Wild about Arkansas! Go Team!

Wooo Pig Sooie!!!  Thank you Stacy at SleepyHeadDesigns for the motivational ideas!

http://sleepyheaddesignsstudio.blogspot.com/2011/06/painting-razorbacks.html

We also viewed some of the fabulous art works from

Abby Carman.

http://abbycarman.com/razorback_art.asp

My afterschool group of 2nd-5th graders showed how proud we are of our Arkansas with our tribute to the Razorbacks, Arkansas State Redwolves and our schools Pioneers. 

My students used large flat dell computer boxes for our canvas.  They primed them first then used yellow paint to draw their outline then let their creativity take hold.  I really love all the personality these pieces have.

Here is the link to the power point I used with some of Carmen's Work and ideas from Sleepyhead.

http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/huskeyj72501-1347955-razorback/

In LOVE with Reading...Printmaking & Zentangles Heart Art!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!  We have been following up our Jasper Johns printmaking creations with I would say what has turned out to be some of my FAVORITE pieces!!   Below I posted our steps and some examples.

First I gave my student foam rectangles and we use old ink pens to create the Embossing. 

Embossing

Any process used to create a raised or depressed surface, sometimes without ink.

Drypoint

Drawing directly on the copper plate with a sharp point creates a rough ridge of metal--a burr--along the furrow. When the plate is inked, the burr catches the ink, producing dark, velvety accents.

They cut out the heart shape from their foam piece.  Then we rolled colored ink over their hearts and began the printing practice.  After they felt confident with printing then we used old book pages that had been falling apart.  Glued them to colored backgrounds and they did their final heart right in the middle of the text. 

              

WE HAVE HAD ENDLESS COMPLIMENTS ON THEIR PIECES.  I used the caption "In LOVE with READING" and displayed the art in the hall.

As my 5th & 6th graders finally finished their alphabet sculptures we moved into the zentangle heart art that I borrowed from SmART Class at:

http://elementaryartfun.blogspot.com/2012/01/heart-works

I love the ideas on Natalie's site!

Castles from Once Upon a Time...Previously.

Kindergarten-3rd graders began this project after our artist in residency from Ireland came and did a production with our entire school.  We looked at many impressive castles from Ireland as well as some various art works of castles.  We discussed perspective and proportion (which some had a great concept of…and some not so much.)   One of our key discussions was the shapes and forms we saw as we observed our castles.  The students drew their castles with black sharpie then used water color to paints. 

Here is a link to the little power point I made with examples and a how to draw an easy castle:
http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/huskeyj72501-1347962-castles/

My favorite part, of course, was the book and writing piece I found to go along with it.  Fairy Tales were one of the key places mentioned when I asked students to make connections with where they had heard of or seen castles before.  As I looked for books with castles I came across a variety, but this one caught my eye.  There is a small castle in the book if you look…but not one that you want to be inspired by for creating a castle.  However, I loved the story.  The book Previously is kind of a backwards chronological tale of a mixture of fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters and how they intertwine with each other.  Each page begins its lines with “previously” which led to a great writing piece.  I had my students look at their castles and decide what “previously” might have happened in their castles.  As each of them told me I typed their sentence on the computer so they could view it on the projector and edit my errors as needed then we printed them off so they could cut and paste on their art work.  Love love love these!

Falling for Rapunzel is another really cute book we used.  I also had several illustrate her long hair coming down the tower.



ALPHABET SCULPTURES



"A told B and B told C I'll meet you at the top of the coconut tree.  Chicka Chicka Boom Boom."  Well this project that I found at Dick Blick has turned into an extremely L-O-N-G project!!  If we ever finish them it will be quite the accomplishment.  They cut their letters out of cereal boxes and used dixie cups and toilet paper rolls to create their letters form.  Then it was paper mache mania!  I have been doing this with 5th and 6th grade and we have gone through a ridiculous amount of paper mache glue.  :)

They started painting this week...so hopefully I will have some cool pieces to share soon.  These are just some clips to get you started.  My plan is to make a giant coconut tree that covers the ceiling in the hall and hang the letters with finish line from the ceiling. We shall see if it works.  Send me any other ideas you might have on displaying them.

 

Children's Illustrators @ Arkansas Reading Conference 2012

 Mark Your Calendars!!

Be looking for the list of authors and children's book ILLUSTRATORS...Coming Soon!!

 November 15-16, 2012
Statehouse Convention Center & Peabody Hotel, Little Rock, Arkansas
Keynote Speakers Steve Layne Timothy Shanahan Linda Hoyt   More Details and Proposal submissions at http://www.arareading.org/ Contact me at huskeyj72501@yahoo.com for more information.     Steven L. Layne serves as full time Professor of Literacy Education at Judson University in Elgin, IL. His experience working at multiple grade levels in the public schools provides a unique camaraderie with teachers and librarians. His award-winning books for children and young adults add another element to his dynamic presentations. http://www.stevelayne.com  

—Danny Brassell is a professor in the Teacher Education Department at California State University-Dominguez Hills and founder of http://www.lazyreaders.com/. He is the author of over 50 journal and newspaper articles and nine books, including 75+ Reading Strategies: Boost Achievement and Build a Life-Long Love of Reading, Dare to Differentiate: Vocabulary Strategies for All Students, and Bringing Joy Back Into the Classroom.

   

—Timothy Shanahan is a professor of urban education at the University of Illinois at Chicago where he serves as director of the UIC Center for Literacy.  A former IRA president, he has authored, co-authored, or edited more than 150 publications including Developing Literacy in Second-Language Learners and Teachers Thinking, Teachers Knowing. His research focuses on the relationship of reading and writing, school improvement, the assessment of reading ability, and family literacy.

 

—Linda Hoyt has worked as a reading specialist, a staff developer, a curriculum specialist, and a Title I Coordinator. Her special love is creating environments where children engage as active participants in the learning process.  She is the author of numerous books including: Revisit,Reflect, Retell: Strategies for Improving Reading Comprehension; Snapshots: Literacy Minilessons UpClose; Exploring Informational Texts: From Theory to Practice; Make It Real: Strategies for Success with Informational Texts; and Spotlight on Comprehension:Building a Literacy of Thoughtfulness.

 

—Kwame Alexander has written 14 books, owned several publishing companies, written for the stage and television (TLC's "Hip Hop Harry"), recorded a CD, performed around the world, produced jazz and book festivals, hosted a weekly radio show, worked for the U.S. Government, and taught in a high school. He resides in the Washington, DC area, where he is the Founding Director of Book-in-a-Day (BID), a program that teaches and empowers teenagers to write and publish their own books.http://bookinaday.org/index.php?page=stories

 

Page McBrier is an award-winning author, writing teacher, drama specialist, and arts consultant from Connecticut. She has written over 40 books including Beatrice’s Goat, winner of a 2001 Christopher Award. Some of her other books include Confessions of a Reluctant Elf and the Oliver and Companyseries                                                                                                                                 http://pagemcbrier.com/