I couldn't do anything without helpers. I have #'s on the
backs of the chairs and a popsicle stick with the # of every
chair on it. i pull sticks at random to get helpers. no one
gets their feelings hurt and i don't waste time choosing and
trying to be fair, etc. while i put newspaper down my helpers
bring the smocks to everyone else. rule #284: no one gets up
EVER besides the helpers. by the time we are sttled my
helpers pass out paper and crayons to each table-they write
their name & class code & the crayons are taken away
promptly. use crayons because they won't fuss over the
sharpest pencil with the newest eraser....now do the
direction, instruction, etc. they will listen quietly because
they won't paint if they don't. you can move the unruly ones
to another table if they won't be patient, or you can give
each student a dry paintbrush to hold during the lesson but
if it gets taken away because they are disruptive, you get
the idea.
i like to use liquid tempera in egg cartons and the lids of
the cartons as the palette or mixing tray. i fill the trays
with paint and my helpers pass them out with the water and
they begin. i keep each color paint in a plastic squirt
bottle (a dish soap bottle will work, but i ordered mine from
sax) and i walk around the room and refill that way.
i love to use baby wipe containers for water buckets because
they are so wide at the bottom and easy for the kids to reach
from around the table.
if your not careful a great class can go bad fast at clean-up
time. remind them that helpers are the only ones up and no
talking. give your helpers specific jobs-don't let them
wander around. usually i push my drying rack on wheels to
each table and put the papers on it. sometimes i will call
table by table to bring me their paintings and then i put hem
on the rack.
when all the paintings and supplies are picked up, then the
helpers throw the newspapers away. they may not take off the
smocks until after the hands are washed because bubbly soapy
paint water can splash onto light clothes. i have 4 sinks so
i am lucky. i send one table at a time to wash, rinse, throw
away towel, put apron on table and line up. now breathe!!! it
gets intense but the key is to make sure the non-helpers stay
seated and the helpers know exactly what their job is.
make sure you have a special time-out area becuase there will
always be a disruptor who can throw the whole thing off.

On 11/04/09, Neens wrote:
> Are you tired of seeing my name yet? I'm sure you are and I
> want to apologize first. As mentioned, I am a first year
> art teacher (3rd year teacher) and my student teaching
> experience was not in an art classroom...This causes major
> complications for me as to be expected. I have no mentor or
> support, so you guys are my lifeline and I couldn't live
> without you! HAHA! It's true.
>
> If I may ask yet another question...this time we are
> talking paint.
>
> I am having a REALLY hard time giving a lesson, getting out
> painting supplies, having them paint and clean up in such a
> short amount of time (K- 2).
>
> HOW do you do painting in your room? I mean the simplest of
> things such as how do you disperse your painting supplies,
> smocks, water containers, etc. What is your cleanup routine
> for this? How do you cover the tables? (plastic covers and
> newspaper are not my friend!:) ) How do you a lot your time
> (10 minutes for lesson? 15 minutes for painting? etc.)?
>
> I will take all of you ideas and gratefully grovel at your
> awesomeness! :)

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