Drawing 101

Today was a big day in the beginning art classes, we had our fist real drawing lessons.  The topic of the day was contour line drawings and observational drawing.  I started by telling the students a few trick of becoming a better drawer.  1.  You need to practice!  It is a skill like anything else.  You don't just show up at the soccer game with out practicing skills and plays, first.  2.  Details make a drawing look more realistic.

I started by asking the class to draw their hands, and that was the only direction I gave.  After about 5 minutes, I took a poll.  1.  Did they trace their hands?  2.  If they traced their hands, did they go back and add details?  3.  Did they just freehand draw a hand? -(Since they have 2, they know what they look like.)  4.  Did they look at their own hand and draw it?  I would say 95% or more traced there hand and about 50% after that added details.

Once we established that was OK to do; I told them I was going to show them some exercises to train their brain, eyes and hand to communicate better.  We looked at some examples of blind contour drawings and modified blind contour drawings.  Then I dropped the bomb and made them do a blind, continuous line, contour drawing of their hands.  I made them draw for about 5 minutes.  After they were done, I had them write 1 sentence about how they felt when they were drawing.  Of course they were all very uncomfortable and were horrified about what they had just drawn.  -(Sure, they could mock me when I demonstrated, but it was a new story when it was their own creation.)-  I then, had them do a gallery walk and realize, they all were struggling and it was OK.

After they experienced the horrors of blind contour, I eased their minds and let them do a modified contour drawing of their hands.  They were all very happy to do this activity. -(Which is funny, because I am sure if I threw this at them first, they would have revolted)- They were given about 10-15 minutes to do a great contour drawing of their hands.  They all did a great job!  I reminded them to go slow and add details.  This time they could pick up their pencil and look at their paper.  My only rule was if their eyes were on their paper, their pencil should not be moving.  They were still to be observing their own hands 90% of the time.  

For the first serious drawing lesson, they were all receptive and willing to work the entire period.  It was one of the best contour lessons I have had in some time.  I hope they continue to be as receptive as we continue in this contour line drawing unit.  

My Classroom Setup, For Now

My classroom set up has remained the same for many years.  I was allowed to keep a majority of items on the wall over the summer. Which I did, because the ideas of clearing out my room at the end of the year, was not cool.  But, not that I am back and getting into the swing of things, I am adjusting my room to work with my new kids needs.  So I have added some items.  I expanded my artist of the month wall to include the artist name and a quote.

  I kept my personal wall the same, actually making it smaller. 

 I added a formal area to display current grades for the students.   I displayed the first set of grades on Friday, many students were wondering why they were not getting an A.  So, this is a lesson on how passing does not mean an A and art is not an easy A.  I was glad so many students were concerned about their grades and I had the opportunity to talk with them one on one about their progress.  

I added a new job chart, instead of having individuals at the table assassinated to a job, I assigned entire tables to jobs.  So far,  they are loving the jobs and doing a super job of keeping the room clean.  

I put up a new area for no name work.  It has been working well, so far. 

 The best addition to the room is a new laptop cart.  It only has 16 computers, but my neighbor has agreed to share his cart, too.  So, combined we have 32 computers, which has been working really well for my digital class, and it has allowed me to set up all of my students on Edmodo.  

I came up with a new pass for the restroom that the students like, and it seems to be a reasonable request to ask them to take the paintbrush to the restroom.  I bought heavy duty brushes this year, since my brushes from last year were obliterated by the end of the year.

All in all I think I have the right things in place to keep my room running smoothly.  And if not , I have never been afraid to scrap something and find a new solution.  The students seem to be buying into all of my crazy ways, so I am feeling pleased...so far.

Kandinsky's Watercolors

Beginning art's first project is almost completed.  They are actually doing well.  I am trying to ease them into the idea of creating their own original art.  So, I saw this idea of using lines and shapes to emulate Kandinsky's style of art.  We had just spend a week on the elements of art.  So, this looked like a great way to use 3 elements and create a simple, and interesting work of art.

First I had the kiddos practice several types of watercolor techniques.  This is always exciting to them, they feel like they are painting, and it is not as messy or stressful as tempera paint.  The always LOVE the crayon resist technique and go crazy for it.

I then show them my project overview PowerPoint and have them write down the criteria in their class notebooks.  They had to include 3 different shapes, 3 different types of lines, 2 different qualities of lines, 3 different watercolors and 2 different techniques.  They then create a rough draft based off of these criteria and the examples of Kandinsky's work and well as the teacher example.    

I need to approve their rough draft, and I give them the final draft paper. They then draw their design and outline it all in sharpie.  Before they are allowed to paint, I pair them up and have them expansible the techniques to their partner from their practice paper.  This is a great way to review, and I have to do little talking, which means they will probably listen and learn better.  We all know when the teacher talks it can turn into "Wa wa wa wa".  

Students then paint their final draft.  They are encouraged to work on the painting over multiple class periods, so they can layer the colors without bleeding of the color.  Towards the end of the project, I review the rubric with them, so they can adjust to get the best grade possible.  The final step is a peer critique.  To allow them to look at other's artwork, but in a fairly nonthreatening way.  They write an "Oreo" review - one good thing, one critique,another good thing.  This gives the artist feedback and allows the critic a chance to constructively look at art and write about it.

All in all, it is a fairly successful project and it is just shapes, color and line.  And it shows the beginning art kids, that art is not scary and can be fun.

One week down...

So, it is happening, school year 2014/2015 is on its way.  And so far it has not been too bad.  I have fully embarked on my mission to get my classes technology filled.  I have introduced and signed up more than 1/2 of my students to Edmodo.  I have assignments posted for each class and I even have some turned in.  I can see, they are going to need more training in the subject.  But, we are baby stepping our way into the wild world of technology.

We have not made a lot of art, yet.  Just doing the introductory stuff.  I had my beginning classes make tab books for the elements of art.  My digital class made a PowerPoint for the elements of art and my advanced class is making a PowerPoint for the principles of design.  The real art making will probably start to happen next week...I hope.

Welcome Back to School!

Bring on the Technology!

Every year I seem to find myself with a focus for the school term.  Last year I was obsessed with organizing my classroom and making routines habit, for myself and my students.  I am pleased to report that the goal was fairly successful.  I shared my goal with the students at the beginning of the year.  And every time I did something new or changed something, I would tell them, "This is all a part of my goal of being more organized."  It eventually got to the point where the students commented to me, "Oh, this is part of your organization goal, isn't it."  (Nothing wrong with transparency.)

This year my goal is to integrate more technology.  It started with my request to teach an art class using computers, was granted.  So, not I have to figure out how to conduct a class exclusively on a computer.  All our art will be computer based.  The hitch, my district does not own a licensing agreement to utilize Adobe Suite or even Photoshop.  So, I am being resourceful!  Step one is just using what we have, learning how to use PowerPoint to present information and using Paint to create images.  I will eventually phase in online programs like Prezi and Pixlr.  So, the students will get a taste of more sophisticated  media.   

My next hiccup is how to keep the vast majority of the work "paperless."  I want to have reflections, discussion boards and assignment turn ins all online.  In comes the world of Edmodo!  I originally wanted the students to use Blogger to do all their "paperless" work online.  But, my district has blocked the site.  So, a colleague suggested Edmodo as a format to do most if not all of this.  So, I am going to try to get my computer class, as well as my traditional classes logged on to Edmodo.  I figure I can have students contribute to discussion boards and maybe do some writing assignments online. 

So, the technology goal is to have one class almost entirely online and paperless and my other "traditional" art classes utilizing technology several times a month, if not weekly.  Time will tell how my grand plans turn out. 

AAAHHHHH!!!!! Summer is SO over

This is my inner nerd really shinning through!

I am very much in the tick of it, and we have not even seen the students yet.  I have definitely piled my plate very high and deep this year. 

I decided, in order to keep all of my doors open, I would get another master's degree in educational leadership.  So, if that perfect job (that I see in my head) ever opens up, I will be ready.  But, I am taking an accelerated course, I will be done in 1 year.  So, that means WORK!  It is very fast paced and has a lot of moving parts.  I really have to be on my game this year.

In addition, I am going from teaching my humble beginning art class 5 times a day, to teaching 3 different art classes.  (one of which I have never taught before!)  I am still teaching 3 sections of my beloved beginning art.  But, the advanced art is back along with its new friend the digital art class.  I have been asking to teach this class for years, mostly because we have 2 labs on campus that are never used and HELLO it is the digital age.  Kids are craving this stuff. 

So, her I am with my college load and now these 3 classes.  I really want to keep my digital class as paperless and digital as I can.  So, I am hoping to be able to get my students to create their own blogs to post work and reflections about the process and the work, its self.  As well as comment on each others' work.  I too will be blogging about the process of my crazy life. 

Please stay tuned.....more drama to come :)

Here is my school web page (another work in progress):http://kolb-rialto-ca.schoolloop.com/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1375020053314&no_controls=t