Mexican Yarn Paintings

After completing circle weavings with third grade and loom weavings with fourth grade, I was left with all kinds of scraps of yarn. I remembered a friend of mine showing me her students yarn paintings that she did with kindergarten that were so cute! So I did some online research, came up with an introduction to the lesson, and taught this activity with all grades. All the students enjoyed doing this and they came with some really creative results. Check out more on our Artsonia page!

Check out this link for more information on this lesson plan!
http://www.dickblick.com/multicultural/huichol/ 

Shwab-bee Art Show!

May 12th many momma's, dads, and students come to back to school to view the student Shwab Art Show. It was a huge success and the students loved every minute of their time in the beautiful halls! I found that the best way to hang work was to place a strip of tape on the back of the artwork, then hot gluing over the tape and pressing it against the wall. It stays on the walls the best, is easily removable, and does not harm the artwork. I was a proud art momma that night and the show was up for a week. Next year I'm hoping to plan on an earlier date so I can leave the work up longer :)

Cover Girl! Of a Teachers Magazine!

So the secretary from the King's Daughers' School (my first teaching job,) texted me today that I was on the cover of SEEN magazine. I thought it was a joke, but knew she wasn't the type of kid around like that. I responded, huh? South Eastern Education Network Magazine! Didn't even know it existed until I found out that I am currently on the cover! It isn't the most flattering photo ever, but I do really cherish it, since I do after all still have a copy of it hanging in my current classroom. In the magazine there is an article about making residential schools feel like home, and wrote about KDS.  Here is the link!


http://seenmagazine.us/articles/current-issue/issue-13-1-2011-spring.aspx

NAEA Seattle and the Chihuly Boathouse Studio!

Some teachers go to Florida on spring break, seeking out warm weather, beaches, and relaxation. Next year the NAEA convention won't overlap with my spring break so perhaps I will have the chance to do the same... For this year though, I packed my bags, plus an extra empty one for supplies, and headed to Seattle Washington!
I have been here since Tuesday, saw the market, and several of the sites. Even had lunch at the space needle on Wednesday! Yesterday I had the incredible opportunity to visit Dale Chihuly's boathouse studio here in Seattle, and it was even more awesome than I imagined!
I watched gaffers' blow glass, got to gawk at Chihuly's many extensive collections of all kinds of things, and awe over his amazing glass creations. Below are just a few photos of what I was able to experience!

Indoor pool, with clear glass bottom- housing his sculptures in the bottom!

Eric Carle Paintings AND Collages!

So in honor of the great Eric Carle and his wonderful children's illustrations, I introduced his art making process to the 1st and 2nd grade students through the movie "Picture Writer." The 1st graders just completed an assignment where we made drawings of planets, so it made since to connect them with the book "Draw me a Star." I also was inspired by Deep Space Sparkle's Carle butterflies. Check out what they have been up too!

We started off painting papers just like Carle would, only rather than working with tissue paper we used drawing paper.

Students collaged butterflies on drawing paper, then cut and pasted those butterflies onto a piece of colored construction paper. 

Those working on star collages, first used oil pastels for the background, then cut out their stars.