Clay Fish!

   Who wouldn't love to make a clay fish!?? So far the kindergarten classes really loved making these beautiful fish. While giving the demonstration we first learned how to roll the clay. Most of the students knew how to do this because they have previously rolled clay this school year. Next was a very difficult task for the students because they had to hold down the cardboard shaped fish while cutting around it. Doing two tasks at once became slight difficult for some of the students, and a breeze for others. From here you can really see who has more advanced motor skills then some other of the students.

   Once the fish were completely cut out, the students had to show me they were ready to move to the next step. The next part of making the fish was to add the texture!!! Texture? What is texture? Well kindergarten students didn't really understand what the word texture means so we found objects in the room that had smooth texture and rough bumpy texture. The students learned that texture is how a surface looks and feels! They really enjoyed feeling different objects and describing their textures!  When the students understood what texture meant, we then added texture to our fish. We had a big box of different materials that worked very well. The students really liked getting creative and mixing up textures to make their fish.

 

The Class's Fish!!!

Doing my own lesson!!

   Today I started my very own lessons with the kindergarten students. The lesson is focused on ocean life because the students are learning about this topic in their original classrooms. The Ark Charter School does this with all their art projects and is a great idea to do because it makes a deeper connection for the students. Todays lesson began with reading a book called Hooray for Fish. This was a fun and cute book to start the lesson because the students got to see all the different types of fish they can create.

    Throughout the book we pointed out different shapes, colors, and designs we saw. One part in the book their were three fish and each were yellow, blue, and red. We talked about the fish being primary colors, and how other fish in the book were secondary colors. We even used math during the lesson as well because we counted fish on certain pages. This book was fun to read because the students laughed really hard at certain parts. One part they loved was when there was a fat fish, or an upside down fish. And of course all the students had to say ewwwwwwwww when the little fish kissed the mom fish. I just found the students so comical with the reactions they had.

   Next in class I had a small conversation with the students about the different fish they saw and which fish they would like to make. I told the students that fish are really simple to make as long as you break them up into simple shapes. From here I gave the students a demonstration on how to draw some fish and their surroundings. While the students began to work, I then put on the video version of Hooray for Fish so all the students could see the image and gather some ideas. The movie was a hit as well. The class and I did a great job so far!!

 

Finishing up work for the art show!

    Today the kindergarteners finished their Keith Harring graffiti trains. Their focus was to trace and cut out wheels for their train cars. I noticed that this was a very difficult task for some of the students. I had to constantly remind the students to go very slow and take their time. I would also have to tell them to stay on the line they drew and turn the paper as they cut. Another task the students had to do was to connect the trains and put designs on the wheels. I thought it was funny that one of the circles I had in front of me I put a smiley face on. I did not notice that this would start a trend because when I looked around the room, all of the students had smiley faces on their wheels! Ms. Helen and I had a little laugh together and I realized why teacher examples can be difficult to have. I see that the students really want to copy what they see and sometimes giving them simple directions with a little bit of freedom will let them be much more creative.

     In the first grade classes the students finished their paintings and had to do some writing. The students had to create a title for the paintings and explain why they named it that. One of my students that I have been closely working with had a really great story. Because his painting was of a home of him, his sister, and mother, I assumed this was a happy picture. He then told me that it was sad and he painted this because his dad was unable to be in the picture. I asked him why and he told me that his dad was in jail and he missed him. So he decided to name his picture  Lonely Without My Dad. I just thought it was so sad and very touching. I also was impressed how many of the students came up with such interesting tittles. I expected the obvious tittles, but the students came up with some really great and meaningful tittles and reasons.


    Once the first graders were done writing they began to learn about caves. This was funny because the students chose very interesting words to describes the caves shown in class. Many of the students called the stalagmites hanging from the celling either drooling or icicles.  It made me laugh because it is obvious the stalagmites are neither of them but the students didn't know the vocabulary words to describe them. Most of the students really got into their watercolor paintings quickly and had some great ideas for making them scary.

 

Week 4

 

   My fourth week at the Ark Community Charter School has been great just like the rest. The students and I have returned from winter break and my mother has finished cleaning out my little sister's closets. Having six huge bags of clothes, I thought it would be a nice to donate the clothes to the girls at the school. I know they will really love the clothes and hopefully there isn't a fight over them.

    Returning back to school the kindergarteners were still learning about transportation. This time the students were creating trains with graffiti. This was all based around Keith Harring's work of art and how his graffiti was a positive message to the community. We focused on love, friends, family, and working together as a team. Graffiti can be used as a good thing, as long as you get permission.

    Returning from break I also have been teaching nearly almost every class. The students respond extremely well to me and pay close attention. Sometimes it is even a fight to be able to work with me during class. I am very appreciated by the students in this school even though they require a lot of cleaning up after : )

Taking over for the day!!!

     So ....today was an amazing experience for me to have because Ms. Hellen was out and preparing for her sisters big wedding tomorrow. This meant that I was left to take control of all of the classes and even other classes I have not met before. I had no worries about the day and it really did turn out as fine as I expected it. What I really liked was that the substitute stood aside and let me take over. She realized that I have a very special bond with my students. The students that I have never met before even loved me to death, it was as if my teaching methods just couldn't go wrong. Overall, the students were very respectful and treated me as they would Ms. Hellen. I was soooo happy with all of them and glad they do look up to me. I enjoy my little students so much.

    In my first grade classes the students were painting their Harlem Renaissance paintings. We focused on holding the paint brush like a pencil and how to apply paint to the paper. Some of my students had some difficulties but we worked around them. I helped every student in this short period of time and they all ended up feeling proud of their work.

The one thing I was afraid of today was being able to get the classroom and the students cleaned up at the end of class. Usually end of class picking up paint and putting supplies away can be hectic but today it really wasn't. It went smooth and the students did their jobs correctly.

     In my sweet Kindergarten classes, the substitute could not get over how well behaved and productive the students were. For today the students had to paint their hybrid vehicles and then put fluorescent designs on top. All the students finished as well and they all had a great time. All of my classes left a good report for Ms. Hellen!!!

 

Week 3

    This week the kindergarten students began to build their vehicles that they have drawn from last week. I was happy to give my first demonstration and take control of the class. The students responded very well and came up with some great vehicles. What I loved most was when I told the students that we would be building they all dropped their jaws to the floor and kept saying "woooowww." I just love their personalities and how impressed they are with the most simple things. Here is a students vehicle that she called an airplane car with rocket boosters in the front and back. How smart!

     Also, I enjoyed while the students were working and I would ask them why they chose what they chose and explain to me what it will do for the vehicle. This helped them make better choices and really think about what they are doing. This prevented the students from making a mess and something meaningful. Overall the students all did something different and all had a great time!

 

    In the first grade classes, the students began their own Harlem Renaissance portrait. We have chosen to use bright paper for the students to paint on because all the Harlem Renaissance paintings are bright. So far the students drew out their ideas and made something that was in their daily life. Most of them drew portraits of their house, their family,  or themselves doing their favorite activity.
   I noticed that many of them had a hard time thinking of something to draw when the topic is so broad. Therefor I helped students come up with an idea and make something that really represents them. Others I would help by demonstrating how simple shapes can be put together to make more complex shapes.

Week 2!

     My second week has been just a great as the first one. I have been trying hard to remember my 6 classes of students names which is extremely difficult. I am not sure if I will ever be successful at pronouncing their unique names. Although the students I have to discipline more are the ones I remember the most because I am constantly saying their names!!

    In my kindergarten class we worked with mixing primary colors for a day. The colors were water mixed with food coloring...and the students LOVED it!! I think they enjoyed because they could make a mess and do whatever they wanted with the colors. I worked with many of the students and asked them to make a color to see if they were learning. I was surprised that students this young were so smart and could create secondary colors....most high school students I know cant even do that (which is pathetic.) One of favorite times during class was when one student shouted "Ms.Samantha, I made the color blonde!" I thought it was so funny that a kindergartner would refer to a light yellow as blonde...and then I remembered that it was because all the students love my long blonde hair. What really made me laugh was that all the students in the class tried making the color blonde and had to show me.

    After working with the primary colors, the kindergarten students were introduced to a new project. They were introduced to "transportation" and the class had to come up with a list together of vehicles that go on land, the air, and in water. With this list the student had to pick two vehicles that do different things and combine them. So therefore the students had become an inventor and had to create a interesting vehicle. They students were required to draw their image and make a background that applies to where they vehicle is going to be. They also had to tell Ms. Hellen and I what this vehicle is so we could label their work because next class we are going to build them!!! I cam to the conclusion that a rocket ship was defiantly the most popular vehicle.

 

 

    In my first grade class the students began a new project as well. We have started the Harlem Renaissance and the students really respond well to the art. For the first class all we have done is talk about each piece of art work and the different objects that are in them. We talked about the use of color, the shapes, and even about the culture being portrayed. The students really got into it and really loved the mans shoes in this picture. They claim they are high heels.

    Lastly, Ms.Hellen and I put up the art display in the hallway. All the work was done by the 2nd graders and their art was on the urban, suburban, and rural areas. They were extremely beautiful and I couldn't believe how good the watercolor ones came out!! They looked better then the older students I have had! This painting shows a foreground, middle ground, and background. The colors are not bleeding all over and the work is very neat. It goes to show that sometimes younger students put more effort into their artwork then high school students who don't want to be in their class.