Art Portfolios

As an effort to create hope for the safe travel home of art projects before break, I organized and stored all the student artwork that was created first semester. I made grade level specific letters that have a brief introduction to the art curriculum of that grade as well as a short learning statement for each project that is included in the art going home. In one hour, I talked with the class about why an artist would use a portfolio, what purposes a portfolio could serve and why we might want to share the art they have made. We then designed our portfolio using the paper grocery bags I got donated from local stores(600+ total donated), colored paper, crayons and glue. All the while, I rotated the student to help pass back all the art work. Needless to say-a busy day in the art room! I made adaptations and did this for my first through fifth grades, not including my special needs groups. For those of you keeping track, that is 20 out of my 23 classes I see weekly! 

When brainstorming with second grade, I got some of my favorite suggestions as to what one could do with their portfolio at home. An enthusiastic little boy said, "I am going to sell my art on the internet!" To which I elaborated, "many artist do sell their art this way to make a living, etc., etc." A little girl said " I'm going to hang my art all around my room and play art museum with my family!" What a cool idea-love it! Another notable quote is from a boy with low motor skills and emotional development for a second grader. After bouncing up and down with his hand raised, I made eye contact with him and he blurted out "I am going to hang my art on the back of my fish tank so that my fishies can see it and when me and my dad look at the fishies we can see my art too!" 

I was pleased with the hand full of comments from parents saying how impressed they were that their child had so much to say about their art and teachers saying how responsible and respectful student were while transporting their art. 

There were time in this endevour where I wondered how much this process was teaching and how effective it would be in the safe travel of art.  Although I doubt the scene I envision with parent and children sharing art happened with the majority of students, I do think my little victims are gaining a sense of respect and appreciation for art that maybe wasn't there pre Ms. Cox.

Bathrooming

During my internship year my mentor allowed students to go to the bathroom during art. If they asked, one at a time was allowed to use the restroom across the hall. They rarely happened.  I felt like this was reasonable. As a child, I remember being angered when teachers did not let me go to the bathroom when I needed to. Thus, I adapted the one at a time routine. 

"Bathrooming" (as a seasoned teacher calls it) was quickly abused in the art room. If one kid asked to go, magically enough 21 students had to go! So within the first few weeks I made it clear to teachers and students that they were to use the bathroom BEFORE or AFTER art. I only see them one hour a week. I can NOT spend time keeping track of who was is gone. Were their hands clean when they left the art room? Is their project going to be complete? How will I catch them up with everyone else? How long have they been gone? At a workshop with other "specials" teachers, it was shared that they had the same policy. One teacher even said that if they have an accident, it will help them remember to go before art next time. I felt like that was harsh, but what can you do?!

After two months of having the "BEFORE or AFTER" art policy I found an untouched puddle near a table. I recalled that a first grade boy had asked to go during clean up and I told him we only had five more minutes in art and he could go when they got back to class. I was so preoccupied with clean up procedures that I could not even remember who had asked to go when I found the puddle.  None of the students told me about the puddle...I had the custodian come in between classes. Later I found out who had the accident.... 

Gross little goblins-AKA my students

Several students are sent home each day with head lice. The policy allows students to be at school with nits, only when bugs are found is when they are sent home! It makes me ITCH to think about it!!!

As October came to a close I had two "moderately impaired" first grade boys poop their pants while sitting next to each other. One had waddled to the aide in the room and said "I stinky!" You can say that again-the smell still lingered after I disinfected the chairs!  The two waddled back to class to clean up the mess with the aide.

An excited first grade girl stopped me in the hall saying "Mrs. Cox I threw up 6 times last night and I still feel sick!" It was like she was bragging. 

On a less disgusting note, I had a great start to using clay with fifth graders this week and I got three new bulletin boards at my "home" school.