Square One Time!!

I know that all of the fundraisers can seem endless, and here's another one. This one is very special to our art program at Ford as it is the fundraiser we depend on for almost all of our materials for the entire year (that's clay, paint, ink, wire, paper, tools, pastels, art pencils, paintbrushes, foam, markers, specialty glue, glass, etc, etc, etc). We do a LOT of different projects with a variety of mediums and it definitely costs more than the run-of-the-mill paper and pencil projects. And the cool thing about this one is that each child's artwork can come printed on a variety of items (including an iPad cover new this year)! Orders need to be completed THIS week, so make sure to get yours in. These items make FABULOUS grandparent gifts, too!

Cute Coaster! Imagine how a set of these would light up a coffee table!

Artists hard at work!

Adorable Pastel Resist Leaf from a Second Grade Artist!

Grades Grades Grades...

It's almost that time. Yes, THAT time. Grade time. Grades are changing up this year for 4th and 5th grades. Instead of our O,S and N grades, students will be graded with A, B, C, D or F. Kindergarten through 3rd grades will stay the same. We will be doing a lot more self-reflection and critiquing, which I am looking forward to! Below are the rubrics for 4th and 5th grades for the first 9 weeks of school. Below that is a beautiful blind-contour Coke bottle with Flower created with artist pen and tempera by one of our fabulous 4th grade artists (I had to put a happy photo in a post about grades!)...

		Grade 4   1st  9 weeks Teacher Rubric
Standards:	A		B	C	D	F
Creates artwork based on experiences and selected themes using a variety of media and technique VA4PR.1, 2, 3	Creates successful artwork through an understanding of art elements and principles.		Creates artwork through an understanding of art elements and principles.	Creates artwork through an understanding of art elements OR principles.	Rarely creates artwork through an understanding of art elements OR principles.	Does not create artwork and does not show an understanding of art elements OR principles.
Explores and critiques art through personal, interdisciplinary and/or real world applications VA4AR.2 VA4CU.1, 2 VA4C. 1	Explores the importance of the critique process through active engagement.		Explores the importance of the critique process with assistance.	Explores some important elements of the critique process with assistance.	Rarely explores any elements of the critique process.	Does not explore the critique process.
Actively plans for the creation of artwork VA4MC.1, 2	Demonstrates active and detailed planning throughout the entire creative process		Demonstrates active and detailed planning for the preliminary creation of artworks	Demonstrates some planning for the creation of an artwork	Demonstrates minimal planning for the creation of an artwork	No evidence of planning

		Grade 5   1st  9 weeks Teacher Rubric
Standards:	A		B	C	D	F
Creates artwork based on experiences and selected themes using a variety of media and technique emphasizing individual expression. VA5PR.1,2,3	Creates and demonstrates successful use of art elements and principles emphasizing self-exploration.		Creates and demonstrates use of art elements and principles emphasizing self-exploration.	Creates and demonstrates use of art elements OR principles emphasizing self-exploration.	Rarely creates and demonstrates use of art elements OR principles emphasizing self-exploration.	Does not create OR demonstrate use of art elements and principles through self-exploration.
Explores and critiques art through personal, interdisciplinary and/or real world applications in order to convey and communicate meaning VA5C.1 VA5MC.3 VA5AR.2 VA5CU.1,2	Explores individually the importance of the critique process through active engagement.		Explores individually the importance of the critique process with assistance.	Explores individually some important elements of the critique process with assistance.	Rarely explores individually any elements of the critique process.	Does not explore individually the critique process.
Actively plans for the creation of artwork using explorative methods VA5MC.1,2	Demonstrates active and detailed planning throughout the entire creative process with emphasis on creativity		Demonstrates active and detailed planning for the preliminary creation of artworks with emphasis on creativity	Demonstrates some planning for the creation of an artwork with emphasis on creativity	Demonstrates minimal planning for the creation of an artwork with emphasis on creativity	No evidence of planning

2014-2015 School Year... Full S.T.E.A.M. ahead!!

I am so excited about S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, ARTS, and Math) at Ford! We'll be doing a lot of our regular fun art projects and processes but we will be doing a lot of integration of science, technology, engineering and math into much of what we do in the art room this year. Stay tuned for a great year filled with S.T.E.A.M.!

Our first graders did a fantastic job with a one day sculpture project using recycled cardboard (we had a TON of that from packing boxes from summer construction!) as well as reusing paper scraps from some of last year's projects. The results are beautiful! Our bulletin board has officially gone 3D! Thanks to our first grade artists creating some great sculptures for a fabulous display!