Kindergarten Snowmen Make Me Smile

 

For several years now I've seen my Kindergarten students cutting & gluing skills go down.

To many hours on devices....not enough time for such activities in the classroom...there are several reasons for this happening.  I needed to change my expectations & my projects a bit.  By this time, I use to have my kindergarten students creating snowmen with hats scarves..etc.  They were able to give them a bit more "personality". (They do have a little personality in how they cut & placed the pieces.)  Now, I just want to give them opportunity to develop the necessary skills/abilities to create!  There is a ton of time spent on how to hold scissors and cut properly that they use to come to me already able to do.

  That being said...I LOVE KINDERGARTEN!  

I LOVE KINDERGARTEN ART!!

How can you not smile when these young artists create!! 

They bring such joy to everything they do.

REVIEW: Elmer's Purple Liquid Glue

Have you seen this?

I purchased a small bottle for 99 cents so I could try it out.

YEP! IT'S PURPLE!  ha ha  So it delivered on that front.  It was very "wet".  I noticed after the fact that it is "Washable". I'm almost never a fan of "Washable" products.  This seems more watery than regular washable glue.  I'm not sure if how they make it purple causes that or not.  I also noticed that the "feel" of it is different as well. It isn't "tacky" feeling?!?!?! I got some on my figures when I connected the paper together...can't really describe it how it feels other than different.  

It delivered on drying clear as well!  I do feel it warps the paper a little more than regular ELMER'S GLUE ALL.  I don't use Elmer's Washable on a regular basis(because of it warping paper & not being a strong as Glue All)...so I can't compare.  I do think it might be a good investment for Kindergarten so they can learn better glue control....though I'll probably stick with good ol' regular Elmer's Glue All.  

What Would Jesus Glue?

You know those things that just make ya laugh....and you can't stop....and you want to share it with EVERYONE!!!  Well....this is one of those things for me.

I captured this picture from an Art Teacher Facebook page.  It is a real thing!!!! 

 I looked it up...here is the AMAZON link

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_office-products?ie=UTF8&field-brandtextbin=Walk+With+Jesus+Collection&node=1064954 

The comments under this picture had me in tears!!!!

"be forewarned, it might leave the paper HOLY"

"It's heavenly!"

"Wait until you try the Walk on Watercolors!"

"..when you think their isn't enough, it miraculously refills."

"Does this mean we need to establish separatioin of church and....art supplies?"

"Comes in a 12 pack...one will go bad & one will deny he ever glued you!"

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SIDE NOTE:

 I'm a Christian, and not ashamed to admit it.  I also am not ashamed to crack a joke or two at churchie Christian "sub" cultures!  I really don't understand the need for "Jesus" glue.  If you want to be a Christian company...then make the BEST GLUE EVER...

and treat your employees & customers like GOLD!!!! 

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Ya Think You're Funny..

I think I'm funny.  I've been told I'm funny.  My students laugh a lot!  However...today  something happened when I was trying to be funny, but I wasn't!!!
It got REAL up in here!!! 

So my 4th graders were doing an amazing job working on their narrative drawings!  I decided since they were doing so well...and were being so good...I'd set at the front of the room and refill my glue bottles(in horrible need of refilling & de-boogered).  Some of the kids were fixating on me pouring glue from the gallon bottle to the small bottles....which...I must say is an interesting process.  Well, the gallon bottle was empty and I decided I'd mess with the kids who were watching me instead of working.  So I hold the gallon bottle above my mouth acting like I was going to drink it.  However...there was one last blob of glue that decided to release as it was perfectly positioned over my mouth.  YEP...a big blob of glue fell to the back of my tongue with nothing to do but swallow it.  THE KIDS WENT CRAZY!!!!  "OH NO..MR. E IS GOING TO DIE...HE ATE GLUE!!!"  "WHAT DOES IT TASTE LIKE?"  "WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOU?"  " DO WE NEED TO CALL A DOCTOR?"  

More art...less comedy!! :) hee hee

Kindergarten Fall Collages

Our kindergarten students this year are AMAZING!!!!!!!  I'm seeing some amazing stuff, and really am excited to work with them over the next 5 yrs!  I love their fearless attempts at creating leaves!!!  I showed them a number of ways to draw leaves before we got started, and asked them to at least try a few of them.  Not only did they attempt a number of different types of leaves...they successfully cut them out!  That is not an easy skill for the 5 yr old hands!!!  I loved how a few of their shapes & color choices reminded me of IKEA fabric! ha ha  

Rizzi City Building Collages: 1st Grade

My student teacher was with me a couple years ago during her practicum class field experience.  I was working on a James Rizzi unit at the time, and she remembered the student really enjoying it.  So she decided that she'd do a Rizzi lesson with the first graders for their cityscapes.  They've been turning out very fun & colorful!  I think Mr. Rizzi would be very proud to know his work is inspiring so many!!!  

Self-Portraits :2nd Grade

I'm very happy with the 2nd grader self-portraits!  This is the start of the school year...and they are not far removed from being 1st graders!!!  They started by doing a large self portrait(using mirrors) on a 9x12 paper.  I then allowed them to choose a 9x18 piece of paper.  I limited their colors to a more patriotic color 

palette.  We discussed ways to create an interesting background using line/shape/color that was not the flag, but could reference it if they wanted.  Not sure if the patriotic came through on all of them, but they look great!  

Paper Sculpture/ Texture Focus: Kindergarten

My student teacher wanted to do a texture plate rubbing background on the papers before the students created a rough, bumpy, and smooth paper sculpture on top of it.  I think they turned out wonderful, and this is a twist on an old project I'll continue to use. Another reason why it is so great to have student teachers...they bring something different to the table!!  

Collage Snowmen: Kindergarten

Now is the time I usually see my kindergarten students turning the corner!  It is exciting for me as an art teacher to witness such a transformation....often from nondescript markings to beautiful works of art.  They are doing so well at handling glue/scissors.  Well...most of them.  I heard yesterday I had an upset parent because their child has cut up their pants the past two times they've had art.  I'm assuming it was done in my room, but I did not see the "crime".  There are 21 students in the class...the tables are not made of see through glass....and they are required to stay in their seats.  So I did not see it happen..or the aftermath of.  I honestly can say I've not had a student do that in my 16 yrs of teaching.  I've had them cut themselves, trim their hair a little...but never cut up their pants/shirts.  Hopefully this will not happen anymore....I've been going over scissor safety/rules with every class.  

Winter Mural 2012: K - 4th Grade

Here the mural is completed!