Ark: Week 15

What a great week.  TREMENDOUS PROGRESS THIS WEEK WITH THE SERVICE LEARNING PROJECT! 

First, here are a few pictures of Sam 1 working with her 1st graders on the service learning project.  This past week Sam and Ms. Helen worked together and motivated the students to paint patterns (in groups of two) on the back of the boards. As you can see, Sam gave a quick demo to the students of what they could do with shapes and lines (the students really loved watching her paint and they were uber excited to start painting away)!

While Sam was busy working with the 1st graders I was busy with the 6th graders. First I showed the 6th graders a powerpoint of murals on irregular surfaces (which included photos of the Uncle Sam Project). I also did my homework and found other schools/students who have done the same project on carboard--this was a great tactic because I showed the students images of this project that the students all did the same thing--decorate the silhouettes with dots. As a class we discussed how they have a "better project" because they can paint whatever they'd like to about themselves, Ark and their community. The students were really happy and excited that they had their OWN board to paint and could truly express themselves. During the same class I had the students sketch out ideas of what they would like to paint on worksheets that had silhouettes drawn on. The students established what they wanted to paint on their boards which made them feel accomplished and independent. 

The next class the students walked in and Ms. Molly and I displayed all the boards around the room.  The best behaved students were the first to pick the names out of the bucket.   I laughed so hard to myself when the very first name picked out of the bucket was the female student who absolutely hated this project and encouraged other students to also hate it.  She immediately ran to the biggest/tallest board and wrote her name on it and she was soooooooo happy. As soon as all the students selected their boards and we granted permission to them that they could take the boards back, she was the very first student to start drawing right away.  After a few minutes I walked over to her and told her how impressed I was with her eagerness create her board. She told me that she really liked this project and loved her board. I politely reminded her how she used to hate me and this idea and that now it makes me very happy that she loves this project and that she well, likes me a tad bit more. She laughed, apologized and thanked me for "puttin' up with my att-aa-tuuude."  It was a great bonding moment for the two of us and this entire process has been a phenomenal learning experience for both of us. 

Below are some pictures of what has happened this past week:

Ark: Week 14 (I think...I need to check to make sure my weeks all add up correctly!)

This past week I was in charge of all the afternoon classes (3rd, 5th and 6th grade).  It was a very very very busy week--I started a new project with the 3rd graders (face mugs), the 5th graders finished their Role Model projects and the 6th graders finished making their African Animal Masks.

I was excited to take over the 3rd graders because I have built a relationship with the majority of them. The students have been responding very well to my teaching and instructions(we have a lot of good fun with each other). We have been working in clay and I am tying in what they are learning in their content classrooms (African American culture/history) by teaching them about African American Face Jugs that were very common during slavery.  The students are making face mugs and are learning about clay moisture consistency, slip and scoring, rolling coils and will soon be learning about glazes! The students also are required to write a silly story about their silly face mugs.  Some of the stories are too funny and are very creative (great way for the students to incorporate literacy into the art room).

I have been really enjoying the 3rd grade--I have the most fun with them (mostly because they try their hardest and are always proud of their artwork. It's going to be very hard leaving them in eight days....

Below are a few images of the students' face mugs!

Ark: Week 13

During this week the Sam Duo was hard at work with out Service Learning project.  We have been spending all of our free time on priming and cutting out the wood.  Thank goodness we have each other or this project would not have had happen.  We faced a few obstacles--learning how to properly use the jig saw, how to not cut the horses, and not to mention it was quite a work out carrying all the supplies outside.  We are hoping to be finished with the boards next week so the 6th graders can start painting them! We also think that the 1st graders will paint patterns or abstract expressionism on the back of the boards.  All I know time is blowing by us like no tomorrow--though I'm a little nervous we may run out of time with this project I'm staying positive and believing we can finish this project by the end of our placement!

Ark: Week 13

I had to share this! Below are three proud 5th graders and their artwork that was exhibited at Sage Colleges in the Faith Ringgold art show.  They are just too cute!

Ark: Week 12

This past week I was also in charge of teaching the 6th graders about West African masks. I taught the students about my brother, Hans, and how he lived in Senegal, Africa for 5 years. After the PowerPoint and brief discussion I also had the students watch a video about Dogon Mask Dance (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whAY9R-_7ac)The students watched the 2 minute clip, completed a graphic organizer and then discussed what we learned.  The students got their hands dirty with paper mache as they covered newspaper strips over plastic milk gallons.  The 6th grade attitudes have improved and I believe it's because I've taken the time and individually spoke to them about what's going on with them (inside or outside of school).





The 6th graders have also been busy tracing 1st graders--at first they were all, "I DON"T WANNA DO THIS MURAL!!!" and now they are very excited :)  The students' attitudes have also shifted (thank goodness) with this idea.  They were actually having FUN during the tracing and I think because of that they realized I wasn't there to spoil their end-of-the-year-project but to make it better for them! Check out the pictures below!

 

Ark: Week 12

This past week was a great learning experience for me and the 5th graders while working on the Role Model project. After battling with these students for some time with how to use a ruler to make a 1 inch and 2 inch grid I realized it was time for a change up. I had the students walk into the art room and when they all took their seats I informed them that I was a 1st grader and that they had to teach me how to make a 2 inch grid on the big piece of paper. I spoke to the students as if they were teachers (using Ms. and Mr.) and did exactly what they told me to do.  The students realized how hard it was to explain to me the directions--and through this activity all the students completely understood what to do. There was a lot of positive energy and laughter in the classroom. The students felt special because they were directing the class and felt important because they had to be very articulate with their instructions or we would all mess up. After this activity the students had zero problems with their grid and transferring shapes onto the bigger grid (I couldn't believe it!!!!!!!) It was a great learning experience for everyone in the classroom (especially for me--I will definitely repeat this activity in future teaching endeavors).

Ark: Week 11:

The 3rd graders have been relieving their stress from the NYS tests by making Guatemalan Worry Dolls. Before we made the worry dolls, we discussed what worries us and we got to express our feelings. (I informed the students I was worried about not finishing my quilt for ART 521---I laugh too hard because the next class the students came running up to me and asked me if I had finished my quilt!)The students are using fabric, glue and yarn to cover wooden clothes pins to make their dolls. Students have been creating a lot of fun, bright and bold patterns by using different types of fabrics as clothes.  Once the students are done making their dolls they then drew patterns on a paper box (that they eventually cut and glued together). The students all decorated their boxes with crazy and fun patterns--they were all very different (which I loved)!  Some of the students were too cute--they used fabric to make pillows and blankets so that their worry doll could sleep safe and sound.

During this project I spent a lot of one on one time with students. During this time I learned more about the students...as in their personalities, how they learn and their personal needs in regards of how to assist them.  It was a good experience to work with the students one-on-one because it helped build a trust/bond between us. I have also been allowing some of the 3rd graders to come up to the art room during lunch--a lot of the time they just want to talk and socialize about random things with me.  I'm very happy that I am getting along so well with the students--it will be very difficult to leave them one day...

Below are images of the students' worry dolls!