My Greatest Treasure

Our first assignment this year is to create a picture of 'Your Greatest Treasure'.  Each student was encouraged to think of the one thing that is the most important thing in the world to them, the thing they cannot live without, and to make a picture of it.

My Greatest Treasure is my family, so I showed the students paintings I have made of my family members.

Artists create works of art that have personal significance to them.  An artist will not make art unless it is important or meaningful to them.  This is our first lesson as artists this year.  No matter what I assign, I want the students to look for ways to adapt the assignment so that they are creating something that is meaningful to them (and still shows that they are learning the concepts taught)!

Portfolios and name tags

Today we built our portfolios and name tags. The portfolio will be used to safely store artwork in the classroom. The name tag is initially to help me remember student names. Later it will be kept stored in the portfolio in case there is a substitute.

Art Rules!

Here are the classroom rules...

1. WHISPER VOICES when you want to talk with your friends during a working time.
2. LISTENING BODIES when the whole class is listening to instructions.
3. Follow the GOLDEN RULE!

This is what happens if you break a rule*...

1. Everyone needs a REMINDER from time to time.
2. If the reminder didn't work, you will be asked to MOVE to a new seat and you will LOSE BEHAVIOR POINTS.
3. If you are still having a problem following the rules, you will be sent to THINK TIME.

* If you are caught doing something DANGEROUS (that could cause injury to yourself or someone else), you will be sent DIRECTLY TO THE PRINCIPAL and we will CALL HOME!

Remember, 'Every day is a new day, with no mistakes in it' (Anne of Green Gables). Yesterday's mistakes will not affect how I treat you today!

Welcome to a new school year!

Welcome back, Harvest Elementary students and parents!  I hope you have had a summer full of adventure and that you are ready to experience the adventures waiting for you here at school!

This term I am starting the year with some of my first, second, and third grade classes.  I am looking forward to making lots of messes with you, and hopefully we'll learn lots along the way, too!