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Art Teachers Chatboard

Inclusion questions

by Josie

Apr 4, 2014

I have a student who is in a wheelchair and is not able to use his arms/hands. He is non-verbal but understands what you say to him. He tries to speak, but it is extremely difficult to understand. He is sent to art class with his regular ed 6th grade classmates, but no matter how much I modify a projcet, he is unable to participate and the aid ends...See More

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ArtsyFarty I would advise doing what you can, but if he's in there mainly to socialize, try to create ways that the other students can interact with him. Check with his teacher to see if having other students try some hand over hand or including him some art games (maybe paired with another student) would be okay.

Also realize that your goals and hi...See MoreI would advise doing what you can, but if he's in there mainly to socialize, try to create ways that the other students can interact with him. Check with his teacher to see if having other students try some hand over hand or including him some art games (maybe paired with another student) would be okay.

Also realize that your goals and his goals are probably not the same. I know from experience that that is sometimes hard to accept/realize/remember because you feel guilty that he's not producing art. But if his teacher is telling you that his number 1 goal for attending art class is socialization, then perhaps the differentiation that you should try to provide is more towards getting him interacting with the other kids and less about experiencing art creation. That said, I admire your quest to find something in which he can be successful art-wise. That can be a real challenge sometimes!

On 4/04/14, Josie wrote: > I have a student who is in a wheelchair and is not able to > use his arms/hands. He is non-verbal but understands what > you say to him. He tries to speak, but it is extremely > difficult to understand. He is sent to art class with his > regular ed 6th grade classmates, but no matter how much I > modify a projcet, he is unable to participate and the aid > ends up doing the work for him. I recently asked his > teacher if I could have him do something in the room > completely different.... fingerpaint or shaving cream. He > can't open his fists, but I thought he could at least try > to move his fists around in the paint and that the tactile > sensation would encourage him to move his hand. (He can > grasp a paintbrush but will just sit it on the paper > unable to move it.) His teacher says he does not want him > to do a separate activity (it would have to be at another > table) becuase he is in the room mainly to socialize with > his peers, but the students have a difficult time > interacting with him. What can I do to get them to talk > to him (even though he can't talk back...) It's hard for > them to understand. I just feel so bad for him having to > come to art and have everyone around him use chalk, paint, > clay etc. and he is not really participating. Any > suggestions would be great.

Apr 6, 2014

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Boxcutters for students?

by The Cutting Edge

Feb 14, 2014

Do you allow your secondary students to use box cutters? I am thinking of letting my 7th graders use them for an upcoming assignment to cut and shape boxes. I think I will manage it by giving one per group of 4 /1 per table. Then the students will have to share. I recall years ago one of my mentors teaching an assignment to 7th graders or 8th grade...See More

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Josie Sorry for the blank entry! I wanted to chime in and say that years ago I allowed even my Jr. High students to use exactions but now, in 2014 no way. Not for fear that the students would hurt themselves, but that they would hurt someone else. Check with your administration first and get their answer in writing if they do give you the go ahead. I my ...See MoreSorry for the blank entry! I wanted to chime in and say that years ago I allowed even my Jr. High students to use exactions but now, in 2014 no way. Not for fear that the students would hurt themselves, but that they would hurt someone else. Check with your administration first and get their answer in writing if they do give you the go ahead. I my guess is that they will say no. For the sake of your job and your teaching certificate you have to cover yourself. We've had a couple of incidents happen at our school and one teacher was fired because of it. Be careful-- in my opinion it isn't worth the risk. On 2/16/14, Josie wrote: > On 2/16/14, hmmm... wrote: > >> If you can trust your chosen class then try it on a limited >> test run, and or get the >> box cutters where you can set the >> blade back in retract in the grip housing (by a >> screw) so >> only a tip or part of the blade can only be seen. Exacto brand >> used to >> make a boxcutter where you could set and retract the >> blade inward so the very >> tip could only be seen, then cap >> the grip housing closed with a screw. A whole >> box cutter >> blade is tempting for any student. A near certainty a student >> or >> bystander will get cut or clothes being damaged, and a >> parent will be wanting >> answers. Also if you value your art >> tables, or your tables are a mess and it does >> not matter box >> cutters will certainly find their way to carving something >> other >> than a project. I took a classroom over from an art >> teacher who allowed >> boxcutters and the HS students cut V >> holes, chunks, and slots out of every table. >> Scratching >> across the top surface ruining the surface of every table in >> the room >> in the process. Even dull box cutter blades can do >> this type of damage. >> >> On 2/14/14, The Cutting Edge wrote: >> >>> Do you allow your secondary students to use box cutters? I >>> am thinking of letting my 7th graders use them for an >>> upcoming assignment to cut and shape boxes. I think I will >>> manage it by giving one per group of 4 /1 per table. Then >>> the students will have to share. I recall years ago one of >>> my mentors teaching an assignment to 7th graders or 8th >>> graders with cardboard and I am pretty sure they used >>> blades and heavy scissors. I have also read the survival >>> kit for elementary and middle school art and it suggest >>> that 7th grade is fine for using x-actos so maybe I will >>> get that in stead of boxcutters. They are pretty darn sharp >>> as well but the blades are smaller Would love to hear tips >>> on management of cutting tools and experiences in class.

Feb 16, 2014

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ArtinGA You can do it, but you need to be prepared. My 8th grade students used box cutters / craft knives in class during the second quarter this year. They made cardboard heads. I checked in with my principal first to ask him about his opinion. Then, we did extensive safety training (demonstrations, PowerPoint, and watched a training video on using them)....See MoreYou can do it, but you need to be prepared. My 8th grade students used box cutters / craft knives in class during the second quarter this year. They made cardboard heads. I checked in with my principal first to ask him about his opinion. Then, we did extensive safety training (demonstrations, PowerPoint, and watched a training video on using them). Students had to pass a safety quiz, demonstrate to me how to properly use a knife, and sign a safety contract. Luckily, both classes I had were about 25 students, so this was feasible. Students used large boards under their work, so that they didn't damage the table tops. I kept the knives in a caddy on my desk that held each knife in a labeled sections. They had to sign out and in the knives each period. We also discussed that if the knives left the room that they became weapons and no longer art tools. Because of this, the knives weren't allowed in pockets or left unattended. There are safety box cutters you can get that don't have an exposed blade (safetycutting dot com). Luckily, I had a VERY well behaved group of students that quarter. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to do it since due to the maturity levels of the students in my classes. Hopefully, we can next year because the students who did the project really enjoyed it.

On 2/16/14, Josie wrote: > > Sorry for the blank entry! > I wanted to chime in and say that > years ago I allowed even my Jr. High students to use > exactions but > now, in 2014 no way. Not for fear that the students would hurt > themselves, but that they would hurt someone else. Check with your > administration > first and get their answer in writing if they do > give you the go ahead. I my guess is > that they will say no. For > the sake of your job and your teaching certificate you have to > cover yourself. We've had a couple of incidents happen at our > school and one teacher > was fired because of it. Be careful-- in > my opinion it isn't worth the risk. > > > On 2/16/14, Josie wrote: >> On 2/16/14, hmmm... wrote: >> >>> If you can trust your chosen class then try it on a limited >>> test run, and or get the >>> box cutters where you can set the >>> blade back in retract in the grip housing (by a >>> screw) so >>> only a tip or part of the blade can only be seen. Exacto brand >>> used to >>> make a boxcutter where you could set and retract the >>> blade inward so the very >>> tip could only be seen, then cap >>> the grip housing closed with a screw. A whole >>> box cutter >>> blade is tempting for any student. A near certainty a student >>> or >>> bystander will get cut or clothes being damaged, and a >>> parent will be wanting >>> answers. Also if you value your art >>> tables, or your tables are a mess and it does >>> not matter box >>> cutters will certainly find their way to carving something >>> other >>> than a project. I took a classroom over from an art >>> teacher who allowed >>> boxcutters and the HS students cut V >>> holes, chunks, and slots out of every table. >>> Scratching >>> across the top surface ruining the surface of every table in >>> the room >>> in the process. Even dull box cutter blades can do >>> this type of damage. >>> >>> On 2/14/14, The Cutting Edge wrote: >>> >>>> Do you allow your secondary students to use box cutters? I >>>> am thinking of letting my 7th graders use them for an >>>> upcoming assignment to cut and shape boxes. I think I will >>>> manage it by giving one per group of 4 /1 per table. Then >>>> the students will have to share. I recall years ago one of >>>> my mentors teaching an assignment to 7th graders or 8th >>>> graders with cardboard and I am pretty sure they used >>>> blades and heavy scissors. I have also read the survival >>>> kit for elementary and middle school art and it suggest >>>> that 7th grade is fine for using x-actos so maybe I will >>>> get that in stead of boxcutters. They are pretty darn sharp >>>> as well but the blades are smaller Would love to hear tips >>>> on management of cutting tools and experiences in class.

Apr 4, 2014

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Is 200 students reasonable?

by Lidia

Mar 29, 2014

Hello everyone! I'm wondering what experienced art teachers think of being asked to teach 200 students? I was offered a job at a charter school with a beginning enrollment of 200. The expectation was that I teach 5 classes a day, with 20 students per class. The kids would come to me on alternating days and I would have a grand total of 200. This is...See More

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Josie I have 300 students and teach 6 classes a day.... and feel like I have it WAY easy compared to others. So, yes--I'd say grab that job and hold on tight!

Mar 31, 2014

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gwynnetx Another organizational tip I thought might be useful: name your drying racks. In the back of my room, I have a giant whiteboard that I've divided into 5 rows and 7 columns. The top row has the date (in the first column), and then 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, K. Each grade has a column. I teach them how to read the chart so that they can figure out what...See MoreAnother organizational tip I thought might be useful: name your drying racks. In the back of my room, I have a giant whiteboard that I've divided into 5 rows and 7 columns. The top row has the date (in the first column), and then 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, K. Each grade has a column. I teach them how to read the chart so that they can figure out what their grade is doing. The second row is "What I will learn?", the third is "Which materials will I use?", the fourth is "Which drying rack will I use?", and the fifth is "What do I do when I am done?" I fill the chart out and update it as needed. For "Which drying rack will I use?", I have laminated labels with a magnet on the back that corresponds to labels that are attached to the drying racks themselves. (I named mine after famous artists, and each label has the artist's name and picture on it.) That way I can "fill in" where each grade level should put their work by placing that laminated magnet in the grade level's column. If the artwork's not going in the drying racks, then I just write "Table Stack" and have a student go around and pick up all of the artwork. It keeps the "Where do I put this?" questions to a minimum, students are more able to problem solve and be self-sufficient, and it keeps all of the class's artwork together. The next morning, I have the student who sits next to that drying rack take out the artwork, stack it, and put it in the appropriate slot in the project holder. (I do have 5th grade first thing in the morning, and they're really good about getting it all in the right place.)

On 3/30/14, gwynnetx wrote: > I'm with those who say it sounds like a dream job. I teach K-5 art > at a school with about > 850 students. I teach 6 classes a day, > each with about 20-27 students (23 is about the > norm). We do the > alternating schedule, and I think it's the bee's knees. Frankly, I > don't > know of any school in the surrounding area that doesn't have > this type of set up, even our > IB schools. I think it's REALLY bad > advice to tell you that 200 students is a ridiculous load. > > Some > ways that I organize (that's the key word!) to keep track of all > artwork and kids that > I have per rotation (would you rotate kids > with other fine arts or PE?) is to set up the > grade book first > thing and make a seating chart template. When the kids come to me, > I > assign seats, write it down, and then 3 hole punch that and put > it in a binder. From then > on, I just flip the page in the binder > when they walk in the door. I can keep notes on that > page, record > absences, etc., and it's all right there. > > For organizing > artwork, I have one of those construction paper holders. On one > side, I > keep the "A" day artwork (each is in it's own slot), and > on the other is the "B" day artwork. > As for planning, if you > don't want to handle 12 classes worth of clay projects, for > example, all you have to do is spread out your projects. (Ex. While > one group are doing > "wet" projects like painting, the other is > doing "dry" like drawing. Although after 15 years > of teaching, I > can tell you that it's SO much easier to just do the same thing two > days in a > row.) > > I don't know the requirements for the > assessments, but I would advise you to work it into > your project > time line. Make it routine in your classroom, and make it so that > students > can do most of it themselves. Figure out how to put some > of the work onto the kids. It > gives them some ownership and > accountability in addition to serving as an efficient way > to > collect data and determine grades. (Notice that I did not say put > ALL the work on the > kids.) > > For example, my students get a > sketchbook at the beginning of the year. (It's about 15 > pages of > 8.5"x14" paper folded and stapled by our district's copy center.) > On the back > two pages, I have several assessment pages, and the > kids fill out one for each project. > They write their name, grade > level, teacher's initial, lesson objective, vocabulary words > (definitions are written in the sketchbook), materials used, and a > reflective paragraph > about how they think they did and why. Then > they cut it out, turn it in, I record the > grade, pass it back out, > and it gets glued onto the back of the project to go home to > mom > and dad. Done. (I also do a really quick chit-chat with each > student about their > reflective statement.) > > Anyway, this job is > TOTALLY doable. Next year, we are projected to have 930 students, > so > my class size numbers will be increasing. No problem! > > On > 3/30/14, Lidia wrote: > >> On 3/29/14, Absolutely not! That's a ridiculous student load >> wrote: >>> And no, it's not a "standard" that any good school would expect >>> you to bear. The admins need to loosen their purse strings and >>> hire a second art teacher! >>> >>> You'd be grading every single art project 200 times. You'd >>> have to submit 200 report card grades every however-many weeks >>> (and probably 200 progress reports in between the actual report >>> cards). >>> >>> Follow your guts on this one. Strongly, strongly advise that >>> you turn down their job offer. If they're already cutting >>> corners on the faculty they need, they'll be cheaping out on >>> other stuff too (which means you could wind up buying art >>> supplies for 200 kids out of your own pocket). >>> >>> It sounds as though somebody decided to open a charter school >>> who has no idea how to run a school, or who is hoping to save, >>> save, save money that SHOULD be serving the children and pocket >>> the excess him/herself. They obviously place very little value >>> on art instruction, to say nothing of what's best for the >>> children in general. Stay far, far away from that school; the >>> ridiculous student load is only one huge red flag indicating >>> more headaches and abuse to come. >>> >>> >>> On 3/29/14, Lidia wrote: >>>> Hello everyone! I'm wondering what experienced art teachers >>>> think of being asked to teach 200 students? I was offered a >>>> job at a charter school with a beginning enrollment of 200. >>>> The expectation was that I teach 5 classes a day, with 20 >>>> students per class. The kids would come to me on alternating >>>> days and I would have a grand total of 200. This is an IBO >>>> school, btw, so assessments are quite strict. Is this >>>> standard? I've never had more than 130 students before, and >>>> even that felt like a stretch...any feedback/comments >>>> welcome. Thank you so much! >> >> That WAS my gut feeling, yes. And not just 200 art projects, but >> 200 homework assignments, 200 individual portfolios (IBO >> requirements) ... I do have a family of my own I'd like to spend >> time with now and then. Thanks for your input. I've heard from >> people dealing with up to 600 kids a week. I'd love to know how >> they do it.

Apr 2, 2014

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Art and Autistic Students

by Center Seeker

Apr 1, 2014

Does anyone have any good suggestions for art centers for students with moderate to severe autism or learning disabilities? Thanks.

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artsmmo lay doh, stamping or dotting, mosaics, painting, shaving cream, dry erase drawing on mini boards. These are some of the lessons I do successfully. Hope this helps.

On 4/01/14, Center Seeker wrote: > Does anyone have any good suggestions for art centers for > students with moderate to severe autism or learning > disabilities? Thank...See More

Apr 2, 2014

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Becoming an art teacher

by Jamie Cunningham

Mar 25, 2014

Hello all. I was just honestly wanting some advise from anyone in this field. I have loved art since childhood and nothing is more powerful than the ability to share that with children. Problem is I only have an associates in graphic design, with no experience, and I have years of experience with child care (even with disabled children) with no deg...See More

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Grace On 3/25/14, Jamie Cunningham wrote: > Hello all. I was just honestly wanting some advise from > anyone in this field. I have loved art since childhood and > nothing is more powerful than the ability to share that > with children. Problem is I only have an associates in > graphic design, with no experience, and I have years of > ex...See More

Mar 25, 2014

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gwynnetx As a 15 year teacher (10 of those art), I would suggest getting an aide job while going to school for your teaching certificate, if you are absolutely sure that you want to be an art teacher. Being an aide will allow you to experience what it's like to be a teacher in the school system as well as allow you to get to know people who might have the p...See MoreAs a 15 year teacher (10 of those art), I would suggest getting an aide job while going to school for your teaching certificate, if you are absolutely sure that you want to be an art teacher. Being an aide will allow you to experience what it's like to be a teacher in the school system as well as allow you to get to know people who might have the power to hire you later. I would take issue with the previous poster that private and Catholic schools offer better art programs than public schools or that you have to leave the country to find a job. The art program depends on the teacher mainly and to some extent, imo, the support that you receive from your admin. Jobs are going to be fewer because there's usually only one teacher per campus, maybe two. But in my experience, schools tend to hire who they know. Several aides at my campus have gone on to get teaching certificates and then been hired on in the district. The biggest advice that I can give to you is to make sure that teaching is what you want to do before you invest your time and money into further education and pursuing a teaching certification. It's not the subject matter that the challenge, it's classroom management and discipline. Most of that comes from the experience of being in a classroom (hence, the advice to get an aide job while going to school; first hand observation is invaluable) and learning to run it efficiently. But there's big difference between providing child care and managing 6 classes a day (in my case), each one averaging 20-27 students with more in the upper grades. (And then, of course, there are the numerous committees, meetings, etc., etc.) And the online master's thing? If it doesn't require any student teaching, or very little, I would avoid it. On 3/25/14, Grace wrote: > On 3/25/14, Jamie Cunningham wrote: >> Hello all. I was just honestly wanting some advise from >> anyone in this field. I have loved art since childhood and >> nothing is more powerful than the ability to share that >> with children. Problem is I only have an associates in >> graphic design, with no experience, and I have years of >> experience with child care (even with disabled children) >> with no degree or accreditation. I guess my question is, >> should I try more schooling or try for some kind of >> teachers aide job to get my foot in the door? > > > I too want to be an art teacher...this is what I suggest: > Get your Masters in Teaching - you can earn a Masters in > Education online now easily > You cannot substitute teach without a license- only Educational > assistant-- and it is a dead end job - get your teaching degree > first. Art teachers are being laid off all the time -- just to > let you know it is very highly competitive - try to work > overseas -- go to [link removed];

Mar 30, 2014

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Art writing lesson ideas

by RPS

Mar 27, 2014

The 4th and 5th grades this year have some severe behavior issues. Disrespectful attitudes and behaviors are flourishing and it's not just me and it's not just during Art Class. Admin is not supportive- they just send them back and the classroom. Teachers are not much help either because they are stressed. I want to have a good writing lesson alter...See More

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SH I'm sorry you're having such a tough time - I have been there!!! (many, many times) What I usually do is create a packet for whatever topic they would have been learning about. For instance - when they were learning about Georgia O'Keeffe I created a packet with: - a bio that I copied and pasted from a website - a bunch of questions in response to ...See More

Mar 28, 2014

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computer graphic or digital art

by robin

Mar 26, 2014

Could some of you teachers tell me one or two of your best graphic/digital art projects? I am starting a computer graphic arts class in a middle school and need some direction. What have you done with students that really went over well? Thanks!

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