June 23, 2009
June 22, 2009
May 23, 2009
Summer Art Camp
This summer I'll be teaching at two summer art camps!
I've been teaching at Art al Sol the past few years. This camp is sponsored by Metro Nashville Public Schools. There are two sessions, each a week long from 8:30 till 2:30. We'll(there are two of us teaching)be working with kids from 8 -1o yrs old. It is AMAZING! The kids want to be there, and usually come with some strong art skills. It is amazing how much we are able to accomplish over the week. You can see last years projects scrolling through on the slide show on my page. I'll be sure to add pictures later this month during/after the camp!
In July, I'll be teaching at a kids camp for two weeks in the Donelson area. This camp is in conjunction with a production of Beauty and the Beast(the Disney version). The kids will be learning dance, music, drama, and visual arts. I'll be developing lessons that are based on the movie, which is challenging and fun! I don't want to just say.."Make Mrs. Potts". I'm still working out some of my ideas, but will be sure to post those projects as well in July!!
Stay tuned blog readers....summer does not mean Mr. E is done blogging!!!
May 19, 2009
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!!
....more added...
I have been looking on-line to find other amazing
art blogs, and there are some great ones out there!!!!!
I'm slowly adding more to my blog lists on the side. Please take some time and check them out!!!
May 12, 2009
3rd Grade Clay Animals
I wasn't super excited after my 3rd graders had made their clay animals. They seemed to lack personality & had an overall boring appearance. However, after they painted them, I felt they came to life!
A tiger ready to pounce!
Frog relaxin'!
A very cool horse laying down!
A crazy kitty standing up! 
Lions and tigers and bears..OH MY(well..no bears this time)
Elephant with droopy ears..
One swan a swimming..
A duck going full steam ahead!!
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