Hello all! It is bittersweet for me to announce that the 2016-2017 school year was my last year teaching art. I definitely can't say it's my last EVER, because I just love art education too much! It was my original plan to start my own business, a community art studio (kind of like wine and paint places, but more family-friendly). But as you all know, sometimes life gets in the way of our plans. My grandmother passed away, my school flooded and the school year was abruptly cut short, and I was thrown smack-dab in to not having a job! I didn't get to say goodbye to my students, some of whom I'd been teaching for 8 years. (Luckily, I live in the general area of the school and get to occasionally run into them in the store!) Long story short, I fell into depression and many of my days were spent in bed, just because I couldn't muster up the energy to do anything else. Finally I perked up and began the search for my art studio space.
     Again, no luck. I had a very specific idea of what I wanted my business to look like, and I just wasn't finding a suitable place here in my small town that was affordable enough for a starter business person. Just as I was thinking that I'd better give it up and start applying at schools, I found VIPKID!
     VIPKID, if  you have never heard of it, is a company that contracts with teachers to teach one-on-one to Chinese students in an online, English-immersion class via video conference that resembles Skype, but with an area for slides to show for the lesson. The hiring process was a bit exhausting but went quickly, and I am now happily teaching English to sweet little Chinese students every morning! This has given me the opportunity to work from home, have more free time, and make enough money to pay my bills. I couldn't be happier! If you have teaching experience and are interested in finding out more, please click here! I don't think you will regret it! Your degree doesn't have to be in the field of education to apply. I get to set my own hours and days, and YES, I wear my pajama pants while I work. Business on the top, PJ's on the bottom. 😁
     So, that being said, this is the last post I will be making here on my Art Teacher Lady blog until I find myself in the art classroom or studio once again! It's been a pleasure!
     Please join me over on my new website, where I will be sharing posts about online teaching, minimalism, travel (and travel/art journaling), and living a simpler, slower life.

"What are we going to do today?"
Almost every kid knows that that's the one question that sets me off. If you walk in my room for class, I PROMISE that you won't leave without figuring out what we're going to do today. And I really, really, really don't want to tell every single kid, individually, what we're doing as they walk through the door and ask. So, instead I point to the board.

Along the top is a timeline for Visual Arts (my 5th-8th grade elective class), because they tend to ask what project they're doing next.
The main part of the board is dedicated to each class, with an example for each grade level.
3rd grade was starting a new project and I had the example to show the class, in case you were wondering. :)

2nd grade students were given a challenge: Use scrap paper and party streamers to create a portrait, realistic or abstract. Here are the results:

You'll notice I accidentally photographed one of the portraits twice. That particular artwork is a portrayal of the student's grandfather with chickenpox, according to her! Another artist, according to him, created Elvis. I bet you can pick him out!
I really love giving kids an idea and some materials and turning them loose. They're always so creative.

So I kind of came upon this project by accident. I was pouring some plaster into molds of world masks. I had some left over, and seeing how quick-setting plaster of Paris tends to be, and how non-wasteful art teachers tend to be, I decided to see what sort of print would turn out if I set up some plaster in a foam plate that had a design drawn in it.
A quick drawing, the remainder of the liquid plaster, and sure enough... the outline comes out very nicely (I was skeptical seeing how shallow the pen lines are, even at the deepest you can make them without creating a hole in the plate). On the first design, I covered the design with metallic paint and called it done. Mind you, this is probably nothing new to anyone else... but I was pleased with my discovery nonetheless. :D
But wait! Dry plaster scrapes away pretty well with clay tools and even popsicle sticks... so we should scrape away the background and add texture before adding metallic paint, right? Yes. So it's our experimental project in Visual Arts (5-8). Here's the carving with a layer scraped away (without detailed outlining at this point):

 Like I said, I used leftover plaster mix for this so it wasn't very thick, but you can take that into consideration when pouring it, depending on how much contrast you'll want between the positive and negative space. Since mine was pretty thin (and especially thin along the edges), some of the edges broke off.
We are detailing around the subject, and using sand paper to smooth down the scraped away areas, but the texture will still be contrasted against the smooth, untouched area inside of the main subject. The next step is to add in any additional texture, smooth away any extra lines or mistakes, and paint with metallic paint to finish it off. Be looking for posts of finished artworks! I'm so excited to see how all of these turn out.

Kindergartners finished their bugs and added them to their chosen spots on the "Bugtown Boogie" dance floor. This turned out really cute! The kids absolutely loved the book, Bugtown Boogie by Warren Hansen. I love the variety of bugs that kids made- flying bugs, spiders, bees, stink bugs, lady bugs, and bugs that haven't yet been named! They were proud of their class's buggy dance party artwork!

My kindergartners have been working on dancing bugs! We watched a read-aloud on Read to Me Las Vegas and the kids love to sing along... "The Bugtown Boogie..... shaking up the woods tonight!" The book featured a variety of bugs all having a good time at a dance party that was found through a little door at the bottom of a tree in the forest.

Some bugs have wings, some have antennae, some have dots and stripes, some are stinky (see green bug above- that is stink coming from his behind!)

Now we have to place all of our bugs into place on our "Bugtown Boogie" class page which will be displayed at the art show.

My gosh. Has it really been a year? And yet I've been getting a steady stream of followers... so thanks to all of you who have been faithful and interested! Honestly, what brought me back around to my blog here is that I have been working on making a class website (through Google Sites) and I just haven't figured out how to post to it like a blog, rather than deleting previous pics and adding new ones in their place. There's no archives to scroll through, it's just whatever happens to be posted at the moment. Then I thought.... "Hey, I should make a blog instead of this website." And then my brain said, "Well you already have one. Why don't you just keep up with that one rather than making a whole new one?"
And here I am.
So! Let's get right down to it. I've made it through most of the not-super-exciting basic stuff, and we're starting to get juicy in the art room. My Visual Arts kids just finished up their first big-ish project, paper name sculptures! They turned out pretty nice.

We used hot glue to secure them to the cardboard base, then paper slit adjoining to hold the other letters on. The letters are made out of heavy watercolor-ish paper (which my supply company calls tag board, which we know isn't right-tag board is supposed to be like thin cardboard, right?).

4th graders have been working on radial balance and they really made some creative mandalas. There were a couple that especially stood out:

 This kiddo, really... he has a knack for this!^^^^^

Alright, well I'll be going for now (because plan time is over), but I'll be posting soon about my new classroom management methods, which is working out well.
Bye for now!

Actually, I guess it's been longer than a month, we have just 12 school days left of 1st quarter! How the time flies after you've been teaching for a few years. It's funny to notice the changes in yourself as you become more experienced as a teacher... For example, I think we've already done certain things this year, but actually I am getting confused with last year. Or I notice that I remember new names more quickly, but then if I run into a student who moved or graduated, I can't seem to think of their name.
I had the best of intentions to post some of my favorite projects from last year during the summer, but here we are into the next school year and all you've had from me are broken promises.
"Well I'm sick of this!" you say.
I'm going to try my best to post some more student projects soon. I've been using lots of ideas from Pinterest and I'll be reviewing them, along with what standards I tied them to.
I've been putting most of my effort into trying to start up my own art business, selling prints and cards. So far my little business is in the very early stages with mostly ideas, but I'll be sure to post when I get things going! If you'd like to follow me and my art journaling and mixed media ventures, please see these links!
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This lesson started out as abstract portraits, gathering up facial features from a variety of magazine sources to combine into something especially crazy looking. Here was my example:

Some kids stuck with this, but after I turned them loose they began adding a little more... and a little more... until some of them had created some good examples of surrealism. I guess it turned into a teachable moment on surrealism, and it was time to whip out the Dali artwork. :)
Here is some of their work:

I was a lucky ducky this year and got to spend a day observing the Missouri Art Teacher of the Year. She was so much fun to watch, her lessons were great and her relationships with the kids were awesome. But the single most helpful thing I took from that day was her classroom management system for behavior. I immediately tried it out in my classroom (that was in October) and it stuck, and has worked all year for grades K-8.
Here's the overview:

Each table has a number, which is a team. When the team is following procedures (comes in quietly, looks at the teacher when I ask for their attention, cleans up in a quick and orderly way, etc.) they earn a star. At each of these times, all tables have a chance to earn a star. I give "bonus stars" when certain tables are following directions when perhaps the others are not. That is a bonus for resisting peer pressure! Lol! I also give bonus stars to tables who are working at an appropriate voice level while working at certain checkpoint times, and to tables who went above and beyond when cleaning up (for instance, picked up all of the little paper pieces under the table left by the prior class).
As you may have suspected, teams can lose stars as well. Star loss is caused by the team arguing, being disruptively loud, not cleaning up when it's clean up time, etc. There is a lot of pressure from the other members of your table if you are to blame for losing a star! I do give one verbal warning before a star is lost. On that note, I put more focus on GIVING stars for positives rather than removing stars for negatives. Example: "I like how tables 2 and 3 are all sitting in their seat working quietly, they have both earned stars." If the other tables happened to be especially obnoxious, I would give them a warning at this time too.
So, what happens if your table has the most stars? At the end of class, right before lining up, we have the ceremonial counting of the stars. The table with the most stars gets to pick out of my prize tub (picture below) and the runner up gets to line up first, followed by whichever tables came in 3rd and 4th.

With all of these classes, how do you afford to keep a prize tub stocked? If you're like me and have zero budget for these things, then you have to get creative. It's important to remember that kids are easily impressed with things that you and I take for granted. Like pieces of scrapbook paper that they can use as a bookmark or incorporate into their artwork. Here's a list of things that have appeared in my prize tub this year:

• colored or spiral paperclips
• pieces of scrapbook paper
• free-draw paper
• foam stickers
• die cuts (like you can find at Dollar Tree for a pack of 25/$1)
• sticker sheets, cut into many pieces to make about 3-4 stickers per piece
• bookmarks (25 for $1 at Dollar Tree)
• ANYTHING that you find in your desk that you think any of the kids might like... it'll surprise you.

For the older kids, I give them an option to get a "Free Time Ticket" which can be collected and a certain number traded in for a free class period.
Also this year, I gave the kids a chance to exchange their prize for an entry into the drawing for the big paper mache dinosaur that I made during Dino Month. It was a hit! I also had runner-up prizes (rolls of ribbons and supplies that we no longer needed).
Next year I'm doing an all-year drawing for a model car that I have used for still-life drawing in past years. They're really excited!

Ok... embarrassing story...

I forgot my blogger password! LOL! I'm such a scatterbrain. But lo and behold, I was messing around with my google accounts (there are many... how did that happen?) and it let me back into Blogger! Gosh I've missed reading everyone's blogs. I know I've lost a lot of followers because of my year-long disappearance from posting, but I'm going to make up for it by posting over the summer. I'd like to do a review of this school year and some of the best projects that my students created.
I'm also launching a new blog that is focused mainly on my art journaling and mixed media stuff. More to come! Until then, feel free to check out my current Tumblr page called In.Spir.Ed.
So let me do a little catching up... lots of things have changed this year! First off, the biggest news is that I got married. It has been a bit of a challenge to adjust (for everyone), especially after nearly 8 years of single-ness. But he is really super-fantastical and I love him more than I can express, he's really just the perfect match for me. Wedding pics to come in the near future!
As far as school, this year has been very rewarding and challenging at the same time. Changing my name in the middle of the year has been interesting! I'm trying not to answer to "Ms. Scott" anymore, which is difficult since that has been my name for quite some time. But kids and staff are getting better about remembering, slowly but surely. I've had to develop a complete curriculum for art this year. That has been an internal struggle for me, because I disagree with making such a concrete thing for such an abstract subject. But in the end, looking back at it, I think I made it general enough that I can change things up within each unit and not be tied down to the same projects every year for each unit (really... can you imagine!?).  For all of my art teacher readers, I'd LOVE to know what your district's curriculum looks like for art. Please respond!
Let's see... well I've been taking lots of online art classes-- mostly mixed media and art journaling. I'd like to incorporate more journaling into my art elective class at school too. Right now I'm taking 21 Secrets, Lifebook 2013, and I <3 Drawing with Jane Davenport. They are all fabulous and all quite different. I am excited for summer (6 more days of school... eeek!) so I can devote more time to these courses.  I'm also working on an art certificate from Penn Foster after dumping my boring and complicated Educational Administration program. I'm 150% happier since doing so!
Well I'll run for now, I look forward to getting back in touch with everyone and posting, reading, and having a good 'ole Blogger time. Toodles!

*Sigh*
School has been out for 3 weeks now, and I'd love to say that it's been relaxing, but in many ways it has been just the opposite! I am taking a trip to Chicago next week, so hopefully that will give me a chance to wind down and sort through my mind. Remember that class that I am creating for next year, the one that's a combination of art/yearbook/photography? I haven't started the curriculum for that yet. I need to get my rear in gear! I have been scouting Pinterest for ideas, of course. My brain has just been too preoccupied with other stuff to focus on school. Maybe about... mid-July I'll get motivated. Lol! Summer. Gotta love the brain-shutdown!

Gosh, I'm so proud of my kids. Their selections are now displayed and ready for tomorrow's art show. Everything looks great! It's wonderful to see everything come together, and it's especially great to see kids stopping in the hall and gym to admire their work and their classmates' art!

5th/6th Grade Scratch Art

4th Grade

5th/6th Grade Landscape Paintings

3rd Grade Cityscapes

4th Grade Picasso-Inspired Computer-Generated Art

For some reason I didn't get all of my emailed pictures to come up, so I will post pictures from K-1st-2nd soon.

Metal tree outside of Crystal Bridges

My daughter and I took a day trip to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. It's only about 40 minutes from our house, but I'd recommend taking a trip to check it out if you're within any reasonable driving distance, of if you happen to be passing through the area.
I hadn't heard of it before since I haven't lived in the SW Missouri area for very long and have been spending so much time working and going to school. I looked at the website and decided to go exploring the museum, and I must say, the pictures on the website just doesn't do it justice. The architecture is absolutely stunning, the surroundings are some of the most beautiful in the area. I will be going back as often as I can to just take in the surroundings and walk the trails. I can quite honestly say that this is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.
Unfortunately,  my phone (which I was using as a camera) died early into our visit, so I didn't get nearly as many photos as I would have liked to.

The main entrance is 4 stories up, providing a nice overlook of the entire  museum.

My daughter was pretty impressed by this sculpture...

...it moved all around, never in the same position. I couldn't really tell if it was wind powered or  electric powered.

Eleven, the museum's restaurant, has stunning arched ceilings and glass panel walls overlooking  the water.

These mocha cupcakes were delicious!

This is the drop-in art studio. Sheridan made tissue paper flowers and also painted watercolor flowers.

Here's a peek into the first gallery we went into. The black and white art on the wall was the saddest thing I think I've ever seen. Have you ever been moved to tears by a work of art? I can't remember it's title or artist, but it was depicting the burning of a black orphan asylum in New York. It's one of those things that make me ashamed to be human.

One of the art photos I took before my battery died.

I really wish I could post some pictures of the trails, they were just so beautiful. And I really wish I could take my art classes here on a field trip (admission is free, but there would be bus costs). At least when i go back I can take more photos and take them on a virtual tour!

Over the long weekend my mom was visiting for Easter. I have a big maple tree in my yard, and my mom said she'd like to make a butterfly out of painted maple seed spinners (Okay, so does anyone know what they're actually called? I'll just call them "helicopters."). We thought about all sorts of tiny art you could do with them, but only made a few of the ideas. Here's how they turned out.

We thought of at least a dozen more things we could make, but decided to stop where we were for the day. If nothing else, they can be used as a tiny canvas!