Artist of the Month

Each month, Swallow Students will be studying a different Artist here in the art room. Some classes will study the artist at length, others may not depending on our unit sequence throughout year. This month we've been busy with Kandinsky!

more systems!

Referring to the job chart in my earlier post, only the "Supply Master's" come up to the supply "pick up" to gather the supplies for their entire table. The job chart colors rotate every month to change up responsibilities in the room.

"This is where broken pencils come during class so we don't waste time sharpening pencils with a loud, cranky sharpener." Looks like I've got a lot of inpatients.

all SYSTEMS go

This sign I made to hang on the door the days that we need smocks. It has seemed to cut back (not completely eliminate) the question of..."do we need smocks today Ms. Stewart?" over and over when they enter the room.

This corner of the classroom is a go to for students that are ahead of the rest of the class. I really would like not to have much "free draw" time allowed, rather an area with "creative challenges"with some experimentation/creation as well.

Job Chart. Best thing ever. Each students has a little colored tab next to their seat that corresponds with the job chat. I have four different categories: Team Leader, Assistant Team Leader, Supply Master, and Clean-up King or Queen. So far, this has worked wonderfully, they student pride themselves on their classroom responsibility. This system was put in place to maintain classroom order, give the students as much time as possible to work, and provide students  with an environment where they rely on one another mainly and work collaboratively.   

I can't take complete credit for this system. It as actually something that I observed a first grader doing. He finished a few minutes early, so I asked him to walk around and collect scraps from other tables in the classroom. I over heard him saying "Trash Truck, Beep, Beep!" First of all, I thought it was pretty cute, and then I had an "ah haa" moment and thought this is a great way to get the scraps picked up before they leave the room. I made signs for my recycling and trash bins and now the students are now asking when they finish if they can "take out the recycling truck." Heck yes you can.

Systems. Systems. Systems!

and so it begins

Well, So far so good- I have survived the first couple of weeks as a first year teacher, yay! Messy, tired (ugh delete... make that completely exhausted some nights) but could not be happier. Now,  If I only had as much energy as a five year old...

Elementary Art Teacher :)

I have officially been offered a teaching position in the Swallow School District in Hartland, WI! I have gotten a great impression of the school and culture through my time spent there, and the people that I've talked/worked with. It's a bit unreal to imagine that this year I will be going back to school not has the college student or student teacher, rather the teacher.  So, with that being said,  I intend to shift the focus of my blog back to the elementary art classroom, with a sprinkling of what I'm up to outside of the classroom as well! As for now, I am cleaning, organizing, and arranging my classroom and mind. I spent two days last week purely cleaning and organizing. This weekend I worked on signs and other materials to set the students up for success in the classroom. Next week is purely curriculum and staff development. I have began organizing my curriculum combining what I've done the past, some unit lessons that the previous teacher passed along to me, and many new lessons. I believe the easiest way to organize all of these ideas in my mind is to set up a monthly "theme" or unit which the entire school will study.  Less than two weeks until the first day of school, will I be ready?!  If any teachers have any advice for me as a new teacher, don't hesitate to share- thanks!!

New Space

So, living without internet has really put a kink in my blogging. As the summer comes to a close I hope to catch up on my "art and ideas." I have finally settled into an apartment for the upcoming year, big change as I have moved five times in the past year. I have set up a studio space, no longer the traveling "studio in a box." Also, I have been attempting a lot of DIY creations around our apartment, which I plan on posting because I was inspired by other blogs and www.readymade.com (amazing!)  I relocated to a new apartment to still stay in the city, but also to be a bit closer to my new teaching position in Hartland, WI...more to come on that, too.

Midwest Renewable Energy Fair

This past weekend I attended the MREA Energy Fair in Custer, WI. It was awesome! The workshops offered were so great, it was hard to pick which to attend at any given time. Check it out here: https://www.midwestrenew.org/energyfair and consider going next year, it's truly inspirational if you have any interests in practicing sustainability. My favorite workshop was titled "Ultimate Downsizing"... here's the little printed blurb, "Hear the stories of several Wisconsin folks who choose to live in tents, hunting shacks, camper trailers, and experimental shelters whether for a month, a season, or several years. Why they do it and practical advice to inspire your own minimal shelter." The workshop featured Amber Westerman from http://www.amberwesterman.com/blog.  Her story was incredible. She also gave this great book resource: http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/books/ to check out other small, sustainable shelters.  I could not stop thinking about the possibilities of this simplistic life style... as soon as I returned home, I started to research online and stumbled across this blog about tiny homes: http://tinyhouseblog.com/. Enjoy! Cheers to you, Wisconsin.