Works in Progress: Cut Paper Birds and Photography

Two very different projects, both a lot of fun!

Art, curriculum and the grading process!!!

Last year, I wrote an in depth blog post on my philosophy of grading and the teaching of art, which is still pertinent.  To read on click here.

Conferencing/Connecting/Open house!

What a strange year it has been in terms of transitions!  With a new art teacher, as well as a new administration, we have been working to streamline and rearrange communications and "open house" days, etc.  I believe more change is in store for next year :)

I would love to meet and connect with you all and therefore will be having "open house" hours in the art room next week--feel free to swing by, say "hi" and talk.   If I am not in my room, I will be next door working on communications/blogging and art shows with my fellow art teachers.

I will be available:

Tuesday Oct 24, from 4:30-6:30 and Wed, Oct 25 and Thurs Oct 26, from 3-4:30.  I hope this works for some of you!

Project number 1: Artbooks!

Project number 1 in the artroom:  completed (or mostly.  Some are demonstrating amazing perserverance and focus in finishing stellar books)!  Students created artbooks about themselves.  The 6th grade completed theirs in the style of a CHINESE PUZZLE BOOK (complete with secret compartment that I don't understand), and 7th graders executed 3-dimensional TUNNEL BOOKS.  I never cease to be amazed by the time, effort, and creativity they pour into their work.  The process required thoughtful planning: mapping how it will be made and where everything will go, prepping paper/backgrounds, working on foregrounds, and then building the books--a huge endeavor for a first project.  They really are amazing!  Swing by: they are in the display case by the artrooms and also in the library.  I snapped a few shots below:

Artsonia!

A quick little blurb about Artsonia:

Sorry I haven't gotten more information out to you sooner.  I commend many of you for being vigilant and not signing up for something without following up on it.  Artsonia is legitimate, and is a wonderful tool for art teachers and students to share their artwork--Its a program in which students upload their work to their portfolios and you as parents can access their work.  You then can order some great things with their artwork on it and the proceeds go to the school's art program.  Our new fabulous art educator introduced to it--she's been successfully using it for a decade at her old school.  I am still in the process of exploring how we will use it at the middle school level, but will put it into the hands of the students and have it be their (and their parents) choice as to how much they will use it.