It is time to streamline, to simplify, to spring into a better system for blogging. Inspired by my friend Nancy's blog, which she updates regularly  (http://schoolartsroom.blogspot.com) and shares via other social media, I too leapt into Blogger. I shared my first post the other day, and have been exploring the site since then. It is remarkable how many other artists and art educators share their thoughts and knowledge via a blog. I also appreciate the time taken by so many others in diverse fields who share their knowledge and ideas... that interdisciplinary sharing contributes to the whole mind (a la Daniel Pink) and makes us broader-minded and intellectually interesting people. There are so many interesting people out there. I hope to learn from them.
Join me on my new blog site... and you can check here at the Fine Arts Studio website for project updates.
See you soon! http://thefineartsstudio.blogspot.com
 
 
In January, I was asked to present about the E-Time class I host for high-achieving 5th graders which integrates Art, Language Arts and Technology.
We had been working hard on several products that demonstrated the learning--my favorite being VoiceThread (http://voicethread.com/) as well as Animoto (http://animoto.com/) and Glogster (for education: http://edu.glogster.com/ )
My goal was to demonstrate that the technology use was seemless--integrated as just one of the things "we do" while thinking about how art communicates concepts as words do (sometimes better--as we know.)
The Glogster piece I cannot share as I took photos of my students as part of the presentation (student privacy is important and protected) however here are the links to the Animoto and Voicethread--feel free to take a look. They are simple to assemble--the VoiceThread requires more organization as there are voice recordings, and separate works of art: one for the slide show focus and the other as the Voice icon or avatar.

http://animoto.com/play/59gvl9kIoVBOSDCweffB1w

http://voicethread.com/share/847762/





 
 
Here we are on the cusp of a new year, and as I reflect on this past one, I am excited for my students' new discoveries--their realization that they are artists and thinkers, capable of so much expression, unleashed in the Fine Arts Studio. With that in mind, I have a long list of things to do in 2010 with them, to explore as artists, thinkers, and innovators. We had the opportunity to pilot a new class called E-Time, which is a pullout class from Language Arts to the Fine Arts Studio, where we integrate Art, Language Arts and Technology. The three classes of 5th grade students have challenged me as well. This group of high-achievers get the work done and are ready for more. That is exciting! I look forward to a great Arts year ahead. Happy New Year! 
 
Freedom and Art 07/15/2009
 
I just put together this Animoto short. I am amazed by the technology every time I use it! These photos are from a trip to NYC--a city so vibrant, so colorful, I love the streets, the murals, the graffiti--all of it! Sometimes we forget the power of self-expression. Until we watch the news.

 
 
I am always amazed at how slowly summer goes at the beginning... then we suddenly find ourselves mid-summer wanting and needing more time! That's me... I had presentations at the beginning of summer. They took a lot of energy, but turned out amazingly well--I thank my colleague for that! Take a look at the Center for Educator Development in the Fine Arts: http://cedfa.org/ an incredible organization based out of Austin, TX that supports arts education throughout the state and is a model for others. We presented on Perception and Assessment for the Elementary Division.

At mid-summer, I find myself assessing what took place last year, and where I want to go with my students this coming school year. One of my goals is further integration of technology. I did get my Smartboard last year, but the software came late in the school year, so I used the board for minimal interaction, but shared websites and photos projected on the screen. Take a look at our Glog on the front page--we were inspired by Discovery Education's videos: a great resource.

I am further inspired by this YouTube video: we need to support our digital learners in the classroom by being digital guides... I hope to be that as well as facilitate the exploration of the arts through authentic, student-centered art projects, music making and theatre experiences. We can integrate technology, and explore the world!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8

 
 

I just posted our Change for Earth event on the Global Youth Service Day events site, http://gysd.org/. I am so excited to be a part of this yearlong effort to engage 4th and 5th graders in environmental awareness and action!

The impact in the studio has been great, as students bring in interesting specimens of all types to the nature shelf: textural elements like rocks and leaves, fascinating shapes and colors found in insects, leaves and even twigs. Their observational skills have developed, and they are learning to see--finally! What an achievement for each one to notice the details! Their artwork is better for it, that I can tell, but I think it also develops in each individual student a greater awareness of the world around them.

What I am also hoping is that this community-wide effort will spur a greater awareness of the good that can come of community service: of engaging in giving, not for pay, not for recognition, just doing something for the good of others. It fosters an awareness of how an individual can affect change, can contribute to the greater good, and feel good at the same time. This spirit of service needs to be nurtured in our youth, regardless of demographic. And this is just the beginning! I can think of great projects for our Science club and students, engaging them locally, helping them see the global impact.

 "If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness.

And this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

 
 

There is no question--there is always something new to learn! I am here once more, after a brief hiatus... as I was discovering new things! I have been posting regularly on Twitter, and I can't believe how much I have gleaned from info-bytes of 140 characters or less. It really is a fascinating phenomenon!

I have heard several times before that one must try to reach one's audience in 5 different ways... I am working on that now! For my students' parents, our Fine Arts Newsletter is a vital link. It describes our projects, announces up-coming dates to mark on the calendar, provides information about events in the community, as well as links to interesting things to do as a family and for the students on their own. I am all for quiet days at home (who has those anymore?) when one is bored and has to drum up something to do. That is the exciting part--where anything is possible, and when hopefully, those creative juices will start flowing. That is when forts get built, when dragons are slain, when the actors and actresses create an imaginary set, and great art is made for the refrigerator. We all need time to play. I encourage alternatives to the television and the game sets, but sometimes we all run out of ideas, and that is where the newsletter comes in.

I wonder how many of my visitors are from my school... and from far away. Of course, that is all relative now, with the way we all interact... It is a small world, afterall! A Cluster Map may be my next little project for this site.  





 
Art with Ortist 02/01/2009
 
 
 

We have just finished a unit on watercolor--a real look at the color wheel, and how colors work with one another. A great tool I discovered is Ortist--I created a color wheel on it to review with all students, and a colleague on Art Ed 2.0 created a short using color theory-- a great collaboration. We then played with color--using watercolor and listening to Jazz to loosen up, we explored how colors mix, how we can layer and what they look like next to one another. Then we were ready for our project--a focus on a still life set up in the middle of the studio--our task: to create a composition from the variety of elements on display--with incredible outcomes! The students really seemed to apply line, shape and color, while also exploring value and space. We are getting there!

 
First Post! 02/01/2009
 

In an effort to simplify how I do things--I have decided to add my blog here, rather than have different portals to present how, why and when I do all the things I do... First and foremost, this is my art educator blog--I am a teacher. Every moment of my day is focused on how I can connect with every individual in the Fine Arts Studio, and help each one connect to the subject matter, to him or herself, and to thinking! I am one who is enthralled by what is around me--I delight in the details, the variety of ways of being--how can one grow up and not see? And through the Arts, we can communicate all these wonderful discoveries--or at least, make the attempt to help others see, feel and connect. I think making connections is what Art, Music and Theatre are all about. And regardless of medium, I look forward to sharing the experience with others.