Showing posts with label NAEA 2016. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NAEA 2016. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

In the Art Room: Spring Breakin'/Conventionin'

Hey, friends! Now that the spring breakerin'/art teacher conventionin' dust has settled, I thought I'd share with y'all just what went down in sunny Cali and windy Chicago. I gotta be honest with you tho: I was terrible at documenting both! The lack of photo shooting (and sharing in social media town) was not intentional. I seriously just never seemed to have a moment to bust out my camera/phone! The fun of meeting so many folks, making so many friends and just chatting the night away was all encompassing. And I wouldn't trade that experience for the world!
So what I've got here in this post is a meager offering of images of what was a fabulously good time. I'm actually sharing these pics in reverse order of my adventurin' as we just wrapped up a brief trip to Southern California this past Sunday.
We shopped, hiked and, of course, Disneyland'ed our days away. I could totes live in SoCal if it weren't for the traffic. And the fact that I'd need a mountain of mulah to afford all the amazing restaurants and shops I'd be gettin' myself into. I always feel so happy after a visit to California. I mean, this amazing canyon hike starts in a Ralph's grocery store parking lot. THAT'S HOW MUCH AWESOME THEY HAVE. "Oh, yeah, man. See some canyons get some canned goods. It's how we roll." 
But let's rewind to the previous week when I found myself in the sunny (altho, true to it's name, windy) city of Chicago. The NAEA convention was all that and a bag o' nuts (and by "nuts" I mean Nuts on Clark, y'all. Holy cow! I love the carmel and cheddar mix!). This here photo was taken outside the Lego store during my one afternoon of shopping adventureness. I managed to do some serious damage in the MOMA section of Uniqlo. Y'all should check that out if you've not already. 
So the NAEA conference was held in this enormous and confusing maze of a mammoth called McCormick Place. Y'all. This joint could hold, like, 25 Chuck E. Cheese'es (I have no idea why that is my chosen reference of measurement but 'tis. Mostly cuz I've no idea what the size of a football field is but El Chucko, I do). Need some perspective? Not only could it hold about 5000 plus art teacherin' types but also a C2E2 convention (which is kinda like ComicCon but not. It was explained to me why it's not the same as ComicCon but I fell asleep after the first coupla minutes. I was all, wake me up after the story of Princess Peach, would ya?)
POKEMON! Just now noticed the handy place to hang a badge. #thickneck. #genius.
One of the highlights of my Chicagoland adventures was getting to see my fam. You see, I grew up right outside of Chicago in Joliet. My aunt Judy (who is actually my age...you decipher that fam tree) lives in Chicago and my mom lives in Indiana. We had a great time going out to dinner, staying at mom's seedy dive of a hotel and catching up. My mama even went with me to see the van Gogh exhibit! Along with my three thousand closest friends...
Holy moly, y'all. Who knew folks be so excited to see a bedroom. I wonder if anyone would even pay a dollar to see mine. I can promise you it's not nearly as neat as van Gogh's. 
At the convention, I presented three times which was a thrill. I was ALMOST as excited as my buddy Tracy there in the front row (heeeeey, Tracy!). I presented alongside blogging buddies Phyl and Laura all about, you guessed it, blogging! If you missed out, go here for the deets, y'all. 
I also had the honor and pleasure of presenting with Janine Campbell. We chatted about student legacy projects. Janine actually inspired me way back at the convention in San Diego when she showed one of her legacy projects. Since then, I've been a big fan of big collaborative pieces. She was such a great speaker that I felt like her crazy sidekick. I mean, just look! Does it look as though I am performing an exorcism or what?!


One of the highlights of the convention was getting to lead a hands-on needle felting workshop! Each participant had the opportunity to needle felt an apron (I chose green because the event was held on St. Patty's Day!). Many got a solid start and had a ton of fun. It was like hanging out with 20 of my newest best friends!
After a super brief needle felting intro, each dived right in. All participants had such creative and unique ideas. I loved each one!
 My favorite part was just getting to know each participant. 
 I mean look at that table of colorful awesomeness!
Most folks worked on their aprons but I love that others decided to work on sweaters and even one person even worked on a coat (it looks fab, Lisa. Can't wait to see it finished!).
 I mean. Really? Really. Awesomeness. 

It was such a wonderful experience. I'm so glad to have had the chance to meet so many amazing folk and share what I love the most in the world: ART! (and art teacherin'). 
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Saturday, March 12, 2016

In the Art Room: Super Star Sub Plans and my NAEA Presentations

Hello, friends! I've been packing and preparing for my upcoming trip to Chicago for NAEA and I'm so excited. While I do love me some art teacherin' conferencing, I don't love the multi-day sub plan preppin' it entails. The subs I've lined up are super-fab and I know they will have fun creating with the kids. However, they aren't art teachers by trade so I do like to have sub plans that are not only easy for them to follow but ones they can do with all my classes. This means less confusion for them and less supply prep for me! I think I've come up with a plan and I thought I'd share it with y'all in case you wanna use it too.
It's an autobiographical three-dimensional star! Our school-wide art show is coming up and I love to have the kids do a little writing about themselves. What better way to let their star's shine than with this fun project? 
I mean, check out that three-dimensional star, y'all! I created both a sub video AND a photographed step-by-step. This way, if technology-town decides to be uncooperative, my sub-o can use the visuals. I'm printing each of the following photos with directions and plan to have them posted for both the students and the sub to refer to. But, before I get to all that...LET'S TALK ABOUT NAEA 2016! 
I'll be presenting a handful of times and meeting y'all at the AOE "Meet the Bloggers" event! Here are the deets...

* "Come Blog with Us - Three Art Ed Bloggers Share Tips" 
Thursday, March 17th // 12 - 12:50pm
McCormick Place, North Building, N426c, Level 4
A presentation I'll be doing with some of my fave bloggy friends, Laura Lohmann and Phyllis Brown! Thursday, March 17th // 12 - 12:50 // McCormick Place, North Building, N426c, Level 4

* "Dress Like a Masterpiece: Needle Felting Wearable Art!"
Thursday, March 17th // 1:30 - 3:20pm
McCormick Place, Lakeside Center, E272b, Leve 2
PLEASE NOTE: This is a ticketed event. It is currently sold out. Sorry, buddies! 

* "Leaving a Legacy Without Losing Your Mind"
Friday, March 18th // 8- 8:50am 
McCormick Place, North Building, N227a, Level 2
I'm so excited to present with Janine about something we are both passionate about: school-wide collaboratives! For some reason, NAEA has me listed as Cassandra Stephens (which, technically, is my name but I ain't fancy so I never use it!). 

* "Meet Your Fave Art Teacherin' Bloggers!"
I'm super excited to meet y'all and my fave art bloggers! Here are the deets in a super cute graphic that I didn't create (thanks, Alecia and AOE!)...
I'm seriously cannot wait to see/meet/chat/high five all y'all! But until then, let's sort out these subbie plans, shall we? Below is the video I am leaving with the sub. I don't anticipate that she'll get thru the entire lesson while I'm away. However, this will be a super great way for me to ease back into things, what with the kids all working on the same project. I like a mellow-comeback after being gone for a spell, don't you?

Here's a wee list of supplies used in this here art makerin':

* Copy paper cut to a square 8.5" X 8.5"
* Sharpies
* Markers
* 12" X 12" black construction paper
* Metallic markers 
* Glue
* Chalk

This project was inspired by my current obsession with Sly and the Family Stone and the song Everybody is a Star. Take a look-see!
And here's my sub plan video! (By the way, in case this sub plan doesn't suit your fancy, check this one. Also, I'm always sharing video'ed plans here so you might wanna subscribe). Sidenote: I am going to have my sub create a stockpile of these stars for my kindergarten friends and for any kids who have a hard time following the directions. We don't wanna leave any artist behind!
(Please ignore the crazy image...and the fact that I have blue chalk smeared on my cheek for about 1/8th of the video). In case the video isn't the best format for y'all, I also snapped step-by-step photos because I'm such a giver. Here you go!
1. Fold copy paper square in half. 
2. Be sure to press the fold down firmly. 
3. Each corner has been labeled (my apologies for the blurry photo). 
4. Take corner C and bring it to the middle of the line segment between corners A and D. 
It should look like this. Press the fold firmly. 
 5. Then bring D up and fold a small triangle. 
Press firmly.
 It should look like this!
 6. Now bring the left hand side over to the right. 
It might be difficult to fold all of those papers. Be patient with yourself and your paper!
 It should look like this. 
 7. Now, using a pencil, put a dot in the corner of the two angle lines on the left side...
and another dot on the other side just a little below the middle of that line segment. 
 Like this!
 8. Connect the dots with a cut line and...
Snip!
 9. Open it up and you are now the proud owner of a three dimensional star! Congratulations!
10. Now, using a Sharpie, start in the middle of your star and trace each creased line that you made with all of that folding. 
You'll end up with ten sections to your star. Each section you can decorate with a different pattern and design.
 Here are some ideas for you!
 11. Draw your designs in each section. 
12. Use markers to add color. 
13. Once you are finished, place your star in the middle of a piece of black paper and trace it. 
 Your pencil lines will be barely visible and that's perfect!
14. Let's write about what makes us a star! As you write, be sure to hop over the outline of the star. You might want to begin each sentence with "I am a star because..."
 Fill up that whole page!
15. To get your star to pop out, all you have to do is fold along the long lines of the star. 
The long lines of the star should be folded up (that's called a mountain fold) and the short lines of the star should be folded down (that's called a valley fold!). 
16. Add a tiny dot of glue to each tip of the star. 
17. Press each tip of the star and hold for about 10 seconds to get it to stick. 
18. Use chalk to color on your pencil line of the star. 
 Which should look a little like this when you are done. 
19. Use your finger to push the chalk away from the star. 
20. Let's do the same thing to the outside edge of the square! Color... 
Then smear and viola! You are finished and YOU are a STAR!
Art teacherin' friends, I do hope to see y'all real soon! PLEASE feel free to use this lesson. I'd love to see what your kids create. You can always snap a pic and share it on instagram (you can find me here) with the hashtag #everybodyisastar. 
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