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First Grade Oohs & Ahs

Yesterday in teacher's meeting we discussed the ideas of Charlotte Mason. I realized that I have not been showing my students examples of good artwork like I should be. To fix this oversight, I compiled several famous works of art along with several works of art by my friends for my 1st graders to look at. 

The idea is to expose students to quality 

ideas and materials. 

Out of the pieces by my friends, these got the biggest reaction from my 1st graders. 

"Wooah Cool! They're a really good drawer."

http://www.coroflot.com/jessebrady

jesse.brady.98@facebook.com

Child#1-"Who is that?" Indignant Child#2-"It's Kristopher Robin!" 

http://cunninghamfineart.com

timothy.cunningham.148@facebook.com

After viewing the previous two works to this one & trying to figure out what the boy was doing, they saw this painting- "Haha! Woah!"- "You would die if you really did that." - "Why is there a bird?! haha"- "Look at the sock monkey, he's scared!"
"A sword!"

sam.enriquez.750@facebook.com

samenriquez.daportfolio.com

"Robin Hood is cuute "- "He's going to shoot 
an arrow!"

http://louieroybal.com/ 

louie.roybaliii@facebook.com

 A unified, "Aww!"-"There's blue in her hair!"-"I like the flower."-"Someone famous!"

http://cunninghamfineart.com

timothy.cunningham.148@facebook.com

Just for fun I had students guess whether they thought each painting was by a famous person or one of my friends and whether it was done on the computer or not. They really couldn't tell, but they had fun trying.

All of these artists are really worth checking out! Use the links to contact them or view their artwork. You'll be impressed! 

Fairytales

This is one of those "two books in one" books from Companion Library.

Front

 Back

These are the two books from which I have been reading stories to my students. 3rd, 4th & 6th have started the first steps towards their watercolor illustration (thumbnails then sketches). I want them to spend two days on these watercolors so that they'll slow down and do a better job. 

3rd grade is illustrating Hansel & Gretel, Grimms'
4th grade is illustrating The Girl Who Trod 

on a Loaf, Andersen's

6th grade has a choice between Hansel & Gretel & The Cat & Mouse in Partnership, Grimms'

I can't wait to post the sketches and paintings!

One of THOSE Art Teachers

Today, I took both 5th grade classes outside on the porch because it was raining. They silently drew pictures of whatever they saw in the landscape ahead of them. Then I had them take their shoes off and we played in the rain :) 

Every once in a while, it's important to be one of those art teachers that fuels creativity 

and playfulness through adventure and discovery. 

Most of the time my lessons are very structured and 

logical and traditional, but I don't want the kids 

to lose their love for art in the process 

of becoming excellent at it! 

There's something so thrilling about playing in the rain. They're also at the age where they're not worried about messing up their makeup or hair or trying to be too cool.

I had 3 or 4 of them come up to me and say, "Thank you!" One of the moms of my students that teaches at our school actually saw and thanked me for letting her daughter run in the rain haha.

(I didn't think it entirely through and if I do this again I'll probably have them bring a dry change of clothes ;)

Spring Into the Arts

This is just a small part of the art that's up all over the hallways. All of the blue matts are portrait anatomy pieces. On the other side of the wall are black matts that frame the students' choice pieces. This just gives you a feel for what the hallway looks like now. It's wall to wall art! 

Oh clay projects...

I was at work until almost 7 last night and until about 8:30 tonight prepping for this Canopic jar project.
I know it's a lot of extra work, but I'd rather stay late and have better looking projects come out than simplify it more.

The tables are all prepped for tomorrow. The tools are set out and their smocks are ready on their stools. I assigned seating so that whoever is doing a certain "son of Horus" will be sitting together. 

I realized after prepping the whole room that I have another class coming before the clay project . . . 

Instantly I decided that it would be a good idea to take that class outside tomorrow! I'm not de-prepping, no way haha. 

Love it

I absolutely love my job.
Now that we're moving into illustration it's really fun to see what the kids are coming up with.
It was also refreshing to see both 6th grade classes totally engrossed in the stories I was reading today!

This first grade artist wasn't here last week when I read the story, so he just made this up. It's an elephant tangled up in his own trunk, a giraffe seeing what's up and I guess I kid who's just startled by the whole situation. I think it's so cute when a kid raises his camo cast covered hand and asks me "How do you spell 'What'?" 

Last Night

There was a really loud and scary domestic disturbance on the other side of the wall from me last night. I ended up calling the police and was up until 5am.

Since there was no way I was going to sleep anyway, I worked on this, my blog! 

No one got hurt I don't think. I slept until 12pm but I'm still so tired . . .

At work tomorrow I'll get to look at all the artwork that was up for the Spring into the Arts festival.

Now that the stress and hurry is over, there will be time to enjoy :)

This is the best drawing from the Upper School (in my opinion). It sums up this Sunday perfectly. 

Information

If you see anything on here that you would like more details about, just ask!
Random Stat: I have 173 students this year and this is my first year teaching. 

This is my desk

This was in August. This picture brings back memories of when I could see my desk . . . 

Educational Endeavors

Ah yes, and I'm teaching art lessons now! I'm very passionate about teaching art. Right now, I'm just teaching four pupils, all of whom I'm related to. However, I'm using this experience to develop and flesh out the cirriculum that I'm writing. I feel so fulfilled when I'm making lesson plans, and I get way too excited about grading homework. I love this.