What to do? What to do????

Well all, I am back.  I have turned the page and moved on to a new chapter, a new school (after 18 years), and new challenges.  Some of you may know and some may not, but I lost my son three years ago and it has certainly been a life changer.  Honestly, it just stopped for a while as did everything else....so, moving on.

Have you ever wondered what to do in-between projects in the classroom?  Personally, I hate free time.  Yep, that's right. I said it.  I hate free time.  As an art teacher, I modify with every student.  You have the kid everyone wishes they had all the way down the line to those who just don't want to be there and nope, you can't make them...at least until the art bug bites them.  Oops! I did it again...Yes, we all have them.  Let's be real here.  So what do you do?  What do you do to keep everyone engaged?

I like collaborative works. They work with EVERYONE.  A mini lesson here and a mini lesson there.  Let the kids take over from there.  Let the few show the others and let them make the artwork their own.  This piece was inspired by a driftwood sculpture I saw on Pinterest.  I will admit, I am a Pinterest junkie.  I am inspired, led, and encouraged all the time to try new things.  Life would be pretty boring if I did the same projects year after year. Not me! 

"Not me" had acquired quite a bit of cardboard from a kitchen remodel and from new furniture moved into the classrooms at the beginning of the school year.  "Hey, let me save you a trip...you can drop those boxes in my classroom if you don't need them."  You know, those large, straight pieces just screaming to become something else besides pulp.  Yes, I confess, I get excited over cardboard. If you haven't discovered its versatility, then I encourage you to explore the medium.  Explore, I say!  There is so much you can do with it and it stretches the ol' art budget. Another bonus!

I gave a quick mini lesson on collaborative works, pattern, paint, and of course, clean up.  I showed them the image and told them I wanted it to relate to the school.  Mistake!  When you tell the kids you want it to relate to the school, they immediately start writing, so I had to give another lesson on how to relate it to the school without words.  Horse shoes and color became our alternative, although we did incorporate everyone's piece...even those with words.  The "over achievers" were the ones already done so I left them to assemble emphasizing unity, balance, and repetition.  I let the kids take ownership and they loved it!

The great part about this project (for me)...I had to have a sub as I was a UIL coordinator who had to get ready to host the district meet the following day and was not in the classroom.  So, you are probably asking, "What was so great about that?"  Well, when I returned to the campus that afternoon, I saw a ladder in the hall and students busy trying to get it hung for our guests to see the next day.  Wow!  They were proud of it, it was theirs, and THEY wanted it displayed for all to see. Another great day in the life of an art teacher!  Oh, we made two.