It's not a mistake, it's an opportunity!

Every year, I find it frustrating how quickly many of us are willing to just give up when we make a mistake. This year, I have found inspiration in the book, Beautiful Oops! I encourage everyone to read this great book. The book illustrates many mistakes and how, if we just look at things differently, we can change those oopses into something beautiful! What a lovely life lesson as well! 

I have already read the book to kindergarten and first grade this year. We followed up the book with fixing an oops. I gave the students papers that were ripped, folded or marked up and they were tasked with turning the mistakes into something beautiful. 

The older students will be discussing the book in upcoming art classes.

The image above shows a few of the posters hanging around the art room this year. Reminders for all us, including myself, that it is not a mistake, it is an opportunity! 

Beginning of the year preparations!

The beginning of the year in art class can be, kind of, well, boring. We have to spend a lot of time getting ready for the year. Good news is we are almost there! Most classes have finished up their portfolios. We have added a flap with Velcro this year to help prevent loosing pieces! 

Many classes have finished up their idea maps (the heart or lightbulb images you see below). Idea maps will help serve as inspiration when we run into those mental blocks throughout the year!

Sketchbooks have been passed out and stored in portfolios, for most grades. I think we are almost there! 

Next up is opening up the drawing station. It is empty right now (as you can see in the photo). Soon, it will be filled with drawing supplies and the masterpieces will start appearing! Yea!

Oh, Mona Lisa

With all the new things we are trying out in the art room this year, I thought it was time for a new quiet sign. Give Me Five was fine, but I was getting bored with it and so were the students. I came across this gem on a blog somewhere and loved it. How perfect for the art room! 

So, in our first three classes, we have been practicing what being Mona Lisa Quiet looks like and modeling good listening behaviors. I say "Mona" when I need their attention and the students respond "Lisa," followed by displaying Mona Lisa listening. It has been a great attention getter and we are learning about the world's most famous painting in the process! 

As a fun way to learn a bit more about the Mona Lisa, we watched a short YouTube video about the Mona Lisa. It is done by a seven year old girl. It is cute, fun and informative. The students loved it. Some classes loved it so much, they requested it over and over again and I obliged (only while they were working, though, of course!). It is called "Why is the Mona Lisa so Famous?"

I think Mona Lisa is really going help us display excellent listening behaviors this year!

A NEW YEAR, A NEW BEGINNING

The room is neat and orderly, a sure sign of the beginning of the school year!

This year, I am very excited to be starting the implementation of TAB (Teaching of Artistic Behavior), or some times referred to as choice-based art. I actually like the term choice-based art better. Much clearer title when discussing with the students.

So, what does this all mean? It means our art room is going to be our studio and the students will the working artists! It means students will be exploring and experimenting, creating and revising, discussing and sharing. All important skills in the learning process, if you ask me!

You will see a variety of projects coming out of the art room, some masterpieces and some not. And, that is ok. Not every work by an artist makes it to the museum. Learning is a fluid process and so is art making! So, please be patient with your little artists. Ask them about their work, what their thought process was, and don't expect every piece to be a masterpiece. And don't be surprised if some of them are stunning. We have some pretty amazing and creative kids at Leib! 

Fourth grade clay!

Goofy Bronson!

Great job Nick!

 

Nice piggy Triana!

Paige and her close-up!

Long lost

So, I know it has been a really long time since I posted any updates.  We were so busy doing clay and working on starting the mural that I have been a big slacker as a photographer.  I apologize.  In my defense, with the growing belly, I am moving a lot slower these days too! 

In both 3rd and 4th grade, we made a clay project.  Most of them have made their way out of the kiln for the second time.  Third grade got to see their finished projects today.  It is always exciting to see how your work looks when it comes out of the kiln!

They did a really great job.  I am always impressed with what this great group of kids can create!

We also starting working on our mural today.  A few weeks ago, we started creating sketches.  The students voted on their favorite design.  The winning design was by David P. in 4th grade.  David has been working on sketching his design on a piece of plywood that we covered with gessoed canvas.  Today, half of the 3rd grade art club worked on painting the stripes in the background while everyone else was working on origami.

This is going to be a slow process, but I can't wait to see how it looks in the end!

Scratch Art and Clay

Over that last few weeks, we have been working on clay in art class.  The art room is never as messy as it is when we do clay! So, finishing up our art club projects were a bit of a challenge.  Fourth grade finished up their scratch art on the floor (tables were too messy!).  Here are a few photos:

 After finishing up the projects we already started, the students made a small project out of clay.  Third grade made an assortment of small pots and other ceramic goodies and fourth grade made some awesome animal pots.  I only have a few photos now.  I can't wait to post what they will look like after the glaze firing!