Countdown...11 days...

There are 11 days until I go back to work!!

I'm super excited...not too many people can say that about going back to work...but I love my job.

I created this blog to share my ideas, thoughts, and creations with the world.
I would also like this to be a place where other art teachers come and share their thoughts and ideas.

As the summer winds down yet again, in 11 days I will be starting my 4th year as a middle school art teacher in Maryland...I've been at the same school since I got hired right out of college.

I've been thinking about all that needs to be done before the students come back...and I really want to do some things different in my classroom with layout, supplies and displays. I'm trying to find some awesome back to school bulletin board ideas but I've had little luck. I guess I just have to stop being in summer mode and start coming up with the ideas myself. I think I might do something with words... like CREATE, EXPRESS YOURSELF, GET YOUR ART ON...or even "Fall into Art" which is kinda lame because its used so much...but maybe I can turn it into something awesome. Its hard cause most of the ideas online are for elementary schools, but I want my boards to be more sophisticated...if that makes sense. Maybe I'll pick quotes or something. Any ideas?!

Aside from bulletin board ideas, I was thinking about having supply stations. Right now all of my art supplies are in the cabinets...nice and neatly put away where students can't touch. But I feel like as artists they should be able to have access to the supplies to use in their work if they want to. I want to make my classroom "artist" centered. I want my students to come in feeling like artist, not students.

I feel like thats the issue with middle school students and art. They don't see art as expression, but as a class. Art is not a class...its a way of life...its expression and creation. I want them to learn new things, but in order to use those things in being able to better express themselves...not just because they're supposed to know it by a certain grade.

So how do I arrange my room? How do I set up my stations? This is my first time trying it...it gives me anxiety. Making sure I'm sticking to the curriculum, keeping my students behavior in check, and making them feel like they can create awesome work even if they aren't the "best" at drawing, painting, or sculpture. I want them to realize that art isn't about making it look just like something, but its about EXPRESSION. It can be about replicating...and technique, but they're only in middle school....how much technique can they have? I don't want to lose them on technique.

I think for my first day of school I am going to have students create Post-Cards that share things other people would not necessarily know about them. I've based this off of Post-Secret by Frank Warren. I think kids will love this...they can express themselves ANY way they want, and we all get to know each other a little better.