CHRISTMAS BREAK!!!!!!

Hey all my bloggie friends out there!! I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas season & New Years!!!! I'm looking forward to the time with my wife & baby girl! Also going to start working on my sketches for my LAST semester of grad school!!!!!! Blessing to you all.

Winter Bulletin Board

I had my students create winter collage animals & snowmen

for the main hall's bulletin board. It is just a whole bunch of fun!

Snowy Watercolor Pictures

I had my 1st grade students use crayons as a resist. They then did a watercolor wash over top of the crayon & used salt to create texture in their paint. This allowed me to hit several standards & go over material usage.

Circle Weavings

I was excited by the pattern work my students put into the background of their weavings! I had them use the same colors that were in their yarn. I think they turned out BEAUTIFUL!

CREATIVITY FOR KIDS ....just add imagination!

I'm always looking for products, websites, activities to recommend to parents & students. I came across this site, and thought I'd pass it along. Now, it is kind of art in a box/canned art....HOWEVER....this might take the fear out of some parents having a craft time with their children!!! Some of the products look like a lot of fun too!!!

http://www.creativityforkids.com/products/catalog.aspx?q=topsellers

The parent company I've heard of..and have used some of their products.

CHECK THEM OUT!

http://www.fabercastell.com/14801/Products/Playing-and-Learning/index_ebene2.aspx

PATTERNS!!!

Kindergarten Tackles Texture

I had the students start by drawing a grid on their paper(This can be a

challenge with Kinderbabies!! ha ha). They then used texture plates under

their paper to create these crayon rubbings.

Students created texture medallions in clay.

They will be turned into necklaces once fired. Students created texture in the grassy area of their pictures by fringing the edges of their paper with scissors. This was one of the first times we used scissors and glue in class. They did an amazing job!!

Weaving: 3rd & 4th Grade

It's that wonderful time of the year again...WEAVING!!!! My 3rd graders have always done their circle weavings in the fall. My 4th graders usually do their tapestry weavings toward the

end of the school year(it helps them focus when they are all crazy with spring). However, this

year I moved it to come after my 4th graders social studies unit on TN Native Americans.

I like the idea of having that connection for my students, but not sure I like doing

the project at this time of the year.

Ends & Outs of Circle Weaving

Here is the "formula" you use for circle weaving for warping your loom. If any of you have questions concerning the lesson, please feel free to ask.

Crayola Christmas Gifts

Now that I have a baby, I've been looking at all the things Crayola has to offers little learners. They have several toys that I think will make great Christmas gifts for the baby in your life! This one is my favorite.

"The Crayola Beginnings Rainbow Tower develops and delights! This wonderful, light-up play station teaches baby to recognize colors with lights and music. The stacking and nesting activities help to develop a child’s size perception and hand-eye coordination. Special TaDoodles characters light up when placed on the base. They also combine to make new colors when one is placed inside the other."

Check out this and other gift ideas at:

http://www.crayola.com/products/list.cfm?categories=BEGINNINGS,BEGINNINGS%20BABY

PS.....I bought this for my baby girl!!! I can't wait to play with it...um...I mean....I can't wait for her to play with it on Christmas day!!!

A Newly Found Warhol Up for Auction!

Hopefully this link will be up for a little while! I have always found Warhol an interesting fellow!! SIDE NOTE: If you have not seen the "Dropping In On..." series DVD of Warhol, it is worth your time. My friends and I love it!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091030/ap_en_ce/us_hidden_warhol

Yarn Boxes

Sales on Art Supplies

In Nashville,TN....we have a wonderful selection of art, arts & crafts, school supply stores. Michaels, Jo-Ann's, and Hobby Lobby are the national chains that I frequent most for my personal art supply needs. Once and awhile I'll pick up things for my classroom, but that is usually taken care of through district approved catalogs. These stores are also where I"ll point my students to pick up art supplies. However, I always tell them...WAIT FOR THE SALES!! Jo-Ann's and Hobby Lobby always half 30%, 40%, and 50% sales on different iteams every week!! They also have amazing coupons!!!!!! You can sign up for those in the store, or check out their online site and print off coupons! If you do not have one of these stores near you...I think you can online order!! Check it out!!

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/home

http://www.joann.com/joann/

http://www.hobbylobby.com/

Fall Break....a week up north (nature as art..ha ha)

FALL BREAK IS A GIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fall is my fav. time of the year, and this year MNPS has a week off for fall break. My wife, baby girl, and I are up in PA right now enjoying time with family & friends! It's a bit chilly, but the colors are beautiful up here!! I'm finding much inspiration for my work!!!!!

1st-3rd Group Landscape In Progress: PART 4 FINISHED!!!

1st-3rd Group Landscape In Progress PART 3

1st-3rd Group Landscape In Progress PART 2

1st-3rd Group Landscape In Progress

Tempera Paint Sea Creatures

I use to be very anti-tempera paint. I was trained in watercolor in college, and you know how you gravitate toward what you know. Over the past few years, I've grown to enjoy it more and more. I have develope easier ways of managing it in passing out supplies & cleaning them up. Plus, the results of tempera are undeniable. The colors are so rich! The kids love working with them also. This lesson was one of my fav. The students came up with such wonderful images, and their craftsmanship was pretty good as well.

..A Proud Papa Moment..

My sweet baby girl is 7 months old! She's such a joy!!!