Back at it Tomorrow!

Got my word "wall" all straightened back out

I section off my whiteboard to make room for Grade Level "Objectives" and vocabulary.

Gonna try to work with the Kindergarten Students on American Symbols-it pairs with the classroom objectives- I'll let you know how this shakes out.  I'm excited about the possibility, but realistic about how Kindergarten can go.

Tomorrow, I go back to school after a restful Winter Break.  This year, our school system did our calendar a little differently.  In years past, teachers went back a day before the students, and had a teacher work day.  This year, we got our work day the day after the kids left for Winter Break.  On the surface, not such a big deal, we still got our day, but it was a change in thinking.  I had a hard time stepping out of the current semester, and trying to prepare for the new one while I was still cleaning up my room after the previous.  I managed to get cleaned up, and as the day progressed, I got organized, and tried to prepare.  It was nice to get organized again, and I'm looking forward to another great semester.  We'll be preparing for the Spring Art Show, and I'll be up to my eyeballs in creating the yearbook,  so it'll be busy.

Post It Writing Activity



The colors have no meaning- just gave a different color to each table section.

 It's quick, painless, and there is no wrong answer.  I put up 3 landscapes for the 4th graders to look at.  They differed in land form, time of day, and overall style.  We discussed how a color scheme can affect the feel of a work of art.  I gave each student 3 post it notes, and had them write one word for each picture.  We then stuck them up over the pictures.  The students were interested in who else wrote the same word as they did ( I banned "good", "pretty" and "nice"), as well as the variety of descriptive words for each painting.  It very quickly gave me a chance to fit a little writing in, and let everyone be involved in the critique. 

One Week In...

Daily Message: My answer to the "morning meeting" that is being encouraged in our district.

In order to integrate more reading/writing, I decided to get a subscription to Scholastic Art.

A lot of the magazine is a bit advanced for my babies, but who can argue with the elements of art pointed out in a work of art for study and discussion?  Look out 4th graders!

It's not too messed up, but my magnetic word wall has taken a few hits from the line standers this week.

One week into school (we went "balanced calendar" this year) and I already have a more "lived in" look to the art room.  Of course, we teachers spend all sorts of time before school starts making sure that everything is in order, looks wonderful, and is hopefully organized.  Funny, it takes the kids one rotation to bring me back to reality.   Honestly though, I can't complain.  I think the kids are loving the new art room as much as I am, and are working a little harder to police themselves at clean up time.