E.O.C. Survivor

 For 5 days last week, my students entered my art room, sat down and took End Of Course exams with me, for the first time, EVER. Having known about this since the beginning of the school year, it did not keep me from getting nightmares the night before.

 

 There were many reasons for my stress concerning my students taking these tests.  First of all, they would be on computers. Would they crash? Would I know what to do if I couldn't load the test? Could the little ones manipulate the mouse pad?  Testing included kindergarten through 5th grade. What questions would be on the test?    
AM I A GOOD TEACHER?? 
DID I TEACH TO THE STANDARDS? WILL MY STUDENTS BE SUCCESSFUL?

It's obvious that teacher's feelings/opinions don't count AND there will ALWAYS be testing. Yes, I understand that we need to know that students are learning what we teach them. However, art is performance based and THAT knowledge should be accessed during the performance of their art work. AND let's remember that some of these students are really too young to get accurate results.

 Anyway, I was actually required to read the test questions to k, 1st and 2nd grade. Also, read the test to a few 3rd and 4th graders who had accommodations. I did not write the test. My understanding is there was a committee of teachers in the district that were involved in writing the test. Really not sure..... I had also heard that the state (Florida) developed a bank of questions that districts could choose from to put an exam together. I have no clue.

I had to also sign an agreement to not discuss the contents of the test, so I won't. Photos taken for this blog were taken between test sessions. No violation there!

So......... Fifth graders were the first ones in the room to take the test. They were given 30 minutes, they were all finished in 20. Yikes?? Pretty much the same with the fourth graders.

After planning and lunch  came second, first and  then kindergarten-they needed help logging in, and manipulating the mouse. It was so cute to see them scrolling with two fingers-like directed-however not both on the same hand? Which leaves us with the question: how much of the allotted test time was spent teaching students how to take the test?

Questions were read to them over and OVER, as I walked around the room. The biggest problem was if they didn't scroll up and down and went side to side they would be on another screen and need to be entered back into the test. Some of the little ones didn't really understand what to do and were confused by the whole thing. Can't wait to see those results!

Thank goodness I had help during testing.  A BIG thank you to Jen and Lisa, without the two of you to help I would still be logging students in! Last in were the third graders who seemed to be handling it well enough.

Not sure if this is in violation or not, but, the test seemed to be appropriate across the grades levels. Most of the questions covered what I had been teaching throughout the year.....I can breathe now...

I want to debate the fairness, I want to vent over losing precious art time to test my students last week, but all of that is pointless since it doesn't change anything AND I want my blog to be upbeat and positive!!

Sooo I asked my son, who has returned to school to be a graphic designer, to design a shirt. I seriously want to make one of these to sell. The debate is which one would teachers prefer to wear- the one on the left or the one on the right. Obviously I like the one on the left, that is why it is on the top of my blog!

So, if you wouldn't mind voting I would really appreciate it. Also, would love to know if there is anyone interested in buying a shirt like this. I would get them made and sell them, hopefully for under $20. Just a thought!!!

Thanks for reading, sorry that I was short on photos and long on words, I just needed to get it all out there! By the way-do let me know how your E.O.C.'s are going!

Collage Not Mirage

Having lots and LOTS of scrap paper in a box that I have been collecting for the last two years-I figured it was time to do collages with my kindergarten and 1st graders. Seriously, I need to use this stuff up before moving back to my newly renovated school.

My EQ: "What is a collage?" Answer from one of my 1st graders: "It's where when you're in the desert you see things that aren't there."

Fortunately this was one of those days where I made the connection to what he was saying and clarified that we were not talking about the same thing. And that he was thinking of a mirage.  I went on to explain to my students what a collage was. Then I gave them a blurb about the book I was going to read them. Beautiful Oops is a wonderful book as the author uses paper to create art that others would reject as being too dirty, ripped or bent.

After reading the book, which by the way, the students LOVED! I demonstrated different ways to manipulate paper. We can CUT paper, RIP paper, FOLD, CRUMBLE, and FRINGE paper. I showed students how they can use these different techniques to create art. They could make whatever they wanted, but, I did show them my samples of a park and a vase with flowers to help inspire them.

Students went to their seats and started to create some of the most incredible art! They were also allowed to visit other tables to get different colors for their projects.

 

 

As students showed me their finished work I asked them to name it. Give it a title. Some of the names chosen were: Masterpiece, Cool, Pretty Flowers, some were named for the artist and some received the name of the local park.

 

       

 

 
Students couldn't stop talking about what was going on in their art. I suggested to the classroom teachers that their students would enjoy writing about their art. They could do a description or step by step instructions. A great way to integrate writing with art!

Do you have your students write about their art? Do they do artist statements?

Thanks for reading!

Just Gotta Share!

Just gotta share how phenomenal the latest and greatest projects that I've done with my students have turned out!  For Mother's Day MY 3rd and 4th graders have been making these beautiful paper bouquets! Directions here!

 

MY 2nd graders have totally rocked their recycled CLOWNS! Directions here.

 

 

And let's NOT forget about this year's bobble heads! Directions here.

   

 

 

 These were done with my 3rd and 4th graders.

5th graders are still working on their masks, will share photos of that soon. If you happened to have missed that blog post you can find it here!

Kindergarten and 1st are also doing some pretty exciting art! Will share that in the NEAR future!

Creating ART with elementary children is the best way to spend MY day!!!

Thanks for reading!

A Paper Bouquet for Mother's Day

 

While subbing in art rooms during the early 1990's, I would take notes on the different art lessons that teachers did with their students. Not get into files or anything like that, mostly snoop through art books or look on shelves at what they were doing. That's how I came across this really great Mother's Day project. And I must say one of my favorite lessons! Materials list: Two 9"x12" pieces of green construction paper (also works well with 2 different shades of green paper), assorted scraps of colored paper, glue-your choice liquid or stick, stapler, scissors, yarn or ribbon, ruler and pencil.

 To get started fold both sheets of green paper together the long way (hotdog style). Line the side of the ruler up with the open edges of the paper and draw a line down the other side of the ruler. This will be referred to as the STOP line! You can have students draw this line with a RED crayon.

 

 Then with the 2 pieces of paper still together have students cut up from the folded edge to the STOP line. I instruct students to measure about 2 fingers wide for each cut or stem. You don't want these too skinny or too fat.  It seriously takes to long to have students measure it out and then cut.

 

 When that's done have students separate the 2 papers.

  

This next step is a little tricky, however, don't stress over it. Each of the green papers need to be glued. The trick is to glue with the edges about an inch apart. See photo. Using a glue stick is neater. Or tell students they need to hold it down, after gluing it for a count of 50.......

 

The next step is to take one of the folded papers, roll it to create a cylinder then staple it together. To get the stems to open out like the photo, roll with the glued edges towards the inside.

 

 Then wrap the second folded paper around the first, adjust to balance out the stems and staple.

   

 Now you have a bouquet of stems....time to make the flowers!!

 

 You can either cut out 2"squares of assorted construction paper for your students, or put out all the scraps of colored paper you have been saving this year! I demonstrate for students how to draw different flowers and how to cut out multiples. I also instruct them to use the scraps for the center of the flowers. Students like to add bees, butterflies and hearts. They can also make a little card to attach like you get from a floral shop.

 

Yarn or ribbon can be tied around the bottom of the flowers to finish the bouquet. 

There you have it! Something quick and simple for Mother's Day. Let me know if you try it!

I can't believe it BUT this is my 50th post! And, I have had over 8560 page views!

So seriously-  Thanks for reading!