Get your Glow On

At the start of the school day my student teacher and I were headed to the art room when one of our young students stopped us and said that there was a "glow on" our leaves.  I didn't know what he meant and asked him to show us. He was right! There was a glow on our leaves! The room was dark and the light was coming through the window in just the right way- it lit up the bag of leaves that my student teacher was using for a project. It was magical!

wonderment: last few days

We are ending the school year earlier than was initially planned. Due to lack of funds, we are ending June 2nd! We are in the final days of school. Here is my wonderment; it doesn't seem to matter when the last day is- we still rise and fall to the occassion. There is a rhythm to the end, regardless of the date. Students and staff alike start getting rather excited when we are down to counting weeks not months, then even more excited and rather frenzied when we are down to days not weeks! We are trying to stuff the days so full they are busting at the seams. Our emotions are barely below surface with the dangerous recipe of staying up late and being more active with the longer daylight hours, testing students, packing our rooms up, preparing for summer and next year, and tear laden goodbyes to the classrooms of students we have grown to love! These last days are full of field trips, class picnics, plays and performances, field days... Anything that will corral all those wiggles and giggles while the anticipation builds! ...until we can set them free, and let them bust loose into Glorious summer Vacation!

Wonderment: Following directions

Two classes, 56 students, same directions- What a difference! Class make-up completely changes a lesson! Each class has a personality. Some classes are the calm, quiet, studious type; some are active, silly, and on the go, some are moody, mysterious and a little disturbing... I find it fascinating what a difference it makes in the outcome of their artwork! Here's an example:

See if you can guess the personality of these 2 classes! They are both Kindergarten classes, and they come to art in the afternoon- one right after the other. This is a "Crazy Hair" assignment that I have taught a lot. I didn't make up the lesson, a lot of art teachers use this one because the students really love making these (I love to make them too :)

Here are some pictures from class 1-

Here are some pictures from class 2-