Looking Ahead

Hooo Boy, I made it through another year.  This year had challenges because I came back into the school year balancing being a mommy with being a workaholic art teacher.  But, it was a good year, filled with fun projects.  As I look ahead to next year ( I did say workaholic, right?) there are new things  I'd like to try, and some things I already do, that need a little re-vamping.
1-There's a lot of conversation out there about "Choice Based Art Education".  Now, I haven't done all the research, and I firmly believe that my role as an elementary teacher is to teach a skill set, which includes a variety of supplies.  And, I don't think you can introduce choice without a strong skill set.  And, I do try to offer some choices within projects.  Not much cookie cutter art going on here.   However, my principal is supporting my goal to continue to add choice to my lessons.  My classroom is going to have a "demo" table next year, where 4-5 kids can sit and work with me as needed. 
2- Grouping.  Most of us have the tables broken up into groups of 6-8 kiddos.  I noticed this year, with an especially large 2nd grade, that while some kids loved being elbow to elbow with their besties, others needed space. ( I had one artist who would always come up and sit on the floor- he needed the space).  So, instead of making my tables into equal groupings, I'm going to explore some combinations in which some groups are not made up of as many tables.  so, one group may have 6, and another may be a single 2 seater table.  Still gotta look at lay out on that one.  
3- I have always had a "meeting spot", where my K and 1 meet up with me, and we intro before we hit the tables.  When I move to the new art room, I added bookshelves, and tried for a reading corner.  And, it's ok.  But, here's the dream- and if you can help, or you know someone who can, I'd love it. I put in my first ever Donor's Choose request.  My ultimate dream would be to have a large carpet, with a couple of bean bags and pillows, and a sturdy shelf to organize the books.  I envision a space where we can all meet, but more importantly, where students can generate ideas, read for enjoyment at the end of a project, meet with a small group, etc.  And, I think it's important to have it be a warm and inviting comfy place to sprawl.  Any donations made in the next 7 days, and using the code 100WOMEN at checkout will get their donation matched up to $100.  How cool is that! 

Anyway, those are my thoughts for next year.  If you are anything like me, you've got some of your own reflections- and I'd love to hear them. Until then, HAPPY SUMMER!

Tryin' something new

Like most art teachers, I always have my eye on something that, given the right funding, would benefit my kids, and be a lotta fun in the art room. And, like most art teachers, I watch the $$ go to the classroom teachers, even though I often point out that if I had more technology, more students in the school would benefit from it.  Artsonia has been very helpful in getting my parents aware of what we do, and I've started to get a smidge of funding coming in from that resource.  But, today, I decided to try out Edbacker.  Here is my link if you are interested in helping me get an iPad for the art room. 

iPads for my Artists

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. 

Egg Dye Yarn??

So, my school is right nearby to a few grocery stores, and we often get random post-holiday donations.  Candy Hearts, Christmas decorations, and most recently, piles of peeps, and egg dye.  Now, the art teacher in me fought with myself.  I know that many of those egg kits come with some cool stuff, but I am working hard not to take on things that I cannot store well in the new art room.  So, I googled egg dye and found the directions to dye yarn in a crock pot with it.  Needless to say, I went down and loaded up.  Today, my 1st graders finished up with a little time to spare, so I had them rip into all of the boxes and rescue the dye packs for me.  WOW- can my kiddos tear their way through boxes.  I simply had them empty the contents into a tote tray for me, and toss the boxes.  At the end of art, I let them choose from the stickers, rub ons, and other stuff.  Cheap labor or what?  My goal is next year to dye the yarn with my 4th graders, and then do their weaving project.  That is, if I can remember where the egg dye is next year.  HAHA.