Pinch Pot Mania!!!

Students this week are learning about CLAY and TEXTURE and how to make a pinch pot. We will discuss how clay comes from the ground, can be different colors (gray, white, brown, reddish-orange) and has a texture. Texture is the way something feels: bumpy, smooth, soft, hard, squishy, rough, etc.

On the learning carpet, the children will feel their hair, clothes and shoes and describe the texture. I will show pictures of Native American pottery to give the children inspiration for making their pinch pot. To create a pinch pot, the children follow the steps:


1. Roll it (into a nice smooth ball of clay)
2. Thumb it (stick thumb in middle but not all the way through)
3. Pinch it (keeping the thumb in the hole and rest of the fingers on the outside, children are pinching the clay to make the hole bigger and   create the pot's walls)
4. Check it (have Mrs. Varda make sure the pinch pot walls are not too thin or thick)
5. Smooth it (rubbing away all the little cracks)

Clay takes around 7-12 days to dry. After that, I will fire their pinch pot in the kiln. The children will be painting colored glazes over the top to make their pots safe for eating and drinking from and very colorful.

 Students rolling the clay.

 Students pinching the clay.

Turkey's

It's a turkey day in the art room! Students today are learning how to draw a turkey and they are making the feathers in rainbow order. 

And baby Varda is a...

Due March 11th, 2016

Saw this and love it!

Saw this on Etsy...thinking of getting this for the hallway next to the art room.

Fall Pumpkins

This week, students are making pumpkins from their orange paper, grass from their green paper and gluing them to their purple paper from last week. The students are doing a great job at remembering how to hold scissors correctly and their pumpkins are looking awesome! They are using oil pastels to add details for the night sky and the lines on the pumpkins to make them appear bumpy. Some students chose to make 1 big pumpkin, while others chose 2 smaller pumpkins.


Concepts reviewed: Secondary Colors
                                 Primary Colors

Pink or Blue????

Today is the day my husband and I have been waiting for! We find out the gender of baby #2! Unfortunately, we have to keep it a secret until my in-laws come into town next weekend. This week, I'm going to have the children make their guess at what baby Varda is and then when I am able to reveal it, they can see if they were right!
This pregnancy has been so different from my first (being sick 18 weeks and food I can handle), so I'm thinking boy. I don't mind what the gender is though. I really just pray and hope for a very healthy child. I can't wait to start decorating the nursery too!


...to be continued...
:-)

Art to Remember Info Sheet

Order forms will be coming home THIS THURSDAY! Orders are due by November 5th and during the check out process you will have the option of having your order shipped to your home instead of to school. This option is new this year, so I'm looking forward to seeing how it works out for families. If you have any questions, please email me and not the classroom teacher, as they do not know the details of the program. 

Color Mixing!!!

Kindergarten artists are learning how to mix the Primary Colors to get the Secondary Colors this week. I am showing a video on the smart board (which you can view below) and we are going to paint 3 different pieces of paper.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu44JRTIxSQ

The students will use their paper next week to create a picture. Stay tuned!

Monday Rotation Fall Leaves

The next 2 rotation Mondays will be an introduction to hot and cold colors. We call them hot and cold instead of warm and cool because in kindergarten, students have a difficult time understanding warm and cool. Hot colors are red, orange and yellow while cold colors are green, blue and purple. We will discuss what things are hot and to think of the color of those items. We will do the same for the cold colors.

Students will create a fall leaf picture using hot colors for their leaves and the cold colors in the background. I am providing leaf shape tracers for the students and discussing the veins inside the leaf.

Open House

K specials will be represented at Open House.  Due to the Book Fair (and expected crowd) that evening, please understand that specials teachers will be in the cafeteria. My room, the music room and the gym doors will be locked, so you will not have access into our classrooms.

Reminder of times:

5:30-6:15     a.m. class

6:30-7:15      p.m. class

ROY G BIV and Bubble Prints

Students this week are learning about the colors of the rainbow and ROY G BIV. The only color the students are not using is indigo, since I do not have that color available. Students are creating bubble prints. Each table is set up with the coordinating color of paint (i.e. red table has all red paint, etc.).


Students each get their own straw and they are blowing into the paint/soap mixture to create bubbles. Once they have a good amount of bubbles, they take their paper and press it over the top. When the paper is lifted, a print of the bubbles is on the paper. So many oos and aahs were said today. When I ring the bell, the students rotate to the next table taking their straw and paper with them.


The papers look really cool right now. I was planning on the students making a drawing over the top in another art class, but I might change my mind with how neat the papers are looking.


Unfortunately, Friday classes will not get to do this lesson since they do not have school. :-(

Adapted Art Classes

I have 2 classes of adapted art (SCSF room students). One class is kindergarten, the other is first grade. I have been working with the classroom teacher on themes and sticking to the theme each month they have/teach in their room. For the month of August and September, kindergarten had a beach/ocean theme. First grade had colors, shapes and counting theme. While the students are in art, they take sensory breaks at the sensory table which I change out monthly and also do stringing, put-in tubs and feel different textures. 

Kindergarten made sea horses with dot markers and the background being tissue paper. They also finger painted paper, used sandpaper for the sand, painted their hands multiple times and used tissue paper for seaweed to create and under water scene. Finally, they used dot markers again, added beans for gravel and glued down and colored a fish on a paper plate for a fish tank. 

First grade students started off requesting colors to paint a large piece of paper. When dry, I gave them the letters of their name to add tissue paper on. Next, we worked on recognizing circles and they painted with cardboard tubes in the primary colors. Then, we focused on triangles and created an owl and a black cat. We also practiced square and rectangle and created a robot and a turtle. I love how all of the art turned out!

Out Yesterday, Monday, October 12th

Hey everyone! I wanted to let you know sooner, but I had a headache over my eyes yesterday and sinus junk, so I slept almost the entire day. I was out yesterday. Unfortunately, my sub said she didn't read my sub plans before teaching, so everything I had ready for her was a waste. :-/ The art the children created was not up-to-par, so I will not be sending that project home. It's getting more and more difficult to find a great sub or someone with an art background to sub. Now I know why so many specials teachers give a movie to the sub for the kiddos to watch. If you know of anyone who wants to sub, please email me so I can put them on my sub list!
Have a great week everyone! I'm glad to be back today!!!

Bringing Home Art

Students have been working very hard on their artwork. I am almost ready to send home their masterpieces. My hope is to send home the collage, Kandinsky line, Kandinsky circle, and Mondrian next week (October 13-15).

To help encourage critical thinking and develop critical thinking skills, ask your child open-ended questions about their artwork (instead of saying "good job" or "that is beautiful").


Below are questions you can ask.

1. What can you tell me about your picture?

2. What materials did you use?

3. What is your favorite part of the picture?

4. What title would you give your picture?

5. How did you...(make the lines, decide on the colors, etc.)
6. Do you remember the artist who inspired this art?

Mason Arts Festival

This Saturday (19th) is Mason Arts Festival. I will be there in the morning to set up the Kids Art Tent but will leave around 12. Stop by if you can!!! Maggie Moschell (4th grade art teacher) and Katie Hornung (1st grade art teacher) will also be at the tent. We have some super fun projects for the kids to create! Below is a little information from the website.

The Mason Arts Festival is a fine arts and crafts event. Over 120 local and regional artists are featured in outside tents and inside the facility. Painting, ceramics, wood, scultpure, jewelry, photography are just a few of the many medias featured. The event featured local performing arts, food and children's art activities.

LOCATION: Cottell Park

                    5847 Irwin-Simpson Road                    Mason, OH 45040 

                                                  

Additional Features:

Crafts, Entertainment Children's, Entertainment Free, Food, Music 

       

Hours:

11am-5pm 

       

Admission:

Free 

       

Art to Remember Artwork!!

This week, the children are beginning to create their masterpiece for Art to Remember. Art to Remember is a company that takes your child's art, scans it and puts it on over 30 really cool keepsake items. Some of the items are: tshirts, bookmarks, hats, drawstring bag, matted print, lunch bag, cell phone case, necklace, water bottle, coffee cups, key chain and more! Many of the products are less than $15 and ordering will be online only. Keep in mind special occasions: Grandparent's Day, Christmas, Hanukkah, Mother's Day, Birthdays, Father's Day, etc. Order forms will be personalized (a picture of your child's art will be on the front so you know what it looks like) and will be sent home October 23rd. We have over a month, so I will send home a paper reminder when the day gets closer. 

The masterpiece your child is making incorporates lines they've learned this year, a shape of their choice, lots of different colors, their hand print and their name. 

Line Cutting Practice

When students finish their Kandinsky inspired line paintings, they are practicing their cutting skills with a line paper (below). 

A few key points in using scissors:

1. Thumb in small hole, 3 fingers in large.

2. Thumb should always stay on top.

3. Scissors should stay in front of belly when cutting. (If scissors come out to the side, the thumb points sideways or down and the student won't be able to cut appropriately.)

4. Always pick paper up off the table and keep in other hand. 

The students have been doing an amazing job at using scissors this week. I do have the children stand while cutting, at least for the first half of the year. The reason to stand is so the table doesn't get in the way and it is easier to remember to pick the paper off if the table. 

Mason Bicentennial

Kandisnky Line Paintings

Students are being introduced to famous artist, Kandinsky (Wassily Kandinsky) and learning about the types of line he used in his paintings.


Kandinsky is a Russian Painter (1866 - 1944) who was famous for his abstract paintings.





I am showing students a picture of his painting, Composition II, and we are discussing what we see. It's amazing so far to hear so many different responses to what the children see when they look at his painting. This is how I introduce abstract art to the children. I tell them that everyone might see something different in the painting, but everyone has a right answer; that's the cool thing about abstract art.





I am asking the children,
"What color are the lines Kandinsky painted?" (black)
"What did he paint around the lines?" (rainbows of colors or they can name the colors they see)


Children are creating their own Kandinsky inspired paintings; drawing black lines and painting rainbows of colors around the lines.
The lines taught are: up-and-down, side-to-side, dotted, zigzag, curvy, bumpy, and loopy.


This project will take us two art classes to complete.

A little announcement...

I cannot hide the bump any longer, mostly because I have run out of baggy, flowing tops. Baby is due March 11th. My husband, daughter and I are very excited!

Sensory Strategies from our OT

Simple Sensory Strategies for Classroom Teachers, but if you see needs at home, you can do this too.

It seems each year we have more and more otherwise “typical” children in a classroom experiencing sensory processing or sensory modulation type concerns. These children are not able to organize and respond appropriately to the vast amount of stimulation entering their neurological system in a classroom environment. Sensory integration or the ability to respond appropriately is important for all activities a child engages in, especially participating and being available for learning in a classroom environment. When a child’s sensory system is not regulated we may see behaviors such as hyperactivity, poor attention, low arousal/energy, emotional outbursts, or inappropriate social skills. These children are often viewed as unmotivated, disruptive, or misbehaving. In a child with sensory processing disorder these responses are neurological in nature and are direct responses to the sensory input (light, sound, tactile, olfactory, vestibular, and proprioceptive) and until the input is regulated the output (or behavioral response) will continue to be the same. It is important for teachers to be able to recognize and implement sensory strategies so that the classroom can be a successful place for all children. It is also important to understand that young children all develop at different speeds and sometimes providing simple strategies make the world of a difference and that does NOT necessarily mean a child has Sensory processing disorder rather it just may be an immature sensory system.

 

Simple solutions for supporting these children in the general education environment:

 

• Do you have a child that wiggles and moves in their chair or on the carpet?
   
  • Try a seat disc -an air filled chair pad that allows the child to continuously receive vestibular input without being disruptive in class.
     
  • Try having the child sit on a ball chair to allow vestibular input and increase attention
     
  • Try having the child engage in heavy work activities prior to work time (see ideas below)
     
    • Move stacks of books
    • Deliver items from one classroom to another place in the building (especially if it requires carrying something and climbing stairs)
    • Stack items, such as reams of paper, books, or storage bins
    • Erase blackboards and whiteboards
    • Move chairs or tables, put chairs on top of tables at the end of the day and take them down at the beginning of the day
    • Wash desks or cafeteria tables
    • Set up and put away folding chairs and tables
    • Carry bins of lunchboxes into and out of cafeteria
    • Empty wastebaskets, sweep,
    • Sharpen pencils with an old-fashioned, crank pencil sharpener
    • Assist gym teacher or playground supervisor with taking out and putting away equipment such as bags full of balls, mats, scooters, etc.
    • Do laps around the gym or playground
    • Climb stairs
    • Cut cardboard and heavy paper card stock
    • Do pushups against the wall
    • Do chair pushups (holding the chair on either side as you sit, then pushing up to lift the body)
    • Bounce while sitting on an exercise ball (loose or in a holder)
    • Hold open heavy doors, or open them for individuals entering or exiting the building
      Push or drag boxes, carts, or furniture across carpeted floor.
        

• Do you have a child that has trouble keeping their hands still or seems to be day dreaming during whole group instruction? Do they have trouble completing independent work?
   
  • Try placing a small strip of adhesive Velcro under their desk to allow them to touch and pick at it during whole group instruction which will increase attention to task while decreasing the child’s need to fidget and touch those around them.
     
  • Give the child a stress ball or fidget to hold onto at carpet time.
     
  • Allow the child to chew gum or suck on a mint during group instruction which is proven to increase attention.
     
  • Allow the child to have a water bottle at their desk with a straw or a sport top (similar to Gatorade sports bottles) sucking will promote attention by calming the nervous system.
     
  • Allow the child to have crunchy snacks prior to completing independent work (pretzels, carrots, apples)
     
  • If there are no allergies try using a lavender or peppermint aromatherapy in the room to promote calm and attention.
     
  • The mouth is an organizing center. Think of a baby and how sucking on a pacifier or a bottle can be very soothing and self-regulating. When packing lunch encourage parents to send in a combination of crunchy and chewy snack items. Also send in a large straw, rather than a spoon, to use to eat their apple sauce or yogurt. Chewy foods provide great oral proprioception. Chewing gum during instructional class time if the school allows can be very effective too. Crunchy foods like carrots, apples, hard pretzel or think of items that the child really has to really bite and chew and that won’t easily dissolve in their mouth. The crunchier or chewier the more sensory input the child will receive.

 

 

• Do you have a child that chews on their clothes?
   
  • Have the child wear a braided sports necklace.  This will look typical and give the child something firm to chew on while absorbing saliva
     
  • Allow the child to chew gum during certain parts of the day when the chewing occurs
     
  • Encourage the child to bring in crunchy or chewy snacks to provide the proprioceptive input
     
  • Allow the child to keep a water bottle with a straw at their workspace
     
• Do you have a child that cannot hold the pencil with the correct grip?
   
  • Tripod grasp – when the thumb, index and middle finger support the pencil while the ring finger and little finger are bent and rest comfortably on the table.  Other grasps are also efficient patterns for children and you should only be concerned if their grasp is affecting their handwriting or they are experiencing pain.  An inefficient grasp pattern means children typically write slower, use full arm movements instead of defined finger movements and/or fatigue easily.
     
  • Holding the pencil correctly:
    • Mark the pencil with a dot or sticker on each side of the pencil barrel across from another for placement of the thumb on one dot and the index on the other and pinches the pencil. 
    • Make an “O” with the thumb and index and pinch the pencil and tuck the other fingers into bed.
    • Hold something small with the 4^th and 5^th fingers in the palm so the child does not put these fingers on the pencil (cotton ball, eraser, small ball, marker cap…)
    • Pick up small objects with a mini tool (see below) while holding an object with their 4^th and 5^th fingers
      • Tweezers, tongs, strawberry hullers to pick up pom poms, erasers…
    • Tape or rubber band the end of the pencil to visually cue where to hold the pencil.
    • Only give the child small writing tools (short pencils, crayons etc. no more than 2” long, but smaller is better) because they can only fit three fingers on a small writing tool.
    • Use a slant board or large 3 ring binder to encourage wrist extension and typically decreases the 4 finger grasp and facilitates the open web space (the “O” position).
    • Practice 3 finger activities:
      • Pinch clay, plah doh, silly putty
      • Pinch clothes pins
      • Finger strengthening activities (See fine motor list)
      • Lay on the floor to complete simple writing activities to provide stability to the shoulder area and encourage the child to move their finger muscles and not their entire arm/shoulder

 

 

 

Nicole Pfirman, M.Ed., OTR/L

Melissa Edkins, M.Ed, OTR/L

Monday Rotations

Monday rotations are quick, shorter art classes and for the next two Monday's and today, children are finishing their collage art and being introduced to art centers. Art centers are: tangrams, color blocks, unifix cubes, books, drawing, pattern clips boards, and popsicle stick creations. The centers are provided when children are finished a few minutes early with their art and have made sure they worked their hardest. The book center and drawing center are open to everyone and the rest of the centers allow three students at a time to work together. There will always be enough options so all children can participate if time allows. In a couple of months I plan to add a rubbing plates center and play-doh center.

I still need to make the cards for the popsicle stick creation center. Children will look at the board each week to see which center will be available for that day, if any.

 The center tubs are on the 2nd shelf. The drawing center is to the left; the red basket holds drawing paper.

Kindergarten Collages

Yay! Specials teachers resume a normal schedule this week. I am very excited to see your child for the 2nd time and on their original art day AND for 30 minutes!!! This week will be pretty basic and a nice no-fail art lesson. The children will be introduced to the word COLLAGE. I will tell students that a collage is art that is created using a variety of materials and glue. They will get to use our special art room glue (which is in a special bottle and is "super sticky") The glue is really just Elmer's Glue in a special bottle, but telling the children the glue is very special art glue gets them more excited. :-)
                            *** A picture of our glue bottles are below and the proper way to hold the bottle.


 I explained how the glue bottles are already open, so there isn't a need to twist the cap, etc. When we use glue in the art room we say: JUST A DOT, NOT A LOT!  Most of the pieces being glued down only need 1 dot of glue, with the exception of the popsicle sticks which need 3 (one on each end and one in the middle).
The children can use feathers, foam shapes, popsicle sticks in two different sizes, scrap decorative paper, sequins and wood shapes to create their collage.

First few days of school...

The schedule for specials was different than the rest of the school year. We basically had our Monday rotation schedule Wed., Thurs., Friday and Monday. For example, Wed. and Thurs. I had my week 2 classes, Friday saw week 3 classes and Monday I will see my week 1 classes. The schedule was like this so that each specials teacher could see every student in the first few days of school. Tuesday we all start the normal routine schedule.

What did your child do in art the first day? Since this was the first time I met your child, I taught them a couple standard procedures when arriving to art.

         1. I will always wait at the door for them to arrive.
         2. I will invite them to walk in and have a seat on their own square on the carpet. (The carpet is made up of 5 columns of squares: red, orange, green, blue and purple)
         3. After children are seated in a square, we will read a message on the easel. The message will tell your child what they will be learning in art that day.
         4. Your child found out which table they will sit at during work time.
         5. I introduced the bell. When I ring the bell 1 time, children will freeze and put their hands on their head. I will then give clean up directions/reminders and then will ring the bell 2 times. When the bell is rung 2 times, children can unfreeze, take their hands off head and start cleaning up.
          6. Children will remember to push in their chair and line up on the black line. We will count down from 5 to get us ready for the hall. When all voices are off and eyes looking my way, I will open up the door for their classroom teacher, which will then invite them out of the classroom.

In between learning procedures, I read the book, "Beautiful Oops" and we discussed how sometimes mistakes happen. I told the children that I don't like to call things mistakes. Instead, I like to call them beautiful oops or happy accidents because we can almost always fix it. I reassured the children that my job is to help them be successful in the art room especially when something can be difficult.

I also had the children draw a family portrait. I am going to save these drawings until the end of the school year, where the children will create another one and we will glue them next to each other. It will be amazing to see how much they grow this year in their art skills.