UFO?!?!?!

UFO??!?!?

Kind of....

UNPROVOKED. FREELY (CREATED). OBJECT (OF ART AWESOMENESS)

One of my forth graders came up to me during hall duty this morning and said..."Mr. E...I have something to show you!  I made it this summer!"  I could tell he was so excited to share it with me.  He pulled out of his backpack this double sided circle weaving.  ISN'T IT AMAZING?!?!  WOW!!!  He really got into circle weaving in 3rd grade...and I believe made one or two at home before the end of the school year.  I love seeing my students excited about creating!!  What a great way to start my day!!  

THE TEST:

So you've been seeing the reviews on other blogs, I'm sure.  I must say...I appreciate a company that is willing to put themselves out there and be tested in a real word setting with some of the pickiest people out there when it comes to art supplies!!! ha ha  

I will be the first to admit...I am not a colored pencil snob.  I like getting a variety of brands...because I feel it gives the kids choices!!  If you stick with one brand..you have only their version of a color.  I like variety!!!  Cra-Z-Art are harder lead...and their colors are lighter.  That isn't a bad thing...if you have other colored pencils with softer lead(richer color).  The Prang colored pencils were GREAT!  I'm not sure about the price point, but the quality is there.  I liked the bigger size too.  I was worried it wouldn't fit in the bigger hole of my sharpeners(it did!).  The pencil felt good in the hand.  The color was wonderful.  

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I've always felt pencils were hit or miss.  You can tell when you first sharpen them if they are going to quality.   Ticonderoga are QUALITY!!  They sharpen well & have strong lead.  The Wal-Mart pencils were fine.  However, I prefer Ticonderoga!!!  

 I think you all know how I feel about watercolors!  I've made it pretty clear that PRANG is the only brand for me!!!  This test just confirmed that once again!  The colors are more true. The paints last longer.  They are just better...TRUST ME!!

 Like colored pencils...I'm not a big marker snob.  There are several brands that I like...mainly because they last a good while.  I decided to color a whole page with a color to see how it handled.  I was surprised to see Crayola being a bit "sketch"  Prang's color was solid & true throughout.  When I tested them in a smaller area...the Crayola worked just fine.  I actually do like the Crayola tip better.  I feel you can get smaller thin lines...and thicker thick lines.  I do like Prang's color/juiciness!!! 

Mr. E's Art Room 2013-2014: FIRE

This is what greets people in the hall!  I'm going to do a post of my different "color themes" over the years soon.

This is above my door...made of fun foam.  I put duct tape on the back so I can hot glue it in place.  Hot glue can melt the foam if you put it directly on it.

This is the wall outside my room.  The last week of school I have my students make the pattern turtles for the following school year.  

(my "rules")

I'm still developing this board.  I'm going to feature different works and have the students tell me what color schemes, elements, and principles they see.  Oh..the border on this board is made of paper napkins! 

Lot of staples...but fun! 

I'm going to do better about having works of art from different countries featured on this board.  I want to make those connections for students between art and where it comes from.

This too is in the works...I'm going to add some more to the 

Word Bank at the bottom.  

This is how I store my student art work.  Each class has their own box.  I'm able to storm most of their 3-D work as well.  It works for me.  

Here is my wall of bulletin boards!! 

My reading area... kindergarten starts each class time on the rug.

Classroom layout.

I broke up the U/horseshoe this year so the kids & I were able to maneuver around the room a bit easier.  So far I like it!  The only issue is...the tables get moved around a bit more. The U seemed to keep them more stable. 

A Gift From NJ

An art teacher from NJ felt led to send a little kindness through the mail.

Getting art supplies is like Christmas!

THANK YOU JONI!!!!!!!!!  

(I love the note cards!!!)

A Post from Australia

No, I'm not in Australia....though I wish I were!!! :) ha ha  

This is from Cheryl!   Here is a little info about her teaching situation....

Beeliar Primary in Perth Western Australia. It is a medium size school of around 500 + students. I teach the pre primaries year they turn 5 years up until the year they turn 13. 

Visual arts is very strong and well supported in our district.

Here is a little bit about the Chihuly inspired project....

I used the coffee filters, coloured them with water based felt pens . the students added final patterns with gold and silver permanent pens and then I sprayed them with liquid starch. I then strung them together with wool to hang .

THANKS FOR SHARING CHERYL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One Out of Two Ain't Bad!?!?!

So I submitted two proposals for the 2014 NAEA National Convention.  

One was accepted.... 

A Blog People Want to Read!  

I might be getting type cast as a blogger person?!  ha ha

The one that did not get accepted..  

Be a Rock Star Not a Shooting Star: Ways to Avoid & Deal With Burnout!  

Actually had a lot of ideas for this one...and I feel it is an important topic.  

Maybe the title was too long for them?!?! :) ha ha  

NOW I HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW I AM GOING TO GET THERE?!?!?!  

Money is always an issue with a single income family.  Throw out some ideas for me!!!!

You Know It Is Monday When......

Know what that is?  It's a diaper! Yep...a dirty stinky bagged up diaper.  Why is it at school with me?? 

I HAVE NO CLUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I found it when I got to school in my basket of things to do that I had taken home.

My only guess is that it is Monday at the start of a school year?!?!

THE JOYS OF PARENTHOOD!! ha ha ha

HAVE A GREAT MONDAY EVERYONE!!

A Little House Cleaning

So summer is over for me...and ending for many of you!

It's time to kick our blogs into high gear with new lessons, amazing works of art, and fun classroom ideas.  It is also time for house cleaning.  I have a general rule for my blog roll.  If I don't see you post at least once a month...I'll remove you from my list.  I give a bit more grace in the summer.  Janet from Ms. Malone's Art Room is the only one exempt from that rule....because she's one of my best friends(Though you better post soon Malone..or you'll get the ax! ha ha).  I'm not trying to be mean or anything...it's just there are so many great blogs out there with so many wonderful ideas..I want to make sure my blog roll is "fresh!"  That is what I do when I come to my blog....look at what people are posting!  So my bloggie friends...please post!! If I have removed you..and you start posting again..shoot me an e-mail..and I'll look at adding you back!!!  

HAVE AN AWESOME DAY!! 

1st Day Gift

Every year my wife (and now kids) get me a first day of school gift.  Usually it is a drink & sour patch kids or pretzels (my fav treats).  This morning I found nothing with my bag...or in my car.  I just kind of figured with as busy as we've been...they weren't able to pick anything up. Totally understandable.  

So my wife comes by as I'm finishing up Brunch Duty(the fun of a half day schedule).  

She has a box...

HOW SWEET IS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very blessed man am I! So thankful to have such a loving & supportive family!!!

Concerning My Chair Footies

There has been some "buzz" about my chair "footies" online since the AOE On-Line Conference & being one of the 25 Clever Classroom Tips For Elementary Teachers featured on BUZZFEED. Some of it good....and some...not so good. I believe you need to find what works for YOU in YOUR ART ROOM!  I don't have all the answers...I just put my thoughts & such online.  Take what you like...leave what you don't.  

First...if you aren't sure what I'm talking about....look at this instructional link from my blog

http://artwithmre.blogspot.com/2012/07/chair-footies.html

Here is the article from BuzzFeed.  They kind of messed up the title...but that was not my doing.  I'm still honored to be on this list!!!  

http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/clever-classroom-tips-for-elementary-school-teachers

ADDRESSING THOSE THAT THINK CHAIR FOOTIES ARE STUPID

Like I said above...."Take what you like...leave what you don't!"  HOWEVER...some of the issues you were listing I may have some answers for you!  

THEY FALL OFF:  Well...this does happen from time to time.  However, it is usually because the rubber bands were not twisted around enough times.  It has to be pretty tight!!!  Sometimes the rubber band will also have snapped...and you might not realize it till the footie comes off.  If you go with the thin rubber bands...they might break on you!!  Go up in thickness..and this should reduce the issue.

THEY SHRED/FALL APART:  I've had this happen many times over the years.  What I've realized is...not all felt is created equal.  Look at the image below.

If you can see through it like this...it is extremely thin.  I will say that this seems to be more predominant in the lighter colors.  As you can see...I did find a yellow that was much thicker and should hold up fairly well!  When you buy the pre-cut pieces at a store...you should really look at what you are getting!  In the same stack...of the same color....there can be huge variation.  There is also the option of buying felt from the bolt at a local craft/fabric store(please use a coupon...they are good for 1 cut usually when it comes to fabric).  For some reason...bolt felt seems to be thicker?!?!  Though..I would check it before buying.  You never know...there could be variation in it as well!!  

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My first year of teaching...I tried this with cotton fabric.  NOT GOOD! ha ha  It worked for awhile, but did not hold up.  I then tried the felt...and it worked...FOR ME.  There are teachers that love the tennis balls!!  I just think you need to find something that works for you! 

Hopefully if you are going to give this a try in your room....you'll have read this before purchasing your felt!  

DADDY POST: School = Missing My Family

Working on my classroom...missing my family.

I spent a great deal of time with my kiddos this summer as my wife was working at our church A LOT!

Though I don't think I could be a stay-at-home dad....I love being with my family.  My kids are growing & changing so quickly.  I was blessed to have that time with them this summer...to see all the day ins/day outs.  That is where the magic happens!!!  Eli's vocabulary grew like crazy!!!(He just turned 2 a month ago)  I was able to hear him say all kinds of new words/phrases/sentences.  I would look at Margaret and ask..."Did he just say....?"  She'd smile and say.."Yes dada, Eli is a smart boy!"  We went on adventures to the store, library, park....just the normal living life kind of stuff!  I'm wondering right now what they are doing...what Eli is saying....if Margaret is making up more of her crazy songs & singing at the top of her lungs....and what they are imagining.  I love my job, and am blessed to have the opportunity to be a positive influence on so many lives.  I don't take that lightly.  But...the greatest job... PRIVILEGE...I have is pictured above!!!  

God has blessed me more than I deserve! 

SOOOO MUCH TO DO!!!

So I'm way behind...for me.  I got a bit more done on my bulletin boards, and have moved things around my room.  However...it just looks like a bigger mess?!?!  We have inservice Mon-Wed.  We'll probably have 2 partial days of that to work in our rooms...I HOPE!!!!   Open House is Thursday night....so it has got to be done by then!!!  (I don't have students Thurs because it is a half day)

Testing Up & Up (Target Brand)

I'm always up for trying new/different brands!  This is the first year I remember seeing the Up & Up school supplies at Target.  I may have missed it before though?!?  Back-to -School prices are not as good as they use to be...so if I can find quality products at a better price...YOU BETTER BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT I'LL BE GETTING!!!!!! ha ha  

So here is what I found from my very scientific tests!!!

CRAYONS

I don't know if anyone can top Crayola's crayons?  Up & Up is a little "waxier", but not as bad as some "other" major crayon brands.  They are worth a try, but I don't think they'll make you forget your Crayola's.  

COLORED PENCILS

 I really liked their colored pencils.  They are a little harder lead...so the color will be a bit lighter, 

but not by much.   

 MARKERS

The markers really worked well.  You may be able to see the colors differences, but you have that with all brands.  I'm not sure what they'll be like in the long run....that is the true test of markers!  I'll keep using them & get back to ya!!!!

IN THE BEGINNING: 2013-2014 School Year

So last year I used a cool color theme...and and my heat went out in winter.  I'm praying the fact that I'm using warm colors this year doesn't mean my air is going to go out!?!??!!? ha ha  

I used images from a discontinued book series to cover to top portion of wall of bulletin boards. I'm going to place my classroom rules there on top of the images.  Stay tuned for the final "look".

I've been unable to find solid black bulletin board border with straight edges.  I just don't like pre-made scalloped edged border.  So...I bought 4 yards of black fabric and tore it into strips. 

We'll see how it works?!?! 

If you've followed Art With Mr. E for awhile...you've seen my turtle displays for the start of the school year. The last week of school I have some of my students make pattern pages, others turn them into turtles, and older kids "clean" them up so they look great!!!  

The kids 1st day is Aug 1st!!!!!! 

 I have got a lot to do over the next week!!!!!!!!!!