How I spent my three day weekend

Lego blocks, spiders, pumpkins, Dia de los Muertos, teeth, Lego men
are just a few of the 20 or so molds I have collected.

Why yes, it is Labor Day, the official end of the summer holiday.  Dreaded by kids, educators and anyone else who is reluctant to say a final good bye to those lazy days of summer.  We started back last week, the teachers on Monday and the students joined us on Wednesday.  All is off to a great start, we've done management details, expectations and designed the covers to our sketchbooks.  This week we are down to business with first projects celebrating International Dot Day.  I have spent my weekend tying up schedules, printing out class rosters and creating rewards. Rewards, already? you much be thinking.   Well, one of my classroom jobs is "Neat Freaks".  These fortunate students are responsible for making sure everything is where it belongs at the end of class.  Don't be confused, their job is not to put away supplies, it is so much more important than that!  Their job is to search for those missing items that just didn't seem to make it back to their assigned places during clean-up.  You know the crayon that rolled under the draw rack, the sketchbook that was piled on top of the shelf,  The marker lid that didn't find it's marker body or the cut paper scrap that missed the recycling bin.  When everyone thing is done at the end of the class, I locate one such item and it becomes the mystery item.   One child from each of the six class tables is designated the Neat Freak and they are task with finding my mystery item.  It is the favorite job of each class regardless of the grade because whomever finds the mystery item receives a prize.  When I first began this process, I thought I'd really set myself up for some major expense.  I began scouring the dollar store for inexpensive art related prizes and digging through my art stash for things I would part with.  As chance would have it, I stumbled on a very economical practice while in Michaels early last October that has almost eliminated my out of pocket expense and has the kids eager to locate the mystery item in each and every class.  Here is what I do, I recycle broken crayons and make new one.  It can't get any easier than that...well except for peeling old crayons and the time it takes to make the new ones.  But who is kidding who here, I am not, absolutely not complaining.  These are the best!!!  Over the past year I have been the first one to hit the store at the end of every holiday to pick up those little silicone baking molds on clearance and this summer I scouted all the discount stores for the new ones at cheapy cheapy prices.  Why yes, I tell you, jump on board, this is a behavioral bonanza.  My room has never been cleaner and my supplies have never been more well kept.  Some classes I even have to "plant" a mystery item because clean-up is so thorough.  They are easy peasy, really and at the end of the school year, everyone was donating broken crayons.  I literally have bags and boxes full in my basement to create new beautiful fun shaped crayons this school year.  I peel the paper or better yet, get the kids or my husband to do it.  Break them up as small as you can, sometimes I use a small paring knife if needed and then fill the forms.  I bake at 300 degrees for about 20 minutes and let them cool very well before popping them out of the molds.  If one breaks when you try to remove it, leave it in the mold for the next time you are making them and just remelt it up.  Try it, your students will think you are a super hero!   

Neat Freak Treats

My thumbs are sore from peeling crayons but I have a lot to show for it and have re purposed a huge container of broken bits.   My students love re purposed crayons.  This all started in the fall as I revamped my classroom management.  I added a new job to my job chart called "neat freak".  The neat freaks job is to help clean up all the tools that were dropped on the floor or misplaced and not put back away correctly.  After everything has been cleaned up, I call the neat freaks, one from each table to locate a mystery item.  I used to write down what the item was on a post-it before they began but now I just keep it in my head.  For example, it might be the pencil that rolled under the table or a shelf,  scissors that were left piled down somewhere instead of returned to their place or even just a paper that was dropped on the floor and not picked up.  I think this is the highlight of each class because the winner receives a prize.  I began the process thinking I would pick  up pencils, cutesy erasers and such at the dollar store for the prizes but stumbled on the idea to re purpose crayons when I found a silicone baking sheet of pumpkins back in the fall.  They were an instant hit so now my only out of pocket cost is for the array of baking forms I have added to my collection.  Just google silicone baking sheets and you will see what I mean.  I will be able to reuse the baking sheets for years so my investment has dropped to zero.  Now I spend my evenings and weekends peeling broken crayons.    I will either develop the strongest thumb muscles know to mankind or be forever in pain!!!  It's the little things that make the difference in a classroom and either way the payoff is definitely worth it!

The Behaviors are Making me Crazy (and look old)!!!

I recently decided to try to draw a self portrait while looking into a make-up mirror and was alarmed at what my eyes were beholding.  In just a few short months, talking about since my yearly school picture, my face has added an exorbitant amount of new wrinkles.  How have I changed so much in just a few month, I thought with extreme alarm.   Immediately, the answer jumped into my conscientiousness - it's the behaviors!  This has been a very challenging school year.  The top tier students have kept everyone on tippy toes and some days teaching has been impossible.  After years of teaching I have found myself scrambling to find new methods and ideas to manage my classes.  A first year teacher shared with me a book she had borrowed and was reading and I thought it might just be able to supply me with some answers.  Luckily, I also knew of someone who owned the book and quickly sent out an email to see if I might borrow it. If you haven't read it yet, find a copy and give it some attention.  The book is Classroom Management for Art, Music, and PE Teachers by Michael Linsin.  Linsin had me within the first couple of paragraphs as he explained the purpose of the book.  Seems Linsin was a classroom management authority of sorts; even offering professional development on the subject.  He had been a classroom teacher for 15 years when he decided to switch over to teaching Physical Education.  Within minutes of his first class, he knew classroom management as a specialist had an entire different look than it had for him as a classroom teacher.  This book outlines his suggested methods of taking control of your classes even if you only see them once a week.  It's a quick read with some insightful ideas and approaches.  I found myself reflecting, reevaluating and congratulating myself as I read through each section.  Some things I already did, some I definitely need to work on and in some areas I have a need to fine-tune.  With that said, I strongly recommend you get your hands on a copy and give it a read.  I think I'll be purchasing a copy for myself when I return my borrowed copy, to flip back through as a reference and a reminder.  Hopefully, with better classroom management techniques, some of these wrinkles will soften and I'll start looking a little bit more like my old self.  Oh, and this is not an advertisement, I received no compensation for this post You can also visit smartclassroommanagement.com for more information.

Two new signs

Thanks Ms P from Create Art with Me! for directing me to this terrific new site for making signs for your classroom.  You type in the quote and then select the template you want to use to print out a classroom sign.  This is terrific.  All those things you want to say in a professional looking format that is super quick and easy.  I had these typed up and printed out in minutes.

Trash Monster Buckets

A update on my sand pail trash buckets.  The custodian came in the other afternoon and ask me if I was really doing Art this year! : )  He was teasing me, naturally.  Custodians really can be our best buds!  His remark was based on the fact that my trash cans were consistently empty daily.   I explained my new procedure with table trash buckets.  I call them recycle buckets with the kids.  He was thrilled at how well the kids were taking to using the buckets and how successful we were being with recycling.  Hopefully this will be a continuing trend.

Can't wait to start a project and selling off some books

I finally will be able to start a real art lesson on Wednesday.  The first week of school is such a challenge with new procedures, seat assignments and brand new students.  I know the kids are as eager as I am to finally get down to business!  I introduced a job chart to my students this year and I'm thrilled that they are excited about it.  Since I will be changing the job rotation from week to week and do not teach the same thing all day, I think I have made a little more work for myself.  I spent this afternoon jotting down the chart assignments in each class based on the projects and materials.  I think I can leave the chart the same for all my morning classes but will need to change the jobs for the afternoon classes.  If I don't jot it down, I'll definitely forget who did what.  I plan to change the assignments at the beginning of each week and I want to rotate the jobs to keep it more interesting.  Anybody have a better idea for job management?

On another note,  I cleaned out my bookcase today and am parting with a few never used children's picture books.  I decided that if I have not incorporated them into my lessons in the past two years, I'm not going to work them in.   I might as well make some money off of them so I can buy something else.  I've got my eye on "The Museum" by Susan Verde.  It is illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

Sell a few and buy something new!  I think it's a perfect plan!

Class list and more

I just finished creating my class list for the year.  Of course, they will change but at least I have them created in the computer.  It is easy enough to make adjustments once the class list are made.  It took several hours longer but I also created photo class list.   With over 600 students, there are always one or two students that I just can't seem to get their names to stick in my brain.  We use powerschool in our district and on the child's schedule page, there is a copy of last year's school photo.  I copied those photos onto a class master list, alphabetically, that will go behind my seating chart.  One copy for my attendance binder and one copy for my sub folder. I know when I was a sub, photos of students would have been so beneficial.  So now I have a "cheat sheet" for those brain dead times when I just can't seem to come up with a name to match a face and my subs will totally avoid those pranksters that claim a different name when you are absent.  I also shared the photo class list with the other teachers in my building.  Most recess responsibilities are covered by the Paras who most often do not know all of the students.  Hopefully, the list will be useful for that purpose as well. I haven't decided if I will add photos to my seating chart because I do move students around, but that is another option for quick student identification.

Here is my seating chart diagram, one for each school.  I add a color to the center once the tables have been arranged.

 

Grade: ‑___________________________

Day of Week _______________________

Classroom Teacher __________________                                                                           2013 - 2014

========================================================================

 

Grade ________________________

Day of Week ___________________

                                                                                                        Classroom Teacher______________

                                                                                                          2013-2014

                                                                                                                      

Table buckets

I spotted an idea for a small trash bucket on each table for cutting activities on some one's blog last spring and began to search for some buckets of my own.  I envisioned the colors  of the color wheel for the buckets but have been unsuccessful in finding anything.  As I walked into the craft store yesterday, I spotted a bin full of sand buckets marked down to 50 cents a piece and decided I could make these work.  The color wheel was not present but I was able to purchase 6 green buckets and 6 yellow buckets. (I have two schools to outfit)  I've added an inspirational image to each bucket and using paint markers, labeled them with table color names.   I'm hoping they will help with the paper mess for cutting projects.   Now, I just need to come up with a use for all those shovels!

Two new books for use in Kindergarten

If you haven't read the book Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker, you must check your local bookstore or library for a copy.  I can't wait to read this charming little picture book to my classes when the school year begins.   I always like to let my students talk quietly while they create if they wish but for some students,  they can't seem to regulate their talking.  This little book tells the story of Lacey Walker who loses her voice and discovers all she has been missing out on with her non-stop talking!  I absolutely am charmed by the story.  It is written by Christianne Jones and illustrated by Richard Watson.

The second new book for the fall is The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.  If you are not familiar with Jeffers, you will recognize his art from other books you have probably used in your classroom.  You can learn more about him here.  This picture book tells of the frustration experienced by a box of crayons over the way their owner uses them.  Some feel overused, some under used and others limited in what they are allowed to color.    I recommend both to you for your classroom collection.  It has been selected by Amazon as one of the Best Children's Books of the Year.

It's Art Time

I picked up this really cool wall clock at 5 Below for, of course, just $5.00 the other weekend.  My clock in my classroom quit working a while ago and this seemed perfect for my room.  It did not come this way.  It is a whiteboard clock.   It is metal and you write on it with a whiteboard marker.  I used a sharpie for the numbers and these words so that they wouldn't easily erase.  But, I did read on Pinterest that you can erase marker by using a whiteboard marker.  The original suggestion involved writing students names directly on their desk and erasing them at the end of the year by going over them with a whiteboard marker.   It does work, I messed up on the placement of the numbers and grabbed a whiteboard marker.  In no time, I was able to clean off the mistake and begin again.  I think the clock looks great in my room and the kids like it too.  Most of them have to be convinced that it is real.  My thoughts, what better way to remind them that in the art room it is always "Art Time"!

NO Name No Fame

I don't recall where I stumbled on those words a few weeks ago but they really got my attention and I began to test them out with my students.  I'd always get a giggle or two when I wrote it on the board but so far its really cut down on those no-name papers.  In my quest to discover a way to create a poster to leave up in the classroom instead of my writing it on the whiteboard for each class, I stumbled on to a really fun website for making signs or posters.  The web is Red Kid and it contains a variety of applications that would be very helpful to the classroom teacher.  This site lead me to another sign making site called says-it.  So here they are, my new signs for the classroom.  I printed them out on photo paper and will add an adhesive magnet to the back.