Dale Chihuly 'Macchia'

I did this project back in October but did not get around to posting it.

My second graders learned how to draw Dale Chihuly's Macchia series using an organic shape to start and then used crayons to create a pattern and filled in the white spaces with watercolors.

My Kindergarteners used pattern and markers to create their coffee filter Macchia. They simply created the design and I stayed late rubber banding them over yarn cones and spraying them with spray starch (check out this post for a picture). I then mounted them to thick, colored mounting board that had a label with their name and class on it.

I created an arrangement with both projects to put in the glass display case in front of the library. The school is brand new, in its second year completed, so the display case houses an American flag, ribbon and scissors from the ribbon cutting ceremony. We are not allowed to remove it, so I worked around it.

Fall Bulletin Board: Pumpkins and Owls

Here are pictures of my completed fall themed bulletin board. It contains Owls from my first graders (idea borrowed from here) and Pumpkins from my second graders. The owls were created by using circle tracers, chalk pastels, white and black liquid tempera paint, sponges, and paint brushes! The pumpkins were created with chalk pastels.

I created this handout to guide my second graders after the demonstration. I'll scan in the sheet soon and add a downloadable version!

Here are some pictures of the finished bulletin board. I've received a lot of compliments so far :)

Kindergarten Macchia

After seeing this idea floating all around Pinterest I had to give it a try. My second graders drew their own versions of Dale Chihuly's Macchia (post on that still to come) and I thought these would be a perfect addition to the display I'm planning. Friday after school I stayed to rubber band and spray just under 60 of these coffee filter creations as well as label and cut the boards the Macchia will be glued to. I am excited to get back into school tomorrow and see how they turned out!

Kandinsky and Mondrian Bulletin Boards

My second graders' first project of the year was with the artist Wassily Kandinsky. They learned about his abstract compositions and the geometric and organic shapes he used in his compositions. They drew out their own Kandinsky inspired compositions using pencil, traced over their design with Sharpie and then used watercolors to fill in all the white spaces. Here are some pictures of the bulletin board I created to display these pieces:

My first graders' second project of the year was inspired by the artist Piet Mondrian. We talked about his use of vertical and horizontal lines that created squares and rectangles which he then colored with primary colors and black. We also talked about what abstract art is and how his paintings apply. My first graders practiced using rulers to draw their lines and then Sharpie'd over them. They used markers to color in the squares/rectangles. Here are some pictures of the bulletin board for this project:

Guided Critique Questions

Since I've been working so hard deciding on and creating handouts to support my SLO's I figured I would share this would the rest of the internet. My SLO for third grade is increasing written and oral communication skills through guided critiques and artist statements. I copied Jessica's idea from The Art of Ed and spun it to better fit my classroom goal. If you'd like to check out my Guided Critique Questions and download a set for yourself follow the link. Let me know what you think!

Warm and Cool Color Family Coloring Pages

So far the beginning of the school year has been busier than anticipated. I still need to take some pictures of my room to share, but I am still working on adding posters and quotes here and there. For now I've been working on my SLO's for the Teacher Evaluation SEED program. My SLO for second grade is about color theory. I created warm and cool color coloring pages for my second graders to use as an extension and easily allow me to monitor understanding.

Click on the images to download for yourselves.

Art Room Update

So far I have been quite busy prepping for tomorrow, the first day of school (!), and haven't had a time to jump on here and give an update on the status of my art room. Unfortunately I only have one completely finished board area due to our school's laminator being on the fritz (ahhh).

I do have first period plan tomorrow and the laminator was up and running this afternoon, so my stuff should be done and ready for me to hang up before my first class. I'll do a picture heavy post once everything is exactly how I want it. I can't wait to show all of you :)

For now, here is a teaser:

Sunday Funday

Good Morning,

I hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday! For me, Sunday Funday means nothing other than SHOPPING! Anddd here in Connecticut, this Sunday marks the start of Back to School Tax Free week! If only it applied to everything rather than just clothes and shoes. There are plenty of other back to school related items that are a must, like planners and book bags.

I still have yet to purchase my planner. I was holding out for this gem but I find myself unable to go through with the purchase. I'm thinking it might be a bit too expensive when I can download a customizable format online.

I did, however. just purchase a Vera Bradley laptop bag and I am so excited for it. I am a mac user and have a PC desktop at my school, so I will be bringing my personal laptop almost every day to write up my lessons and everything. What can I say, I hate change.

It's a little gloomy right now, but I'm thinking once it clears up I'll head over to the outlets and check out the clothes. After all, who doesn't need a few new additions to their wardrobe? :)

Paint Brushes and Cans Bulletin Board Set

After searching the internet and asking many other bloggers out there where they got those cute die cut paint brushes and paint cans I finally found what I was looking for!! Needless to say I ordered them right away ;)

                                               Click here if you'd like the set for yourself :)

Kinder Curriculum Layout

Hey everyone!

Only one week left until my school year officially begins! It is now crunch time. I have my curriculum layouts for all of the grades pretty much set but I'm still tweaking, the Kindergarten one is done, though. I'm uploading a copy of what I have created for you all to take a look at (Click to Download PDF). I've based it and laid it out in accordance with a Discipline Based Art Education (DBAE) structure and the elements and principles of design. These lessons are a compilation of what I've found throughout the internet and Pinterest as well as some of my own ideas. If something sounds interesting to you feel free to comment and I'll point you in the right direction for pics/instructions.

Let me know what you think!

Classroom Prep

Good evening everyone!

Today I spent five hours organizing and rearranging the supplies in my classroom, trying to get a good handle on what was left for me so I can finalize my budget order. I'll be going back in tomorrow to finish going through books and posters and then I'm ready to submit it! So exciting, more so for me because its my very first supply order as an art teacher ! :)

After I got home I spent hours on Pinterest trying to finalize ideas for bulletin boards and my classroom management plan. After taking copious notes and doodling along the way I finally think I have a solid handle on this upcoming school year. Although, most of my ideas are pretty ambitious I cannot wait to jump into hand making my posters and the lettering that will bring my room to life. Art is all about creativity and I want my students to feel inspired the second they walk down the hallway to my room. Yes, that's right. Walking down the hallway, not just entering the room.

From what my new co workers and administration has told me this elementary school is in desperate need of some art and color. After the old art teacher retired, I guess she didn't do as much as she could've to display her student's work. Let's just say that I plan to make a difference in this school with the amount of color I am going to bring.  It's my first year after all, I'll learn from my over ambitious mistakes. Although I always have been an over achiever ;)

Hopefully I'll start creating my posters and designing my bulletin boards soon so I can take pictures and bring some life to this blog as well!

Thanks for stopping by and reading my rant.

One of my favorite quotes:

"The earth without art would simply be 'eh'."

Welcome

     Welcome to my new blog! As you can see I have just created this, so bare with me as it will be under construction for quite some time. My name is Jackie Bono, and I just graduated from college in the state of Connecticut. But I can tell you more about that when I add an about me page.
     I will be starting my first year as a K-3 art teacher (or any art teacher for that matter!) in August. I am so excited yet nervous to begin. I have a lot of preparation to do in the next month or so to prep for my new students. I will be posting my thoughts, triumphs, and struggles as I plan out my curriculum, classroom management strategies and procedures, and design my classroom.
     I would appreciate any comments or feedback with any tips and tricks you more experienced art teachers have learned through out the years. I look forward to joining the art educator society!

Thank you for visiting!