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Organization in the Art Room
The following query was posted to our PAEA Facebook Page. Members chimed in, and their responses are below for your benefit and organizational enjoyment! I’m getting goose pimples already thinking about the wonderful ways to organize!!!!
“Please share some of your unique and successful classroom organizational devices/structures. How do you store 2-D work? How do you store 3-D work? What do you feel is necessary to always have on the table? What are your art room life hacks? Etc…”
Marita Fitzpatrick of Bodine High School in Philadelphia suggests: “For small 3d (our recent stuffed toys): I have a copy paper box for each class. The students put their work in manila envelopes, write their names on them and I have one person from each table collect the envelopes and return them to the box. For 2d, each table puts their work in folders marked w the table color (tables are color-coded) and that goes in the copy paper box. This box is marked, period 1, period 2, etc. I have a closet of shelves for ceramics and each kid gets a shoe box to store their stuff in. It keeps the others from touching the work and breaking it. Students wrap their work in dry cleaning plastic to keep it moist. I regularly have kids empty the drying rack, sort the work and put it in the copy paper boxes. I keep nothing on the tables, because the stuff disappears and they put trash in the containers. I store markers and colored pencils in plastic pencil boxes on open shelves in the room and number them. I never look at the numbers or count them, but the kids think I do, so nothing disappears. On those shelves, I also have scissors and other frequently used supplies that students have open access to.”
Alison Elizabeth of Lancaster, PA shares her planning strategy: “Each class I teach is a different colored sticky note. This calendar is glued into the front of my sketchbook (which I use for all of my demos, meeting notes, and conference notes). It’s all with me and ready to go at all times.”
Linda Keels suggests making the investment in folding tables from the local hardware store (she uses 3) for about $30-40 a piece—there is room to hold up to 6 classes worth of work (she teaches 12) which forces her to keep it moving and the kids to stay on track for 3-D things.
Eleanor A-Evans For stores 3D work, such as clay sculptures and paper mache on ‘mobile pan racks’ (like the one in the photo- thanking Google image search). Depending on your supplies resources, the cost on the average is under $90, and can be the solution for saving space and stowing away the masterpieces!
Julie Schedin share with us how her students creatively tackle this issue with a little design thinking! “My Crafts class yarn bombs a coat hanger. They own the airspace above their seat, and hang all work (basket weavings, etc) from the coat hanger in the drop ceiling. The room develops a type of “rainforest canopy” but a least we can keep 3d projects organized and handy.”
Judi Treffinger of Carlisle, and formerly the Carlisle Area School districts has an idea for yarn storage! “You know all those large gallon sized plastic food containers your cafeteria gets when they purchase food? I duct tape then together with the open sides up and use them to store and separate skeins of yarn. They can sit on a counter top, or stash neatly in a cupboard with open ends facing out- all colors are visible and yarn doesn’t get tangled!”
Moore College of Art and Design Alumni, Autumn Rae suggests art teachers to follow her Instagram: mrsdow_artroom where shes posts things about classroom display and specific grade levels k-5 . She posts lots of classroom things about organization what materials I use.
Autumn also shares:
“- Container store bins are the best!
– It needs to be organized and colorful for me to function. I cannot stand messes or piles.
– I keep messes at the middle table whenever possible.
– I use my drying rack when I can but I actually love rolling out a sheet of paper and either working on the floor with the kiddos or having them dry their work flat and organized on a sheet of paper. Work great for printmaking each student gets a row for all their prints.
– All my notes are on my Instagram that describe each photo and what it relates to classroom, display, or a grade level.”
Autumn teaches art to 881 students k-5 students. She describes, “We are an emotional support school with a high ESL population and also a title 1 school. I have put lots of my own money into my class but once the upfront cost is paid off then I have all these organizational systems in place for years to come. I need everything organized like I said but also kid friendly. I have created two closets for classroom teachers and stock it at the beginning of the year so they don’t ask me for supplies I need for my own classes.”
Woah Autumn! Thanks for all of that!!! Loooooove the colors!!! And there is no denying where those pencils came from!!
Daisy Konowal uses a system of table color folders. 2 sets- one for work in progress and one completed work. Also, Daisy uses sheets/fabric/blankets to cover her shelves to limit access to shelves.
Sunnylee Mowery of Philadelphia’s Greenfield Public School strives to make my classroom organization methods so easy a kid can do it! Each table is color coded and this helpful chart rotates at the start of each week so everyone knows who is in charge of what. The artists are expected to pass out work and supplies, monitor volume, tidy table bins and floors, and even call each other to line at the end of class.
Sunnylee has clearly labeled bins with teacher name are organized by grade level. All supplies that accompany the project are placed above in their grade section.
Sunny poses the question, “How do students monitor sound, you ask? The volume giro migrates to the table in charge of volume each week. If the room gets too noisy, the students “ring” the giro to signal to the class to quiet down. If we get 3 giro rings, we lose the privilege to talk.”Click Here for a link to the video of the magical giro sounds that have the power to quiet students!
Kim Horan Colasante, art teacher in the School District of Philadelphia shares, “My routine is very much the same as Sunny’s. Each table has a color, table folders or student folders are matched to the table they sit at. I have a job chart, students give out folders, supplies, paint patrol, and floor sweepers. Jobs rotate weekly according to table colors. Supplies are located in front of the room and Barney’s Cleanup song plays at the end of every class 10 minutes to go. The students know to stop, put their work away and do their jobs. The ones that are done sing to barney. (I teach middle school) they dab to it also. It only plays for a minute so work must be away by the time song is done. then folders are collected and floors swept etc. 3D work is done a bit differently due to lack of space in classroom. When Barney plays each table brings me their 3d work and I place it in a special section so that they may retrieve it the following day. Clay is kept in large Rubbermaid containers until in it ready for drying.”
What do you do in your classroom?????
UArts and Design Thinking
A couple of Saturdays ago I attended the Alumni and Friends workshop series offered at University of the Arts. It was a fantastic learning day overall, even though I was battling some serious post nasal drip (TMI?)…
I was most intrigued with the keynote when learning about the Design Lab School in Delaware, and how they are 1 in 10 schools to have been awarded a prestigious Super School grant, which you can read about in the below article.
https://outandaboutnow.com/super-school/
I have been acclimating myself to design thinking for a few years now. I am a part of the Design Issues Group in the NAEA (you should be too!) and I find a lot of inspiration in this way of thinking. And truthfully, it’s not far off from what we already do, but there seems to more more intentional thought and focus that goes into the process for problem solving design issues.
But back to the keynote… This blurb taken from the UArts event page gives a description of the talk:
“Can Design Thinking Transform Schools in the 21st Century?
Design Thinking is a way to bring K-12 schools into the 21st century. Schools haven’t changed much from the factory model developed for efficiency a century ago. We need to take education from the Model T to the Tesla. Talk with design leaders from the $100 million XQ Super School award winners and become part of the conversation about transforming education through Design Thinking. “
A quote they shared at the beginning of the keynote that really resonated with me:
“You never change things by fighting the existing reality.
To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.”― R. Buckminster Fuller
…That is what Design Lab has aimed to do…
So, Design Lab is not specifically an art school. They are a school that engages students in design thinking to every aspect of their learning in the school. They engage students in visual communication making it a more universal way of learning, and use the design thinking process to evolve students ideas into amazing results.
The process is similar to the Scientific Method, with the exception that the Scientific Method tests the “known”. With Design thinking, one is solving for the unknown, or the X-quotient (XQ). It involves a process to get to a result we do not know about… a “what if??”
The leaders of the school spoke of Meliorism, that is, the belief that the world can be made better through human effort. The intention of these super schools is to build a school model that does not fight the existing reality of how schools currently operate, but to build a new model which could be applicable to schools across the country. To me this is absolutely revolutionary. I got goosebumps thinking about the progress and impact we could make in our students lives… but I also feel concern.
How do we create this change? How could a new model of schooling and learning get effectively implemented in our schools and districts without damaging the systems that are already in place. As an advocate for public schools, I do feel some apprehension here. I feel there are larger conversations that need to take place regarding this. But I also see the promise in this sort of system… I just don’t know how we evolve without leaving some people or students at a disadvantage. How could we implement a model like this to work effectively in our public schools? Is it possible? I am just spit balling questions here now? I am by no means an expert on this? Nor am I saying this is the answer to all our education issues. I just see this as an innovation in education, and I wonder, what next?
What do you think? What questions does this bring up for you? Do you think this is a sustainable idea?
I do hope my line of thought is clear in this post. It’s a heavy topic. I am concerned for where education is headed in our country and I suppose I am searching for hope, for answers, and for direction.
Last lil bit here… I was made aware of a book I plan to read next… maybe you will be interested in it also Daniel Pink’s A Whole New Mind.
Just need to finish this book first…
A taste of Tyler
FYI art teachers:
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS On FEB 15, 2017
This is the link to the Tyler Web site with all the info.
https://tyler.temple.edu/taste-tyler
Workshops are:
CHOICE BASED LEARNING IN THE ART ROOM
BUILDING BASIC BOOKS
THE ART OF PLAY
CONVERSATIONAL ART
AN OLD DOG…NEW TRICKS: TEACHING 5TH CENTURY PRINTMAKING PROCESSES WITH 21ST CENTURY TOOLS
BEAD COLLAGE
PATA student art in Harrisburg
Hey y’all… please check out the Philadelphia Art Teachers Alliance post and photos of their students’ art show at the PDE Honors Suite in Harrisburg:
http://philadelphiaartteachersalliance.com/blog/hey-harrisburg
http://philadelphiaartteachersalliance.com/pata-art-in-harrisburg
[youtube]VwHa5rHQmxc[/youtube]
Comics in the Art Room with guest blogger Sunnylee!
Hey folks! Guest blogger and School District of Philadelphia Art Teacher, Sunnylee Mowery here! Last month, thanks to the generous support of The Kennedy Center’s VSA (Very Special Artists) Division, I got to lead a workshop on using comics in the art classroom at Moore College of Art & Design’s “Art Education for Special Populations Symposium.” The 2016 symposium was organized around idea of “narrative” so I decided to design a workshop that explored the hip, new trend of teachers using comics as a means to document, digest, and reflect upon their day-to-day adventures in the classroom. Comics, themselves can be a great way to help your younger artists spark dialogue or to engage with complex information. Having a bunch of black “comic starters” available in your classroom is a wonderful way to help you find out more about your students’ personal narrative or interior motivations 9 (Student “Day in the Life” comic pictured below).
If you’re new to comics and not sure where to begin, one super easy way to bring comics into your art room is to create a small comics library that students can explore a variety comic formats and styles. Personally, I started small a few years ago with a collection of five, and I try to add one or two books to the collection each year. Below are my top ten picks of kid-friendly comics!
- “Drama” by Raina Telgemeier
- “American Born Chinese” by Gene Luen Yang
- “Persepolis” by Marhane Satrapi
- “Ms. Marvel Volume 1: No Normal” by G. Willow Wilson
- “Anya’s Ghost” by Vera Brosgol
- “Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man Collection Book 1” by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli
- “Smile” by Raina Telgemeier
- “The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds
- “A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel” Adapted and Illustrated by Hope Larson
- “The Legend of Bold Riley: Warp and Weft” by Leia Weathington & Zack Giallongo
The workshop also touched on how comics can be a really effective way to create an inclusive classroom. There are a growing number of authors and illustrators who identify with special needs who are using comics as a way to convey their unique experience. There are several great titles, such as “The Ride Together” by Paul & Judy Karasik or “Circling Normal” by Karen Montague-Reyes, that are penned by authors who are on the Autistic Spectrum. Or “Epileptic” by David B., a just published graphic memoir about two brothers journey of growing up together and dealing with the life-altering symptoms of Epilepsy.
The second part of my workshop highlighted the work of art teachers producing original comics about their classrooms. Let’s face it, people, our art rooms are exciting places were innovation, ingenuity, hilarity, epiphany transpire each day! If this genre sounds interesting to you, I highly recommend checking out Ms. Bean’s Art Class, created by Massachusetts-based high school art teacher, Cara Bean. Her work is so beautifully done and she absolutely nails the art teacher experience with humor and grace! I would also be remised, if I did not give a shout out to the web-based comic, Supertizer!, created by Philly’s own Peter Coyle. His work is edgy, real, gut-busting and has inspired me to get my pencil out and make a comic for myself each week!
During the final part of my workshop, participants set to work designing their own “jam comic.” A jam comic is a comic created by more than one artist. Participants were asked to write down their greatest fear as a first year teacher on the top of the paper. The next step was to pass the paper to someone else at their table, who was charged with the task of illustrating this fear in comic form, and for extra points, resolving the conflict in a creative way. I got this idea from a blog post created by Jarod Rosello, a PhD student in curriculum and instruction at Pennsylvania State University.
It was interesting to see such universality in the fears that were documented. Several participants confessed fears of the class running wild and becoming unmanageable, many of the comics focused on a fear of one’s “teacher voice” not commanding attention or betraying internal fears. Other teacher comics sited awkward observations, forgotten lesson plans, and even accidental risqué art exposure! If you’re an art teacher looking for a way to distress and laugh at yourself in good fun, pick up your micron and share the story of your classroom! You know it’s way too goo to just keep to yourself. 😉
Signing off,
Sunnylee Mowery
PAEA YAM flag design
Hey there everyone! Did you know that flag designs for youth art month are due December 2nd (postmarked)?? Do you know about the flag designs?? If not, please allow me to share some information.
First off, I will direct you to the PAEA webpage that not only has info on the flag design but also YAM in general. (It’s in March BTW.) http://paeablog.org/opportunities-for-students/youth-art-month/
On the webpage you will find a lesson plan for the flag design, a template, the label, and a planning packet. That should make your life easier, right?! (PS. Click the hyperlinked words to go straight to the document.)
This information is taken directly from the flag design contest information flyer:
“This year there is a nationwide event planned for Youth Art Month – School Flags across the U.S. Flying High. Schools throughout the United States will hold flag design competitions. Each state will select a design which will be made into a 3’ x 5’ flag and flown at the National Art Education Association Convention. Winning designs will be honored at the Youth Art Month Reception in Harrisburg in March and winners will receive prizes! Every art teacher is encouraged to involve your students, from Kindergarten through Grade 12, in designing a YAM flag. You may approach it with your students in any creative way you would like. Please send designs to Suzanne Pagel, Youth Art Month Co-Chair for Pennsylvania. Read all directions and specifications carefully!” http://paeablog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2016-2017-YAM-Flag-Design-Information.pdf
Resources for Art Teachers: PITC Grant
My pre-K studio at school is my second home, and I’m sure a lot of teachers feel that way about their art room. About a year ago, I discovered, applied for (and was awarded!) an easy grant that helps teachers get classroom pets for free! It’s seriously the easiest grant application you’ll ever lay eyes on. Find it at PetsInTheClassroom.org.
At my school we ended up with a cute little betta named Chaseaway, who we love to draw and talk to. Below read about Philly art teacher Johanna Marshall’s experience with PITC:
(above, Johanna’s sweet little bundle of joy “Cupcake” chills in his cage)
From Johanna:
Pets in the Classroom gave our tough little corner of Philadelphia an opportunity to have a sweet, funny, goofy pet to love. We got a baby crested gecko, and if you’ve never seen one, imagine a thumb-sized dinosaur that licks its eyeballs and likes to nap upside down. Students got ready by learning about how to take care of a gecko, and then designing a habitat that would meet all its needs.
A few of my challenging older students helped me set up the tank and introduce the gecko to it, and they’ve been transformed by responsibility by the task, checking in on it each day and making sure other students follow the rules of pet care. We held a schoolwide vote on its name, talking about the democratic process, and decided on . . . Cupcake!
Cupcake has been the subject of many loving sketches, and when it shed its skin we tried it out by peeling glue off our hands. As soon as it’s more comfortable being handled, we’ll bring it out to draw, paint, and sculpt. In the meantime Cupcake reminds us to stay calm in the art room, and will reward us by coming out to climb around its tank and check us out, and sometimes come around the room to visit everyone.
Post Conference Blues?
Whew. What a weekend. I clapped for friends getting awards and recognitions, I connected with old teacher friends (and accidentally wore the exact same outfits as some of them), met some new ones, presented and painted with other teachers, won a raffle(!), and learned so much from fellow art educators.
If you attended the conference, I feel pretty confident in assuming you walked away with some new lesson plan ideas, new tools (both physical and philosophical) and hopefully, a renewed enthusiasm for your career.
So what now? Don’t want to lose that refreshed teacher glow? Here’s my plan.
REVISIT WINNING IDEAS:
The presenters and speakers have posted their slides (and research, and directions, etc) on a shared Google drive. It’s searchable and shareable! Check it out here.
STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY:
PAEA’s Facebook group is poppin’ lately, and is a great resource for lesson plans, supplies, and professional development opportunities (and obviously keep your eye on this blog).
There’s also a number of sub-groups that you should think about joining if they apply to you:
PAEA Elementary Art (for those of us who hang with little kids.)
PAEA Special Needs in Art Ed (lots of ideas for those working in Special Ed or with a desire to serve your special needs students better!)
PAEA Higher Education (pretty self explanatory)
and theres more for students, non-public teachers, and various regions have their own FB pages too. Check out yours to connect to your fellow art teachers!
Philadelphia area art teachers, best be sure your a part of PATA (Philadelphia Art Teachers Alliance), run by our girl Leslie Grace. The Facebook group is where it’s at (loads of good events and resources, in addition to monthly meet ups.
GET SOCIAL:
Find PAArtEd on Instagram. We’re trying to highlight lots of fun art teacher stuff, highlighting our teacher members work, great lessons, and cool resources. You can tag us (@PAArtEd) to share and maybe get featured! It’s a great way to quickly connect when you’ve got a few minutes between classes (if you’re so lucky), or while you’re waiting for your lunch to microwave.
Anyone else have any post-conference motivational strategies?
It’s almost here!
It’s finally here folks – “Make it Happen” is happening in a few short days! A couple highlights to get you started on your weekend of pure art education bliss.
- Click HERE for a draft of the conference schedule. Start planning your days to get the most out of your time!
- Miss the deadline for online registration? Registration opens in the Moore lobby on Thursday from 4:00 – 8:00 PM.
- Coming to town early on Thursday? If you’re all settled in your hotel and have a late dinner reservation, pop into Fox Commons beforehand for a “Makey Make Mini Event” from 6:00 – 8:00 PM with award-winning Philadelphia educator Christopher Sweeney, this year’s recipient of PAEA’s Outstanding Secondary Educator of 2016. I hear there’s a free beer or wine ticket that comes with this free event too. Score!
- You MUST check out this map designed by Sunny Mowery highlighting all of the galleries, museums, and other fantastic places to visit in Philadelphia during First Friday, some of which are holding some special events (highlighted in yellow). Because you only have a few short hours to really explore First Friday, and a whole city to take in, I really suggest studying this map and doing your research! There are many of your fellow art educators who live and work in Philly (myself included) who would love to guide you if you are looking for suggestions and food recommendations as well!
- Available on the conference website are some parking tips so that you can park your car and forget about it for the weekend. Use these tips to find an inexpensive parking garage or lot. Once you’re parked, Philadelphia has simple public transportation through Septa, as well as inexpensive and convenient ride-sharing options through Uber and Lyft, AND taxis that circulate throughout the city. They are relatively easy to hail down, too 🙂
That’s all for now, so start researching, highlighting, and planning your fabulous weekend at “Make it Happen”! It’s going to be an extraordinary time!
D5 Creation