One Happy Art Teacher

Finally!  The art room finally got the dividers in the back room storage that I had been requesting since we built the art room!  Now, I can divide out my prints by categories that are relevant to my classroom, and because they are no longer stacked, I can access them much more easily.  I also have the flat drawers available for paper storage now.  It's a win win all the way around. And, this probably finishes the art room.  I guess I'd better be happy until the day I retire now!

What's that Stink?

I am trying a new behavior incentive this year.  I have a paintbrush for each class that I teach.  When the students come in, I put it facing up, on Purple.  The color has no meaning, except for the fact that it is on top.  If I have to warn students about behavior/voice level more than a couple of times, I begin to rotate the brush.  The goal is not to have your paintbrush moved.  Now, I understand that sometimes the students get chatty, and I am pretty good about a warning or two first, but when it is unfocused, or repeatedly noisy, I reach for the brush.  If the students have a day where their brush does not get moved, I put a star on their "Doghouse".  I am a huge Snoopy fan, and he adapts well in the art room as a theme. This star system holds the class accountable, and my hope is that some of the group behaviors, and "audience" behaviors get altered.  Why get stars you say?  Well, I have a list of fun art room incentives that don't cost me a lot of money, and the kids are willing to work for.  For 3 stars, I give a sit by your friend day.  Six means a "shoes off" art class.  Weird yes, smelly for sure, but it's unique enough that the students want it.  For nine I will host a bubble gum art class, and for twelve, I'll take students to the computer lab for art.  The big prize is fifteen- a free choice art activity day, where I break out the centers and toys.  So far, it is working well, and this week, I've had to cash in on some shoes off classes.  We leave the shoes in the hall for two reasons.  One- I find the shoes are smellier than the feet, and two- the other students see it, and get to talking about it.  Hopefully it motivates them to work on their behavior. I love that it does not cost me money and, that the students are having fun with it, and holding me accountable to keep it going.  Funny, the students that are concerned about what happens after 15 are the very students who have yet to earn 3- but, we're in negotiations over whether we start over again or we keep thinking up new incentives.

Water Bottle Babies...painted

Not sure if it's supposed to look like an old man- but that's what I'm getting!

Cannot wait to see her finish up the clothing- the eyes crack me up

A couple of posts ago, the 3rd graders and I wrapped water bottles with plaster strips- these are serving as our people shapes.  Today, I broke out the acrylics and we began the painting and decorating process.  My only directives other than basic paint procedures (and threatening the daylights out of the kiddos, cause it's ACRYLIC) were that they needed to consider the entire sculpture, not just the front, it was to look like a person when finished, and I didn't want to see plaster peeking through- there are some questionable ones in progress, but here are a couple of cuties!

Thanks Dr Ed!

Every year, my awesome Chiropractor does an art supply drive and Mr. E and I get to split the loot!  It ranges from construction paper and paint sets to markers and crayons.  Sometimes, cash or a gift card is tossed in- it's a great start to the year, and really helps me stretch my budget to include more art supplies. 

If you in the Nashville Area, and you need a Chiropractor- Dr. Ed Thomas at Total Body Healthcare gets my vote!

Mr. E and I usually try to out-do each other with our thank you note (glitter is usually involved)- but this year, because Dr. Ed opened a new office, and it's very nicely decorated, I tried to be classy- I used our school's new poster maker to create this "mini-banner" which I had some of my students today sign.

VOTE

I love Artsonia- I started using it last year, and while it took some time to get a good system for uploading, I found my parents more involved and interested, and I have a working portfolio of work for each student I teach.  This week, I love Artsonia because one of my students (Autumn, from Hermitage TN) is up for the artist of the week.  She is in the Pre-K-3 category with her cut out still life.  Here is my shameless plug asking you to go vote, as long as you are online anyway!

Visit Artsonia if you have a moment, and you'll see the artist of the week contest on the right.  Click the green button, and get to voting.  What I really love is that Artsonia is striving to inspire lots of artists for their efforts, not just the most talented. 

The link to my Artsonia gallery is on my blog.  Feel free to visit and check out what we are up to in the art room.

Water Bottle Babies?!?

So if you follow Mr. E, you know that our district is asking that we all look at the work of Red Grooms for our upcoming "Art-Tober" celebration here in Nashville.   After thinking long and hard about how to wrap little kids' minds around the massive work of Red Grooms, I settled on a large city scene, where each grade level completes a part.  I'll be sure to post pics of the other parts, but today, the 3rd graders and I made "water bottle babies", since they are contributing the people to the city.  We looked at his "hot dog vendor" sculpture, and I have a short video where he is showing Mr. Roger's his life sized city bus, complete with riders. Using a water bottle as an armature, we rolled a wad of tape into the top to make a head.  Then we covered the entire thing with plaster.  I showed the kiddos how to sculpt with plaster strips to create arms, waistbands, hair, noses, etc.  And, we will paint these babies up when they dry.  For now, my back room appears to have been invaded by a small squad of short, squatty aliens with no feet- I think the paint will help! And, in the meantime, I have some company for plan time.

The Army

Love the giganto buttons!

The kids tell me this is a mohawk in progress...