Friday Fun: Aurora

Last Friday I was able to get out on the town and see some art installations out at Aurora in Dallas. Here are some snap shots of the free event!  I really enjoyed just being able to see and experience art, it was a nice break from teaching and creating.

How often do you get out and visit art museums or go to art events in your town? What else do you do to relax?

Planner Prizes!

As an art teacher I am always trying to think of ways that I can support the campus as a whole and not just push art all the time, although thats what I'm good at! I'm hoping to support planners with our school wide expectation that each student use them effectively by offering incentives when I have random planner checks.  So when I do a planner check the students name is entered into a drawing for their class and the winner gets to choose a prize! I purchased all these things from Target on clearance so I didn't really break the bank that badly and all of these items can be used in or with their planner.

What do you do to help your campus? Share below!

Thursday Think Tank: Sketchbook Set Up

Last year being my first year in middle school I had no idea how to use a sketchbook effectively in the classroom. I'm still working on keeping it organized. This year my students are responsible for having their sketchbook everyday and keeping up with assignments inside. 

On the front inside cover I created this spread sheet of rules/guidelines that will help keep the sketchbook clean and the students on top of their homework. No excuses because every homework assignment is listed here for the ENTIRE YEAR!

Want to try this out for yourself? Head on over to my smARTteacher page because I just posted the template for this! Next time I'll show you what the homework page and inspiration page looks like in their sketchbook!

What do your class sketchbooks look like? How do you keep them organized? Share below!

Why teach art?

"I teach to expand my students imaginations."

As teachers we have so many different experiences of the classroom and we all have a story. A story of that one moment when we decide that this is it. This is what I want to do with the rest of my life. I want to be a teacher. Check out my blog post over at the ATPE website to read my story. 

By the way, this blog post was sponsored by ATPE, but the words and opinions are 100% mine.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MY BLOGPOST AT THE ATPE WEBSITE!

Tell me, why do you teach? Share and I'll link your blog!

Monday Mayhem: Sketchbook Cover Collage

This year I really wanted my students to create a collage for their sketchbook cover and I love what they have been designing!  This is perfect for any and all students, helps them to see space, arrange the elements and make changes while also painting a picture of who they are as a person and artist. Here are just a few of those covers, I'll be adding more later!

Sometimes you just have to let your students be themselves, even if it includes them protesting shark finning with their sketchbook cover...

Fashion diva!

Love the quotes!

Pop Art fun!

What assignments at the beginning of the year do you have that really showcase the creativity of your students and give them a voice of their own? Share below and I'll feature you on a Sunday Share blog post!

Thursday Think Tank: Art can...

Behind the scenes with Alex Alkire!

A new school year is upon us, and as educators you and I both know that there are lots of procedures and videos, quizzes and paperwork, that we have to endure before the year even begins! While I was studying art education in college not one of my professors ever mentioned all the "behind the scenes" paperwork that I would be required before we even set foot in the classroom. I just wrote a blog post for the Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) blog, and it includes a list of a few things we need to remember! Check it out!

By the way, this blog post was sponsored by ATPE, but the words and opinions are 100% mine.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT MY BLOG POST AT THE ATPE WEBSITE!

Monday Mayhem: What is Art?

I hope you enjoyed this inspiration from my students. Such profound words coming from the minds of middle school students, I am so amazed and thankful for each and everyone of them.

Have you ever done this activity with your students? What was the result?

Monday Mayhem: New Year Inspiration!

Today I didn't have to be at work, tomorrow we officially report back for professional development, but I came in because I needed some inspiration to jump start me for the year.

I've been in my room a few times before now, but I was feeling very...blah. I had no idea what kind of theme or color scheme I was going to use this year and it was bothering me a lot. So I sat for a while today and then started looking through some of my pinterest finds for bulletin boards and found this wonderful gem of wisdom.

Last year I had one advanced art class. This year I will have two sections of advanced art. I am ecstatic! I really would love for my artists to learn that trying and failure is not failure, but progress and a learning experience. So I really want them to have a hand in their learning by thinking about world issues and figuring out what they think, what they want others to know and then applying that concept with the techniques and tools we have available in the studio. I am hoping that these quotes will help them go to the next level with their artwork.

So my theme this year? Black and White with a side of Packing Paper Brown, that way my students can fill the room with their colorful and thoughtful work!

What do you do to jump start your inspiration for a new year? Do you change themes or have the same one each year? Share and get featured on my blog!

Monday Mayhem: BACK TO SCHOOL!

Well for teachers at least! I've really taken the summer break to heart this year as you can see from my lack of posts, but I have been mulling over a lot of ideas for the new year and I can't wait to get started!

I've already been in my room, just wanted to see what kind of shape it was left in after summer school used our studio space and I was pleasantly surprised that it looked nice and clean.

I went ahead and rearranged my tables and desk trying to find a better layout for this year, but I'll probably move things around all year long. I can't help it! I'm an art teacher! Haha!

What do you do the first time you walk into your room after summer?