Put a Cap on It

I love the pump lids that come with many gallon paints, but good GOSH I can't stand how much they clog... I even stopped using the pumps for a year because I was so tired of sticking a paper clip in there. Alas, I also did not enjoy tipping the gallon over to poor into my smaller paint bottles. 

Smaller paint bottle

I always wondered why someone could not come up with a stopper for the paint like they have for the Elmers glue pumps... Maybe they have, I just haven't found them yet. I don't spend my days googling paint pump stoppers. 

One day it finally hit me. I needed something I could mold to the pump to stay and fit perfectly...

MODEL MAGIC! Why had I not thought of this before? I just rolled a ball and stuck it on there and it fit like a glove.

This little cap comes off easily and is a perfect fit.

I've used it for a month now and no clogs! Thanks Crayola!! 

Art Room Portfolio Organization

I wish I had those flat file drawers or horizonal shelves, but I don't. Here's how I deal with portfolios.

My school is on an A - E day schedule. The first full day of the school year will be A day and we will continue from there. I love it because it ensures that no class will fall behind.

First, I divide my classes by A - E days with heavy cardboard pieces that are taller then the portfolios. It's much easier for me to sort by day then by grade.

"How do all the student portfolios fit in one tub?" They don't, by the end of the year I will need 4-5 tubs. 

 Next, each class is separated by a clip labeled with the class code. 

 As you can see all classes are in order by the schedule and not grade. Another easy way to grab and go or put away.

 Finally, every class has it's own "Master Portfolio" where I put all finished/graded work. Behind the master portfolio will be the student portfolios followed by class table folders that hold continuing projects. 

You may be wondering where the student portfolios are. I don't pass them out until our first "Ketchup Day". I believe that it is more beneficial to introduce the portfolio on the day you will actually utilize it. I usually have ketchup day after every third project. 

Inspiration
http://media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/originals/4b/e4/bf/4be4bf5ef402eae261b54ab551d69663.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30897033@N04/4935276534/in/set-72157624826174412

Back to School... for ME

 Week one of grad school down!
I have been meaning to do this for years and it just never seemed like good timing and I couldn't decide on the best course. The field of education in Tennessee is crazy right now with new evaluations and student assessments. I will not go into that here. In spite of it all, I love my job and the field I have chosen and I will ride the wave and do my best for me and my students.  I feel like the arts are being pushed to the curb and not being viewed as a necessity. It is a fear of mine that years in the future art could be in jeperdy. I'm a prepared person and I've always had a plan B. I could pursue a masters in Art Education, but I have to think what will be the most beneficial for myself. 

I'm pursuing a masters in curriculum and instruction with a K-6th teaching endorsement. Once my degree is complete I will receive a pay increase, but what is most important to me is that I will have better job security. A masters in Art ed will not save me if they decide my school no longer needs art. If, IF, the arts were to ever go by the wayside, I would be able to teach in the regular ed classroom.
I have always enjoyed learning about the regular ed classroom. While many art teachers grumble and groan about extra duties such as assisting in the regular ed room, I enjoy it, and I understand why we need to help them. I'm very pleased that my principal has not shortened any of the specialists classes to make this happen and I still have my planning time. Assisting in these classrooms has opened my eyes to new teaching strategies, behavior management, and a better understanding of our regular ed counter parts. It has also shown the regular ed teachers that, HEY, these specialists really are teachers and we should support them too! I no longer feel like I am on my own floating island at my school. I can honestly say that I have all the regular ed teachers full support of me and our arts program. 
Yes, the arts are important! We need art in education. But we are educators first. A well rounded education is the most important thing, and now I'm doing that for myself.  

 My inspirations.

Last Minute Changes

I just had to share my last minute change to my "Free Choice" center. 

(Read more about it here)

This treasure of a book cart was just sitting in our work room with a "who wants it" paper on it. So I snatched it.

I used to have my free choice center in my shelves along the wall. That was okay cause I didn't have room for it anywhere else. But that area was always getting congested. I ditched my rolling easel and brought in this baby. I've used it only one day and have had no traffic jams. 

 The front is perfect for my drawing books. Finally they wont be falling over!

 Right side. Easy access to materials.

Left side. I love how students can access three sides at once so they don't have much temptation to push and shove at clean up. 

A Blue Dog Art Room

I love the art work of George Rodrigue. Especially his Blue Dog. I have taught this Blue Dog lesson every year. It is always a huge success with students. 

This year I decided to make Blue Dog my theme. 

Blue letters for my "I Can" standards

Purple dog looking over our art word wall.

Orange dog reminding students to clean their paint brushes.

Red dog showing students who the helpers are for the day. 

Yellow dog reminding students to write their name, table, and code. 

If you're wondering why I have so many different color "Blue Dogs" then you should read this:

Here are some other sites around the room.

I love our "closets" but was tired of seeing the "stuff". I like the effect of the sheer fabric. Curtains $5 at Big Lots held up with simple $5 tension rods. 

My buckets got pretty rusty. I love these baskets also from Big Lots. 2 for $1.20

3, 2, 1 whole class points rewards.