I tried a new classroom management system this past year and I LOVED it. I shared about it on my Instagram at the start of the school year but hesitated to do so here. I wanted to make sure it was a system I could stick with. If you've read my book, Art Teacherin' 101, then you know I ONLY do systems that are easy and ones I can keep up with. This one...is it. Here's a video of just how it works:
And if you need a refresher on my classroom management series (much more to come!) here is my last video (blog post here):
Having this board near my entrance really worked well to serve as a reminder at the start and end of class.
You don't have to get too fancy like I did. You could always just write their teacher's names in sharpie!
Comments are turned off here because of spam but my comments are open on my YouTube channel. I check them frequently, so if you have any questions, please feel free to ask! I also am updating my YouTube with videos multiple times a week so...subscribe if you like!
Some of the TOP HITS for party themes:
* No Shoes Art Class (they LOVE this!)
* Open Seating
* Dance Party
Those are the top three. As far as the 20 Questions and Mr. Predicto...stay tuned! More on that to come.
Hey there! Today I thought I'd share a tour of my closet!
I've been asked many times to do a little closet tour and I DID do one a while back...when my closet was an actual closet. You can check that blog post out here. But there have been MANY reasons why I've always hesitated:
1. Because my closet is now a room. And, like, that's kinda crazy. And excessive. And...a lot of things. I know this. But honestly, this room was just sitting unused. We don't have kids and we don't host house guests (yes, the family stays at hotels when they visit. Trust me when I say it's a beautiful thing). So we had this unused room. And now it's my closet.
2. Because...I have an embarrassing amount of stuff. I don't get rid of anything, y'all. Well, I take that back. I do weed out 'trendy' impulse-buy items. These days I try to only pick up thrifted and resale clothing as well as artist-made goods. Notice the key words "I try"...but fashion is my creative outlet so and your girl loves to create ;).
3. Because this space is usually messy. I've had it kinda organized for a while but not until recently did I really get a place for everything. And while it's clean, I thought what better time to tour!
It's a long-winded tour. I had to stop and share all my fave things, right? So I apologize for the length but...here you go! My closet tour!
I created an Amazon store with links to all of the organizational items I share so I'll be posting those down below. I know I struggled to find what works for me. Being a visual person, all of my stuff has to be out where I can see it. I tried to fight that method of organizing for a long time...but now I embrace it. It works for me!
Closet organizational items can be found here. From the pegboard, to the storage stool; from the cart to everything else, it's all in that link!
I will be creating a Thrift Shop video soon in case you aren't sure where to start when you hit the thrift. It's a blast but can be discouraging if you don't have any luck. It's one of those things where you gotta go often and keep an open mind.
Whenever we travel to towns, I always look for thrift and vintage shops to hit up. Fabric stores are fun too because then I can score something unusual to make into a dress!
For links to these wire racks and more home organization, check here.
If you have any questions, feel free to drop them in the comments on the YouTube video. I had to turn off the comments here; I was getting so much spam it was crazy!
But if you are looking to embrace your inner fashionista or just wanna organize as a visual person, lemme know. I'd be happy to help!
Hello, friends! Earth Day is coming up and so I thought I'd put together all of my very favorite Earth Day videos and lessons right here! I'm even placing the videos in this post so you don't need to hop all over the place. That's right, it's a one-stop-shop today on my blog. Enjoy!
First up is this Draw-Along Give the Earth a Hug.
Supplies needed:
* Scissors
* Paper
* Markers
* Crayons
* Glue
This project is another Draw Along but you also get to add color with a fun printmaking activity! Here's what you'll need:
* Black permanent marker
* Markers
* Paper
* Aluminum Foil
Making salt-dough clay is a blast! Just by itself! But to make something with it is even more fun. Here's what you'll need:
* Cardboard
* Flour
* Salt
* Food Coloring
* Crayons
* Markers
This pop-up poster involves turning markers into paint! Here's what you'll need to have:
* Paper
* Construction paper
* Markers
* Cup of water
* Paintbrush
* Scissors
* Glue
Who doesn't love to make a pop-up?! And this one just requires a few supplies:
One of my favorite lessons (and more popular vidoes) is this Heather Galler-inspired floral painting. We did these in April and they were always an art show show-stopper! Not to mention, a great gift for Mother's Day! Full lesson with video here.
I even love them in black and white! If you are short on time, these could be completed with tissue paper squares...see my lesson below for more details on that process.
Liquid watercolor was how we finished these off. I like using liquid watercolor on larger projects. I always save pan watercolor for more detailed work.
This lesson is a hit with ALL grade levels! I first did this lesson years ago with second grade. Last year, I did it with everyone and the results are always beautiful. Full lesson and simple video here!
So many ways to finish these beauties. We opted for chalk but we've also used bleeding tissue, watercolor and tempera paint too!
Springtime is the best time to introduce landscapes to your students! This one is so fun...it's chalk like you might have never used it before! Chalk...that doesn't need to be set with a fixative. More here!
I will advise this: when adding paint after the chalking, use tempera cakes, they were so much better than the tempera paint I used in the video.
I think my favorite part is the textured paper we created for the background!
What is better than neon oil pastels and watercolor?! Not much, I say. We loved creating these coloful landscapes and they so brightened the halls. For the complete lesson and the video (I told you, I got you covered!) here.
Cereal boxes for the win, friends! Start collecting now!
Honestly, I don't know who loves puffy paint more, me or the kids! Just keep a pin on hand to unclog the nozzle. The paint does tend to dry out and clog the inside!
I made this mural at the start of a school year...but I also think it would be perfect for spring! It's a lot...but so many beautiful things were created. Check out the blog post here.
