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!

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!

Happy Leap Day! This is my 6th leap year (I was born in a leap year after 2/29, so that may mislead you about my age... but so be it...lol).

I have been given a somewhat unique opportunity, and I am hoping to hear from people who have experience in this area.
Let me start off by telling you a little about the school where I teach. There are about 145 students in grades K-8, one class per grade level. After 8th grade, the kids can choose between two area high schools. It is very rural, located between a town of 10,000 and a town of 2,500. Middle school is departmentalized. Currently, I am the art teacher, speech implementer, and special education teacher. Almost every teacher has more than one role... I just so happen to have 3. But not to worry! I only have 19 speech kids, 4 special ed kids, and 110 art kids. It's not as bad as it initially sounds.

Anyway-- Next year I will have much more time to teach art (my favorite part of my job, and my passion!) and my superintendent asked if I want to teach a class based around creating the yearbook. The only thing is that our yearbook program is super simple, and since our yearbook is free to students, it's very simple and doesn't include a lot of extra stuff. Right now our school secretary organizes it and it takes her a couple days at most. So how can I base and entire year of class on that?

Here's what I proposed:
Yearbook, digital art, and desktop publishing, all rolled into one neat little one-day-a-week elective.
My superintendent thought it was a good idea, so now I have to develop a curriculum outline for it!
I have around 36 classes per year with a weekly class. It's actually less, depending on the time and day it's scheduled, assemblies and early-outs cut out classes.
Here's what I have in mind, and again... please make suggestions!
36 classes total for the school year=
2 classes must be dedicated to teaching appropriate behaviors, per school regulations
4 classes missed for assemblies and early outs (approximate, probably actually a low guess)
2 classes for beginning-of-year yearbook planning- events, photo ops, etc.
2 classes for photography basics- use of digital cameras, vocab, framing shots, etc.
5 classes for end-of-year yearbook organization & design
3 classes for photo-manipulation instruction and practice with various programs
6 classes for desktop publishing
10 classes for computer generated art
2 classes "free" for catch-up/unexpected class cancellation

This is my thought process as far as a timeline goes, but the more specific details I need some help with. Did I mention I am open to suggestions? Lol!
It'll be exciting to build goals and a curriculum from the ground up, I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew! *nom nom nom*