Busy, busy, busy! Way back when I last blogged (it seems like forever, not just a month or so) I was actually caught up with my work whatever that means. But I was wrong. Or rather, I'm back to being bogged down. I'm up to my eyeballs in art; I don't think I've seen the original surface of my desk in weeks. On the bright side, my darlings are making some pretty fantastic artwork. Now if only I could get it all on ArtSonia...
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Sketchbook Lesson Part II
Oh short week, how you mess me up. I spent half the day going to the wrong places because my subconscious kept insisting it was only Tuesday.
Okay, so sketchbooks. I implemented some of those changes I talked about in yesterday's post.
Okay, so sketchbooks. I implemented some of those changes I talked about in yesterday's post.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Lesson: Sketchbooks
Boy oh boy, what an adventure! I don't feel very adventurous anymore.
As I blogged last week, Other Art Teacher and I taught a lesson on sketching today. I really need to be a reflective teacher, so here I go.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sketchbooks, Sketchbooks Everywhere
Whew! Two weeks of school done with...waaaay more to go. I wanted to blog before now, but it's been super busy these last few weeks. I am so ready for Labor Day weekend!
I've got a full load of 1st and 2nd graders this year (Other Art Teacher traded me some of her 1st grade classes), nearly as many 3rd graders and one 4th grade class, as per usual. (I'm sure they'll love being the only 4th graders--more stuff for them in centers.) They're all pretty good classes so far, and my most troublesome is--thankfully--not troublesome in terms of misbehavior so much as being loud, excited, and bright. They tucker me out, but it'll be a fun class all the same.
I've got a full load of 1st and 2nd graders this year (Other Art Teacher traded me some of her 1st grade classes), nearly as many 3rd graders and one 4th grade class, as per usual. (I'm sure they'll love being the only 4th graders--more stuff for them in centers.) They're all pretty good classes so far, and my most troublesome is--thankfully--not troublesome in terms of misbehavior so much as being loud, excited, and bright. They tucker me out, but it'll be a fun class all the same.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Back to the Grind
Well, this is it. Tomorrow is the first day of school, and I'm running towards it full tilt boogie.
The last week and a half has been a whirlwind of classroom prep. I found out at the end of last term that I was going to be moving classrooms again and that I would be moving into the music teacher's room, as it has a sink. Okay. Student Minions, move my stuff!
The only problem? The music teacher was out for knee surgery and had no idea. Fast forward to now.
The last week and a half has been a whirlwind of classroom prep. I found out at the end of last term that I was going to be moving classrooms again and that I would be moving into the music teacher's room, as it has a sink. Okay. Student Minions, move my stuff!
The only problem? The music teacher was out for knee surgery and had no idea. Fast forward to now.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
End of Year Art Show
Finally sitting down to post this (I'm slow, but that's no surprise). I was going to have pictures, too, but those are on a computer 6 hours away, silly me. It'll be at least 3 weeks, but I'll try to get the pictures up when I get home.
This year, Other Art Teacher and I decided to do a special 4th grade end of year show as the kiddos will be leaving us for the middle school next year. In the end, it became not only an art show but a fundraiser for our art program. This is how we set things up:
This year, Other Art Teacher and I decided to do a special 4th grade end of year show as the kiddos will be leaving us for the middle school next year. In the end, it became not only an art show but a fundraiser for our art program. This is how we set things up:
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Art Teacher vs. Artist
When I was in college, the Art Education club tried to host a "Dinner with an Art Teacher" once or twice a year. We would invite several nearby art teachers and all have dinner and then discuss a topic related to our field. For one memorable meeting, we chose to discuss art teachers as artists.
It seemed that a commonality among art teachers was the apparent lessening of personal art making, even a complete cessation for some. One guest speaker told us that she had gone for ten years without making any art--she told us she just couldn't find the time, energy, or inspiration to work on her own ideas. After so much time had passed, she became interested in items she had found at a yard sale and began to photograph them. It snowballed from there, and she became an active artist once again. This led to a very lively discussion. Why was art making left by the wayside? How did they begin creating again and how did this affect their experiences in the classroom?
It seemed that a commonality among art teachers was the apparent lessening of personal art making, even a complete cessation for some. One guest speaker told us that she had gone for ten years without making any art--she told us she just couldn't find the time, energy, or inspiration to work on her own ideas. After so much time had passed, she became interested in items she had found at a yard sale and began to photograph them. It snowballed from there, and she became an active artist once again. This led to a very lively discussion. Why was art making left by the wayside? How did they begin creating again and how did this affect their experiences in the classroom?
Monday, January 31, 2011
Week One
So, week one of my comics workshop.
It was kinda stressful but slowly got better. Day one was by far the worst. The kids in my workshop are by and large good kids, and I know most of them. However, I do have some large personalities (and large voices). That first day was kind of a nightmare, honestly. One boy, who had some behavior issues last year--nothing bad--has been hit with fourth grade attitude. He was all around loud and rude, and made more than one comment about cartoons being stupid (or something to that effect--it's kind of hard to remember thanks to being upset). He and a few other kids were just plain obnoxious for the entire hour.
It was kinda stressful but slowly got better. Day one was by far the worst. The kids in my workshop are by and large good kids, and I know most of them. However, I do have some large personalities (and large voices). That first day was kind of a nightmare, honestly. One boy, who had some behavior issues last year--nothing bad--has been hit with fourth grade attitude. He was all around loud and rude, and made more than one comment about cartoons being stupid (or something to that effect--it's kind of hard to remember thanks to being upset). He and a few other kids were just plain obnoxious for the entire hour.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Workshops Aplenty
Every year, the entire school participates in something called "Brain-based Workshops". These workshops are meant to stimulate our kiddos' brains and give them more focused support in certain subject areas. Workshops range everywhere from mathematics to drama, depending on each teacher's choice. I wasn't able to participate in this last year as I left in the afternoons to teach at the kindergarten, but I'm pumped up for it this year!
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