Anthropologie taste with a Thrift Store Budget.

I always browse Anthropologie's furniture collection. They have an amazing team of artists working for them. I've seen beautiful pieces inspired by anthro on blog's of artist .This weekend I came across a free metal chair on the side of the road as I was headed home after dropping my friend off at the airport. I am going to use this chair as inspiration for my new design. Will post b/a pics soon.

Clay Club - a solution to a time crunch

So as I have mentioned before I teach art to a large school. My classes meet for less than 30 minutes each week. So this leaves little time for projects such as clay. My friend Debs- teaches a clay club at her school so I decided to seek her advice in creating my own. This consisted of me calling her and asking for very detailed information about her club so that I could copy it;). My clay club lasted for only 6 weeks. ( Meeting for 75 minutes once a week) Students completed 3 pieces during that time. A frog on a lily pad, a turtle , and a vase.
Thanks Deb.
I was a bit worried, because I have no confidence in my clay making abilities. But in the end it was worth every minute. The kids loved it- and we got to display our work in the official display case in the front of the school. Here are some of our projects:

Time for Change O'Keeffe Lesson Grade:K

So I have been doing some serious thinking about the future of the blog- and propose to create more positive entries that consist of lesson plans divided into short time slots to help other teachers with similar schedules as mine.
So here it goes:

Georgia O'keeffe Grade: K

I love teaching kindergarten. It seems no matter what subject we study the kids always get super excited. Their enthusiasm is refreshing. When the O'Keeffe exhibit came to town ( to the High Museum of Art) I knew I needed to study her in some of my classes. So I chose two groups, one 3rd grade class and one Kindergarten.
Way back since my freshman year of collage I knew I wanted to be an art teacher. Even when my major was theater, secretly it was art education. So since 1999 I have been collecting art books and art calendars. Every year after Christmas I would go the Barnes and Noble and buy cheap art calendars- because I knew one year I would use them. Recently a retired art teacher who had the same idea gave me tons of O'Keeffe examples in various sizes pulled out from small and large calenders. So these went to great use!

Day one: 30 minutes
First Day: I introduce Georgia, talk about how she was from Wisconsin, studied art in NYC and moved to New Mexico. Talk about how her boyfriend, a photographer who helped her have her first show. Then I hold up examples and discuss her flowers. We talk about scale, and abstract shapes and color. We discuss that her flowers sometimes do not look like flowers but are just abstract paintings of organic shapes that capture the flower shapes and colors.

I tell them they are going to create their own giant flowers in the style of O'Keeffe and that we are going to study her paintings. I always tell them that they can't mess up- and that they are going to need to draw really really big.

My kindergarten classes are arranged so that they sit 4 to a table and their are 4 tables in each class. So I pass out large 12x18 paper and have students use crayons to draw from examples placed at each table. Some students share calendar examples, and some use their own. I tell the students that they must draw the shape over and over and make it big drawing all the way to the edge of their papers.
OK- end of first class.

I repeat this again and again using my arms to emphasize that I want them to draw it big.

Ok so by the end of the first 30 minute session they are finished with the drawing because Kindergarten draws really fast. - They do this because they draw with confidence!
If any finish before others- I have then color in shapes of petals.

Day Two: 30 minutes
They color in their flowers using their own color choices but they must stay away from neutrals. ( Easy huh?) They also have to color using their muscles. I say this a lot in my classes. If your hand hurts- shake it out- and continue ;).

Day Three:
Color ( repeat)

Day Four: Paint! ( 30 minutes)
Some tables used tempera others used watercolor. I like to mix it up when I can. I am an art teacher who looks for different results and solutions. This prevents me from getting bored with the lessons. This is why it is difficult to find enough space on my cart sometimes :).
So students apply paint on and around their pieces covering any white space. I recommend black paint to a few students around the edges of their flowers.

So it only took us four weeks but the results are fantastic! I displayed these proudly around the school to help celebrate Youth Art Month.

PTA Support

Last year I began a photo club and opened it to 10 5th and 6th graders. It filled up and the kids had a blast. PTA agreed to sponsor the entire club, which was about $350 for cameras and purchasing and developing film. I decided to run this club again and have even been asked by several students when it would take place. So, yet again I went to PTA to ask for their financial support. I emailed the President asking her to add me to the agenda and was preparing to give a speech on why they should put up the money for my club again this year. I was amazed when I learend they already had me on the bill for $250 in the event I decided I wanted to have another photo club. They also said that if I needed $300 it wouldn't be a problem. This is pretty cool, I must say. I haven't really had any dealings with other PTA's but mine is pretty amazing. They are all for extra arts and any programs that will add to the quality of their student's education.
With this money I have planned out the photo club schedule. We will be taking pictures of textures and learning about composition the first week. We will also be learning about some of my favorite texture photographers like Margaret Bourke-White. The second week we will be making a photo documentary. The third week students will make cyanotypes using sun print paper. I even have enough funds to purchase a kit for them that they may take home. I thought this would be a fun project to introduce alternative photography, which I have been doing a bit of myself lately. The fourth and last week we will be making photo collages from all of the sub prime photos and looking at artists who do this as well. On the last session I purchase ice cream and toppings for sundaes, which the kids loved last year. I'm pretty excited about the whole club and every week it seems I have even more kids ask when the photo club will be. Can't get any better than that!

Andy Goldsworthy

A couple of 3rd grade classes created Andy Goldsworthy inspired art. We are not finished with the project- they still need time to mess around with the photography.
But over all- fun fun fun- I had a lot of fun. ;)

This is what art teachers to when they have time off.

They make felt circus elephants and hide them in their house plants. Then they create a photo story of their
elephant taking an adventure cross country.

Who is the best?

So-I get a phone call today from a woman who is organizing a very big state art show. Each school is allowed to summit only two pieces of art and the applications had to be turned in about a month ago. When she called- I was at once proud of myself for making the dead line, but then realized that instead of submitting 2 names I had submitted 5. I guess I got confused with the entry numbers and wanted to make sure I had the max amount possible.
After realizing my mistake I at once have to pick two students out of the five and at that moment what should be an easy answer turns into this philosophical question of who is the best?
Details:
Lest dissect the group- I have 4 girls and one boy. One in kindergarten, one in 1st, one in 2nd, and two in third ( the boy being in third grade).
The student in 3rd grade is amazing- every piece of art she makes is beautiful and she also just had a writing piece place on state level...
My little kindergarten student made this awesome mixed media piece and I love it so much I just want to show it off to the world. Because it makes me look good... ( This is bad I know)
The second grade student- her art even though quite good- I mean she is very talented.. I don't think it will stand out enough- because of the art lesson - not because of any lack of talent on her part.
The Boy- shows little interest in art until recently and them boom! He create this awesome oil pastel.
The first grader- so sweet and her teacher thinks it could really boost her self confidence. .. plus her teacher is awesome..
Solution:
Awesome third grader should go- but she just experienced a lot of success in her writing and I really do want to share the wealth.. so I have to say no.
Kinderpicasso- she is 5 and like an amazing artist- plus she is really cool. I won an art contest in Kindergarten and it changed my life... so Yes?
No to the boy- because am I just choosing him because I want and even boy and girl entry?
No to 2nd grader- because the first grader's art stands out way more.

So who is the best?

Lesson Learned:
If you have this much trouble picking art entries for a contest- you will never make it as a CEO or principle, or military leader. ...

Tis the Season!

So, I'm not going to lie...I get so excited to see what my students are going to give me for the holidays. I figure, hey, I work my butt off so the kids/parents can be appreciative around winter time. Now, I don't expect too much really. The parents don't really think of the "specialists" as teachers they should gift. It's just interesting to see what accumulates when it's all said and done. I have mom helpers that assist with kindergarten every week. I gave them a little bag of chocolates and a card for all their help. I did forget a couple of items in this picture. One, a basket of lotions from the body shop. A very nice gift from an awesome mom helper! A $20 giftcard to Starbucks, and a $5 giftcard to Borders. I did also get some perishable gifts that were half eaten and half tossed. I have a rule; if the students tells me they helped make the food gift, I toss it. Let's face it, it's just wishful thinking if you actually think the kids did not lick their fingers or play with fluffy the cat or scratch something during the cookie making process and then went to re-wash their hands. This all stems from my first year of teaching elementary when a student made me some fantastic looking chocolate chunk cookies that when I broke one in half it was hanging by a long hair. OCD behavior justified? I think so! Anyway, I thought it would be interesting to post what I accumulated from kids and administration this year. Have a looksee!

MYOB

The title of this post MYOB, Mind Your Own Business referrs to teachers who need to do just that. Two days a week at my second school I have 3 classes I teach in an open pod area. Originally, one of the first grade teacher's classes I have asked the Assistant Principal if she could have art in this area, and he said yes. The alternative would be me in the classroom during this teacher's planning time, hence art on a cart. I was fine with this decision and actually like having a space of my own, however noisy it gets every so often. I mean, the space has four sinks and a water fountain for crying out loud!

So, this new place for art caught the attention of the Kindergarten teacher, who is notorious for stirring it up. She has been nothing but nice and accomodating to me, but I have heard of her not so nice encounters with others. I simply walk on eggshells with this teacher. I don't need the greif for being there 2 days a week. I, again, had no issue with them having art in this pod, nor did the Assistant Principal. Why not have art in the pod. I'm no fan of this particular Kindergarten teacher, however, both she and the first grade teacher deserve planning time away from students. Everyone else has it, and it's fair.

One teacher, however, is constantly making this decision her business. I have heard, out of her mouth numerous times, her judgements of Kindergaten asking to have art in the pod. Her oppinion comes up at lunch and through another teacher's mouth. I presume this teacher thinks of me as cowardly, that's the impression I've gotten from her, because I won't demand art be held in the classroom. She has neither asked for my opinion on the matter and I have no desire to correct her assumption that Kindergarten is trying to rule all, so to speak :P Simply, it is none of her business. Her room is not that close to the pod area and she has a door in her room she can shut.

I think this teacher would be a little shocked to hear that the first grade teacher initiated this request. I wonder if her opinion would change at all about the situation. For me, I'm indifferent. I hate getting caught up in these kinds of things at work. It's just not worth my time and I think it's sad that others take the time out of their day to get involved in something that has absolutely no affect on them. I think it's a little funny and am secretly keeping count of how many times she brings up the topic. I think it's up to 5 since the start of the year, at least! Oh well, one of these days i'll tell her to MYOB!

Stop the gossip

I know it is difficult at times to steer clear of gossip, especially in a school/teaching setting. I do my best but admit that I can get caught up in it just like anyone else. I eat lunch with a group of teachers, all specialists like myself, at my second school I teach at 2 days a week. I think this group has gotten into a habit of taking extended lunches to simply sit and gossip, or at least that's what I think. So, yesterday I had simply had enough. When I was finished eating and the gossip was still a flowin, I got up from the table and started to prepare my lessons for the next day. I cut paper, sorted materials and found reproductions that I needed. It cut way down on the amount of gossip I heard, not only because they were whispering but because I had my mind occupied with more productive things.

I felt good about myself that I had gone against the grain and decided that I wouldn't be apart of this gossip-fest, at least for the day. Baby steps

crazy moms

So, once in a while, as an art teacher, I must vent. Here it goes. I had a couple of things that put me in a funk today but I will put them in separate posts.

This is at my second school, not my base school. I am only at this school 2 days a week and am there to simply pick up classes. I have about 5 Kindergarten volunteer moms that come in and help and I absolutely love 4 of them. However, one mom has hit a nerve with me. She tends to be overly concerned/controlling of how she thinks my art class should be run. She is helpful at times but underneath I can tell she just wants to take over and run the show, telling me we need certain crayons and giving a students a peice of paper when I specifically told him he couldn't have one because he was acting up. The other moms just do what I ask and that is that.

I told the students today that we would be having guest moms from the Japanese Immersion program here at the school come in to teach them how to do Japanese painting greeting cards. The moms get together and do this with students every year. Last year I had a mom show all of my classes how to make paper cranes, it was great! So, this OCD mom Kindergarten helper is one of the volunteers coming in to help, she said. So, I said the moms are going to lead the painting, because I assumed the moms would be training each other and know what they are doing since they didn't consult me at all. Well, apparently this threw OCD mom off and she became snappy because she didn't realize she, along with another mom were going to present this. I was out of the loop just as much as she was. This is why this school and its planning irritate me at times. I became a little flustered because I had just taught a difficult behaving Kindergarten with her help. I felt bad for the other awesome mom helper who felt a little uncomfortable with the whole conversation and snappy OCD mom. We'll see what happens next week but I'm not really looking forward to these greeting cards at all.

"You make it look easy"

I like to run races. I am not very fast- but I like the feeling of being apart of an event/ and the community... and I find that when I run in a group- I tend to run faster. Plus it is nice getting a t-shirt just for showing up for a 5k.
During my longer races I have really come to depend on out side support to encourage me along the way. I really appreciate most of the shouts of encouragement made by spectators- friends and families of other runners. I emphasize MOST, because sometimes people shout out the wrong thing. For example: "faster, faster", or " come on girl".. these are not on my preferred list of encouraging shout outs.
But today- one of the volunteers said what I think may be the best line I have ever hear- " Ya'll make running look easy".
It made me feel really good- like I was such a good runner that I made it look easy.. I have never thought of myself as the kind of runner who makes running look easy. I am the type of girl who finishes and her face is so red it is purple and as streams of sweat run down my body people ask if I am ok....
So for him to say" you make it look easy" ... those words meant you are great! You are a great runner! You run so well you make this look easy!! That phrase meant all those things to me. .. it was from the heart. He didn't really believe we made it look easy- he was looking for the most encouraging words to help us finish the race.

How this relates to the classroom...
I really think this is a line I could use in class. I admit sometimes I am at a loss for encouraging words. I try my best- but I wonder how my students would feel if I told them: " Wow- you make drawing a horse look so easy!"...
I bet I would see the same smile on their face that I had today ;)

This has really made rethink the importance of saying the right thing to my kids. After all- a big part of my job really is encouragement- to encourage risk taking and creativity...
So I hope to put more energy into this aspect of my job this year and I work to encourage my students to finish their drawings- just as I was encouraged to finish my run today.

Scream!

So I taught a printmaking lesson on Edvard Munch's The Scream.

Students created exaggerated facial expressions and carved them into Styrofoam meat trays and printed them. After creating frames for their prints- they then began to go back into the design and add color. I really liked the way this one turned out. 

32 oz. of Relaxation

After a long Thanksgiving preparation- the music teacher and I headed out to our own little happy hour!
It never hurts to reward yourself after a lot of hard work;)

FALL ART PART TWO

3rd grade Pumpkin Relief Prints










Grade k
Fall Tree Landscapes. Simple lesson but
these turned out so bright and colorful.

Fall Art/ Special Friends Day

About a month ago my VP asked that I decorate the school for our Special Friends Day. ( Special Friends Day meaning the big Thanksgiving dinner)

The previous art teacher before me held this job every year- and did so with much grace. Apparently she held an interior decorating job on the side. She made these elaborate table center pieces for every lunch table in the cafeteria.
So with little notice- I stepped up the challenge with the help of my friend- the girl that shares this blog with me.


We decided that I should hang as much Student Art as Possible- so here are a few example lesson plans below:
Grade K Fall Relief Prints
Students use a brayer and block printing ink and we make a leaf print on small 8x10 paper.
Then students filled up the negative space around the leaves with color and patterns.


Grade 4 Pumpkin Still Lifes
Students study light source /shadow/overlapping/ blending and use unusual colors to create 3-d effects.




I asked one of my second grade to create fall trees using the same ideas as the pumpkins.

Artist's mind or just not too bright?

What a weird day. It's 3 a.m. and I am making a post. Allow me to explain. I cannot sleep. I was observed today for my 1st of 3 total evaluations throughout the year, which I felt was about to happen by the way. I can always pick the days, I just feel it for some reason. Hahaha. I absolutely forgot that I had a third grade class after the class I was evaluated in. I thought they came after lunch for some reason :P My brother had hernia surgery today, outpatient, but still on my mind mostly because I was the one who had to pick him up after school. Then at 12:30 a.m. there were drunk college kids outside the apartment complex yelling at each other. 3:00 a.m. the same college kids were back from their outing getting sick on the lawn and yelling once again at the very top of their lungs. Thank God the cops were called by the awesome girls upstatirs with the patio bar my brother so envys! Now, all is calm but I am anxious for my flight in the morning back home for the week of Thanksgiving. So, I can't get back to sleep.

Back to my post relating to the title. Once in a while I really get the feeling that I think very differently from others and today was one of those times. In the past I have mistaken a raspberry candle I got as a gift as jam and put it in the frigde. I was shocked and a little dissapointed when I opened it and had nothing more than candle wax to spread on my already made toast one morning. Ok, that I would classify as not too bright. Once, I also recieved a card in the mail from the local pizza company once for what I thought said a free pizza for Amy Stromboli. I was all set with an elaborate plan to redeem my coupon pretending I was this italian woman, Amy Stromboli. My brother/roomie was able to read the scribbled cursive writing that reavealed it was a free chioce of ANY stromboli. So, now I know a stromboli is a pizza item and I avert my eyes when it pops up on any menu in order to avoid reliving my stupidity. Once again, I would classify that as not so bright. And last but not least, during a practice lockdown drill at school I opened the door when the assistant principal knocked, not even considering it could be an intruder. If it's up to me, I guess we're all gonners! I guess i'm a little too trusting as well.

But, today I may have convinced myself that I have an artist's mind instead, being that I just think a little differently and slightly weird. The third grade teacher brought her kids in today for art and usually get picked up at 11:45. Today she said "I'll get them at 22." I said, "that's fine, we'll be done early, i'll have them ready for you at 22." This is not an odd request. Once in a great while students have to finish tests and I let them pick students up early. So, we rush through our clay lesson. I tell the kids we are working full speed today. I get them lined up by 11:22 and we play the grocery store game until 11:30. I finally call the teacher's room to see if she's going to pick up her kids and she says it's only 11:30 and she'd get them at 22. I said, it's past 11:22, it's 11:30. She laughs and says twenty to 12! I said, oh no, I thought you meant 22 after not 20 till! See, she did not say twenty till, the proper way to say 11:40. We had a good laugh about it and I let the kids free draw for a few minutes. Seems more like a lack of communication and understanding but am I a wierd thinker or just not too bright?
In a discussion with my brother, he concluded that it's good to think differently like I do. It's not that i'm necessarily a moron, but I have so many alternative answers for a lot of things and I don't just pick the obvious. That's what makes a good art teacher, he said. I guess if I were mostly logic, which clearly I'm not, I wouldn't be in this field. I'll just go with what he said!

I Heart First Graders

I heart my first graders! They are so funny. I wouldn't trade working with children for working with adults ever! First of all, when the first graders wrote, in their classrooms, what they like best about school, half of them picked art as their favorite! That's pretty much becaused I loved them all when they were in kindergarten. We were making masks the other day and looking at examples on the t.v. through powerpoint. I had up a mask from Africa with horns and stripes. Everyone had their idea what kind of animal this mask represented. "A Zebra!" one shouted out. "A ram," "A deer with antlers!" other students shouted. Then one blonde haired blue eyed little girl called out "it's a cantaloupe!" Clearly she meant antelope!

Out of the mouths of Babes

My 2nd graders are studying the figure and discovering how we move and where we bend. I took them through an exercise where they stand around the room and we bend our joints together. We look at Degas dancers and other dances like breakdancing, irish, tap, jazz, mexican and so on. I then have the kids go cut out pieces for body parts using skin colored papers. As I moved around the room to help with ideas, one student, notorious for making off the wall comments says, "I want to make my dancer holding a bud light!"

500 million for Art and Music?

Governor Bill Richardson says if elected for president in 2008 that he will put arts and music back into education. He calls music and art "critical elements of education"- and says that he would be willing to invest up to $500 million dollars in art and music programs....
Is he the only candidate talking about the arts?
Check out Richardsonforpresident.com