Free Stuff/Donations

So, I am like most art teachers in that my natural tendency is to stow away supplies, objects, odds and ends like a squirrel; positive that it can be used for something, but forgetting I have it more often than not.  When I moved into the new art room, I promised myself that I would collect more carefully.  I would decide what is actually usable in my art room, and how I would store it before bringing lots of clutter in.  And, it's working well for me.  I know what I have, the kids and I have a blast using unconventional materials, and I have not lost a kid in the clutter for some time.

 Then there is the other side of me.  The one that knows how much materials can cost in an art room.  The one that says to parents and teachers and community how expensive supplies can get, and how it's always a struggle to stock the cabinets.  When opportunities arise for donations and give-aways, I feel that I owe it to my school community to go, and harvest whatever I can for free, so that when I ask for something, it is truly needed.  Today was one of those harvesting occasions.  MNPS is a huge district, that sends out mass e-mails regarding assorted programs.  I received one such email, saying that the science kits were changing over, and that teachers were invited to the warehouse during the designated hours to have first chance at whatever was available.  One might think "Science? that's not me", but I thought- I wonder what stuff they have?  You never know what you might find.  So I went, and here's the results.  Dowel rods, funnels, wooden rolling pins, clothes pins, blotter paper, clear plastic containers with lids, muffin foils, and paper making screens.  My favorite find was the Tinker Toys.  Great for sculpture, drawing, and the occasional center activity.  The point?  Don't turn down a donation without at least looking at what it is.  Set limits (I counted out what I took to get class sets), be ready to share the over fill, and think about what purpose it will serve in your room rather than just what it might be.  Incidentally, I ran into at least 2 other art teacher digging around in boxes-maybe it's in our DNA. 

New Year, New Projects!

This is my textbook/manual shelf, but I hate wasted space, so I have this as my "word wall".  I will pull words from it, and add it to the white board as we are learning or working with those words. 

That gianto cabinet has big doors, begging to be used.  So, one the one side the ice cream sundaes demonstrate my grading scale, and on the other, there are scissors and glue in each pocket.

I am very proud of my K/1 meeting spot.  I added the easel this year, along with the button lamp behind the chair.

Hard to see in the picture, but there are buckets spaced over the tables.  Each bucket has objects of a different color.  Kind of like a giant "seek and find". 

I don't know about the rest of you out there in blogworld, but about this time of year, I am a few days away from the end of my mid-morning naps, my afternoon swims, and my ability to eat lunch AND take a restroom break whenever I want.  It is time to go back to school, and I get super excited to see my school friends, and set up my art room.  Because last school year was so difficult with the construction in out school, I was super-excited to set up this year.  I have spent a lot of time on Pinterest, and actually making the things I'd been pinning for the classroom.  I love to surround the kiddos with bright colors, along with having a welcoming and safe place to create.  Here's the direction I'm going this year.  Anyone else have fun setting up for the new year?

Assembly Required

If you have a Harbor Freight near you, and you need/want a cart in your art room- may I suggest you go looking this month?  They had this cart on sale at my location for $47!!!!!.  I bravely took the box of pieces and our socket wrench set, and I spend my morning tightening bolts.  I thought they were manufacturing holes as I was assembling- there were a lot.  But, at the end, I have this nifty cart to put my Elmo on for demonstrations, I have space for the examples and the materials I need. And, I have a turn in spot for flat projects, until I have a chance to store them.  It will roll away when not needed, AND, because there is a "lip" or edge all around the shelves, I do not have to worry about someone knocking off my expensive Elmo.  (Not that accidents ever happen in the art room...)

Found this easel by "Melissa and Doug".  I normally would not want to order such a thing online, but I know M&D products, and knew it would be quality.  My plan is to put this in my K/1 corner for our discussions/lessons.  I can clip prints, and also make use of the white board.  There is a chalkboard on the other side, and the ability to have a roll of paper.  That makes it really adaptable, and allows this one thing to be used for many things- always a plus.

Ice Cream and Art Grading...

Our school system started an online grading system called Gradespeed over the last few years, and last year was the first year that EVERYONE was required to use it, and our parents struggled with the idea of an A-D grading scale. I have a grading policy typed and at the ready for my parents.  I try to be very clear with the students about their grade, however the grade for art can seem ambiguous, especially for parents who never had an art class.  I found a poster with the ice cream example on Pinterest, and I created my own version.  How do you explain art grading to your students?  Do you have it posted?  Illustrated?