That Feeling You Get...

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This is exactly how I feel right now! 

Transforming my art room into a choice based environment has had its challenges this year. 

Among these I have experienced:

Lack of student autonomy/creativity

Struggles with effective monitoring

Consistently integrating STEAM

Teaching the Elements of Art

Teaching the Principles of Design

Chaos?!

But, transforming my art room into a choice based environment has by had amazing rewards!!

Among these I have happily experienced:

Student autonomy

Rebirth of creativity

Students self monitoring

Student lead STEAM integration

Student identifying and using the Elements of Art

Students identifying and using the Principles of Design

Organized Chaos ;-p

But the reason for my feeling of excitement on this day? It's really all about me. ;-) I have been working and struggling with the monitoring piece and effectively teaching the elements of art and principles of design pieces. Today, (finally!) I am so excited because I feel like I am SO close to a breakthrough!

I've been playing with my artist's statement template for several weeks now and been trying to incorporate some of the pieces from each grade level standards into a concise, fun to fill out, easy to understand, single sheet piece of paper. And although it's not perfect, it is so much closer to being exactly what I want than anything I have come up with before.

So I thought I would share my "almost" breakthrough moment. Now I still have a way to go but I think I am finally on the right track for figuring out what will hopefully work for each grade level.

Below I have some pictures of K, 1, 2, 3. Still working with 4 - 5. I would love to hear what fellow art teacher think or ideas that you have used in your choice based classroom.

Thanks!

In grade k - 2 I have structured it as the I-spy game for the elements of art. My vocabulary used is pulled from what my district has listed for each grade level.

Kindergarten

First

Second

Third

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P.O. Box 143: Box 402: We've added a few little things to P.O. Box 143 I found these great European travel themed tissues at Michaels. ...

Stem Versus STEAM... Love this!!

University of Florida’s Online Master of Arts in Art Education

Experimenting with Color Part 1

A few weeks ago I went a really cool STEM workshop on light and color. I was the only art teacher in a group of 20 other  educators. I had researched color in light before but had a hard time grasping it. When the teacher asked what the primary colors of light were I knew enough NOT to say red, yellow, and blue!

The first thing I saw after putting on the diffraction glasses was this!

Beautiful AND totally opposite of everything I knew about color in art.

Over the course of the workshop I finally began to grasp color in light. It was a breakthrough for my stubborn artist mind.

And so started my creation of a plan that was designed to confuse and intrigue my students. Confused?

Step 1

Make the students become the color wheel we know in art.

First I gave each student a primary or secondary color. I asked them to make themselves into a color wheel. We went outside for more space.

Next I grouped students by color and gave them a dot to represent their group. We played with "find the color that makes a tertiary". They then got back into the color wheel order where we played "find your compliment"

This lead into our discussion on neutrals and at this point it was time to go back to the art studio "lab"

Each team was given three cups of primary colored water. Then were then given 9 more cups and told to create the color wheel.

They had to pay close attention to their measurements as they were not allowed to get more liquid and they had to end up with every color.

They were so focused it was awesome!! 

All teams had a little different results but were all able to create the color wheel. 

When the color wheels were finished it was time to make our neutrals and then mix all our colors together.

The class had confirmed what they already knew, that when we mix all the colors on the color wheel together we get a dark brownish blackish neutral color.

Now it's time for me to turn that theory upside down!!

Stay tuned...

STEAM & Arts Integration Conference

Just a few more weeks until the upcoming STEAM and
Arts Online Pre-Conference and Conference! 

I will be presenting in both parts so be sure to look for my presentations.
If you were at the FAEA conference a few months and weren't able to get into to my workshops here is your second chance.

Check out what I'll be presenting...

Pre-Conference

Poetry: Painting Pictures with Words

This workshop demonstration shows how easy it is to incorporate Common Core Standards into your art room in an effort to support your fellow teachers and enrich your student's depth of knowledge. Marzano's teaching methods are incorporated seamlessly and efficiently. The Learning Goal for this lesson is, "I will be able to compare the similarities and differences between the Elements of Poetry and the Elements of Art". These connections are then used to create a design that successfully integrates elements from each of these subjects. Tap into your creativity as you paint pictures with words, and leave confident and inspired to bring a little "Core" into your core subject!

Conference

Hiding the Veggies in the Art Room

How “hiding the veggies in the art room” keeps student minds healthy and strong in the academic world. Interested in STEAM but not quite sure how to incorporate it into your classroom? Trying to find a way to mix in relevant art history into these types of lessons? Do you want to see real life classroom success stories? Then I’ve got what you’re looking for, and a little Escher and Dali too. Join me for a session that will help fill your art class with STEAM this year!

During the workshop I discuss integrating science into art lessons by: 
1 - using the scientific method for a mural color challenge (student centered/teachers hands off).
2 - using empirical observations and inferences to interpret works of art

Integrating math into art lessons by:
1 - discussing Escher's tessellations and symmetry
2 - organizing students to solve cognitively complex math challenges related to geometry and other mathematical concepts.

Technology by:
1 - showing how technology on a budget can create amazing works of art. All you need is an iphone, a photo editing app, and a plastic bag!

All of these are taught in conjunction with art history and techniques for a truly integrated and memorable experience for students.

All participants will receive my interactive power point presentations for a full unit of coordinating plans free! You could be done planning for the rest of the year! 

Does it get any better? :-)

Can't wait to hear from all the great presenters! "See" you there.

Education Closet Winter Conference Click Here!

I Say You Write A...ISYWA?

It's a new game for our Art Room! 

We call is ISYWA...aka I Say You Write A...

In an effort to speed up the "review" time in class, I have created a new game. It's quick, easy, and very effective for monitoring. Those of you who already use white boards for this purpose can attest to how effective a tool white boards are for class monitoring and engagement.

Here's the deal. 

Students work together with shoulder partners to respond to words I say.

For example: If I say candy their response may be sweet, butterfingers, cavities etc...

Of course my words or prompts are all art related.

Once I say the word the teams have 20 seconds to come up with a response.

They may have to write a word or draw their response.

All boards are held up after 20 seconds are up and then it's their partners turn to write.

(this can also be done with a 1 to 1 ratio of white boards for individual monitoring/tracking)

They LOVE it! It's a game and they have no idea how beneficial this is for both them and me!

If you are an art teacher just think of all the quick checks you can do.

Primary

Secondary

Geometric

Organic

Value

Texture

Pattern

Horizontal

Space

and the list goes on and on...

STEM to STEAM Fills me with Pride.

Reflective Teacher Challenge Day 3
What are you most proud of to date in your teaching career?

I absolutely love finding new and inspiring ways of integrating Art into STEM. 

2013.muzartworld.org

Researching standards from multiple subject areas is both fun and challenging. This past weekend I spent countless hours researching space related standards for science in grades k - 6. I have to say I was shocked to see how little we expect these kids to know! Really! Are we living in the stone age?

www.artinsights.com

After thinking and overthinking how I would combine space in science 

www.esa.int

with space in art...

www.pinterest.com

I decided to broaden my learning goals for my students and came up with integrated concepts I am really excited about.

"I will be able to use the elements of art to create a visual representation 

 of my understanding of space."

Of course the understanding part is scaffolded between grade levels according the standards but that's the jest of it. So excited to start this unit! It was a great day today as every class spent the day outside exploring or place in space.