Wednesday Project #1

This year we have our PLC meetings on Wednesdays.  That means I get to see every 6th graders for a "bonus" quarter on these short days.  This is much better than last year when I saw random kids for a quarter. 

For our first "bonus" class meeting we were lucky enough to have two days back to back (I am seeing my Thursday classes this quarter) since I had covered the "get to know" you stuff the week before.  So we decided to enjoy the beautiful weather and head outside.  We started by looking at the artwork of Julian Beever, the Sidewalk Picasso.  I assigned each group an artist and artwork and we headed outside and got to work creating.  It was a lot of fun to see them work together (and it was great that Walgreen's had a clearance sale on chalk because they used a lot of it).  Check out our Monet's, VanGogh's and Dine's... 

We were hoping they would last through the weekend but a surprise rain shower on Thursday night finished them off.  At least the kids had a great time making them...

Schools Days...

Well we are up and running...

I love this time of year for so many reasons.  The weather is getting much nicer, my life is getting back to a routine and all my school kiddos are super excited to be here. The things I don't like include the non-stop talking I have to do and not being able to snack all day :).

These first days are always filled with "how-to's" and "get to know yous".  I always cover a who I am, how the artroom works and what my expectations are with an powerpoint.  I share with the kids that for listening to me now, they will get to work on artwork next week.  It pays off big time to be thorough in my expectations from the start. 

Summer Break

School starts next week... already? Like always summer goes really fast.  As teachers the "end" of summer is bittersweet.  I will miss the time I have to spend with my three kiddo's but I am also excited about heading back to school and meeting all my new kiddo's. 

Here are my "at home" kiddo's...

 

This summer we caught some caterpillars

and are waiting for them to come out of their chrysalis.  It has been so much fun.  I am thinking it is fitting as this time of year fills my stomach with "butterflies."



I can't wait to meet my 300ish new 5th graders and to see the returning 300ish 6th graders.  The classroom is slowly coming together.  This year they stripped my floor and so it has taken longer than usual for me to get back at it.  I have spent the last few days laying out my plan for this year.  I started a storage system for all my ideas and I am thinking it will be a good thing. 

In the past I have tabbed pages of my magazines and printed off websites.  This year I am tearing the pages out of the magazines and writing on them with sticky notes.  Then I am filing them my subject/concept.  Hopefully I won't loose them and will be able to find them quickly when I need them.  :)