways! Their pumpkins ended up looking like the ones I created during the demo. I had encouraged them to draw different sized/shaped pumpkins, but...creativity seemed to be lacking that day. Usually they do not copy my demo's....I don't know what was up that day?!?!?! I'm hoping this idea(color blending)will carry over into their other work. WE SHALL SEE!!

LAKESHORE LEARNING STORE

Teachers...have you heard of LAKESHORE LEARNING STORE? If not...don't feel bad. They are not on every corner like Walgreens! ha ha There are only around 50 in the whole United States! Most of which are in California & Texas. My wife(a 3rd grade teacher) & I stopped at the one located in Atlanta, GA yesterday. She calls it TEACHER HEAVEN. I wouldn't go that far, but it is great!! We really need one in Nashville! If you are one of the lucky ones located near a LAKESHORE LEARNING STORE.....be thankful!! If you are not...check out their website!! *****http://www.lakeshorelearning.com ***** Yes...it is geared more for the classroom teacher, but they do have art, music, and p.e. resources as well!! I found a great book, some posters for my wall, and other random things I like to use in my classroom! They had a nice selection of supplies as well..but I was not really looking for those type of items. CHECK IT OUT!

Art Contests

I am not a contest kind of teacher. They often have no real connection to our curriculum & standards, and I do not have the time in my schedule to participate in such things. Sometimes though...a contest comes along that is worth my time & my students time to participate. This year I have submitted two amazing pieces to the Beautification Art Contest sponsered by Metro Public Works. The theme this year is PUT WASTE IN ITS PLACE: KEEP NASHVILLE BEAUTIFUL! I had some amazing pieces turned in by other students(thank you Micah, Joshua,Saige, Alison, and Samuel), but I could only pick two to move on to the next phase of the contest. I think Rowan & Kira have a great chance of winning! If they do win....the entries will be depicted on the sides of the Red River Waste Collection trucks for the next six months! That means over 9,000 people a day could be seeing their work!! Also, if the girls were to win...my art program would recieve money(amount depends on what place they recieved). HOW WONDERFUL WOULD THAT BE!! I told the kids that they could set down and help me pick out some items for the art room if they have the winning entry! CROSS YOUR FINGERS!!!