John Post on thu 28 aug 08
I bring Grover the puppet to school for the first day with the
kindergarteners. He does everything wrong and then I have a
kindergartener model the right way to do it.
He eats the paper towel instead of throwing it out. He blows his nose
in a kleenex and then eats. He takes a shower in the sink instead of
washing his hands quickly.
After a little of this if there is a cryer, he is laughing and the
kids learned how to use everything in the art room the right way since
they have to teach Grover what to do.
With the little tykes, you gotta sneak the lesson in sideways. The
downside of this is that the kids want Grover to come to art every
week. I tell them he can't since he has to go to preschool. It helps
if you do a killer impersonation of Grover.
John Post
Sterling Heights, Michigan
:: cone 6 glaze website :: http://www.johnpost.us
:: elementary art website :: http://www.wemakeart.org
> Ok so some of you know that I have been, in the past, a middle
> school art teacher. I've been out of that loop for about 8 years,
> working as a sub, mostly at the middle school level with some high
> school thrown in for giggles. Never done elementary.
>
> Times being tight, I decide to apply for a full time art teaching
> job in the local school system. Problem: All the available jobs
> are at the elementary level in Title I schools. Since I've
> been trying for 8 years to get my foot in the door, I apply anyway,
> and am accepted because I've worked with the Title I population
> before. Tuesday was my first day teaching elementary. What makes
> this OT is that there's no kiln at either school, which means no
> clay, either, 'cuz I ain't hauling it home to fire.
>
> MY job is actually at two schools. The main one is 3 days a week,
> 19 classes at the Title I school. The population is over 60% black,
> something like 30% foreigners (mostly Hispanic) and the rest
> white(ish).
>
> They have staggered entry at K level, so yesterday I had THREE kids
> in my K class. The days before, I'd had about 5 or 6 each day. So,
> imagine my shock when at my second school today, having never really
> worked with Ks before, I get 24 of the little boogers all at once.
> I will get a DIFFERENT 24 of 'em tomorrow... And they're not really
> 5 year olds; they're more like 4 or 4.5 year olds. Dear God. They
> do not care one damn thing about learning art words. They do not
> give a rip about lines or shapes. They have no idea how to draw a
> triangle for cripesake. And in the book that I have for the K level
> (provided by the county, no less), guess what one of the vocabulary
> words is? I'm not kidding - the word is ILLUSTRATION. At kinder
> level.
>
> So I'm trying to go over the list of 6 rules for the class (Stay in
> your seat, use your manners, work quietly, keep yer hands/feet to
> yourself, etc.). I get as far as "Stay in your seat", and a kid at
> the back pipes up about his dog. Then another one starts in about
> his mom's car. The kid at the front table spontaneously combusts
> into tears because he misses his grandaddy and he wants to go home
> NOW. Another one has been crying since he got to class b/c his
> mother is the OTHER K teacher, and he has separation anxiety. And
> on and on.....
>
> Finally, I try to do the lesson I have planned, which is actually a
> warmup exercise from the Mona Brooks book _Drawing with Children_.
> It involves identifying types of lines (straight, curvy, curly,
> etc.) and then drawing them in the manner instructed (make three
> straight lines from one edge of your paper to the other edge of your
> paper.) Dude, all they wanted to do was draw, so I finally just
> gave it up and turned 'em loose to draw and color.
>
> Most common question from kinders: "Are we gonna paint?"
>
> And my feet are friggin' KILLING ME. I need a G&T.
>
> ELementary school is not for wimps.
>
> L. P. Skeen, Summerfield NC
> Just 4 days left for pre-production pricing on the 2009 Clay Lover's
> Calendar at http://www.living-tree.net/calendar.htm
>
L. P. Skeen on thu 28 aug 08
Ok so some of you know that I have been, in the past, a middle school =
art teacher. I've been out of that loop for about 8 years, working as a =
sub, mostly at the middle school level with some high school thrown in =
for giggles. Never done elementary.
Times being tight, I decide to apply for a full time art teaching job in =
the local school system. Problem: All the available jobs are at the =
elementary level in Title I schools. Since I've been trying for =
8 years to get my foot in the door, I apply anyway, and am accepted =
because I've worked with the Title I population before. Tuesday was my =
first day teaching elementary. What makes this OT is that there's no =
kiln at either school, which means no clay, either, 'cuz I ain't hauling =
it home to fire.
MY job is actually at two schools. The main one is 3 days a week, 19 =
classes at the Title I school. The population is over 60% black, =
something like 30% foreigners (mostly Hispanic) and the rest white(ish). =
=20
They have staggered entry at K level, so yesterday I had THREE kids in =
my K class. The days before, I'd had about 5 or 6 each day. So, =
imagine my shock when at my second school today, having never really =
worked with Ks before, I get 24 of the little boogers all at once. I =
will get a DIFFERENT 24 of 'em tomorrow... And they're not really 5 =
year olds; they're more like 4 or 4.5 year olds. Dear God. They do not =
care one damn thing about learning art words. They do not give a rip =
about lines or shapes. They have no idea how to draw a triangle for =
cripesake. And in the book that I have for the K level (provided by the =
county, no less), guess what one of the vocabulary words is? I'm not =
kidding - the word is ILLUSTRATION. At kinder level.
So I'm trying to go over the list of 6 rules for the class (Stay in your =
seat, use your manners, work quietly, keep yer hands/feet to yourself, =
etc.). I get as far as "Stay in your seat", and a kid at the back pipes =
up about his dog. Then another one starts in about his mom's car. The =
kid at the front table spontaneously combusts into tears because he =
misses his grandaddy and he wants to go home NOW. Another one has been =
crying since he got to class b/c his mother is the OTHER K teacher, and =
he has separation anxiety. And on and on.....
Finally, I try to do the lesson I have planned, which is actually a =
warmup exercise from the Mona Brooks book _Drawing with Children_. It =
involves identifying types of lines (straight, curvy, curly, etc.) and =
then drawing them in the manner instructed (make three straight lines =
from one edge of your paper to the other edge of your paper.) Dude, all =
they wanted to do was draw, so I finally just gave it up and turned 'em =
loose to draw and color.
Most common question from kinders: "Are we gonna paint?"
And my feet are friggin' KILLING ME. I need a G&T.
ELementary school is not for wimps.
L. P. Skeen, Summerfield NC
Just 4 days left for pre-production pricing on the 2009 Clay Lover's =
Calendar at http://www.living-tree.net/calendar.htm=20
http://www.livingtreestudios.etsy.com
www.living-tree.net
John Post on fri 29 aug 08
My first 4 art lessons with Kindergarten I call basic shape drawing.
I use Ed Emberly drawing books and the kids follow along. On the dry
erase board I draw one part and then they copy it. We use 6x6 paper.
The kids leave class with 3-4 finished drawings per week for the first
month. They can add color to their drawings when they are done each
day.
The parents are happy because their kids start to make recognizable
drawings. It is a great way to evaluate the skill level of the kids.
It is easy to visually see who is developmentally at grade level and
who is not.
Rhoda Kellog's book Understanding Children's Art gives some good
insight into what to expect developmentally from kids at different ages.
After the first day I can tell who has used pencils and drawing
materials before and which kids have not. Little kids like some
adults like to be taught some basic art skills. Teaching them how to
draw complex things using simple shapes is a skill they will use for
the next several years in my art classes. I won't always have to have
them follow along with me on the board, but the first 4 lessons they
really need it. If you make sound effects when you draw the lines,
the kids will instinctively make the same sound you made without you
having to say a word. The eyes, the ears and the hands are all
working together at that age to learn.
Think about how they learn to write their letters. They practice them
a lot, then they write them correctly sometimes and invert them other
times, but the repetitive nature of the process makes the connections
in their brains stronger.
Sometimes the other art teachers in my district struggle with what to
teach kindergarteners. I teach them how to draw and sculpt with basic
forms and at their level. Lots of repetition and practice.
John Post
Sterling Heights, Michigan
:: cone 6 glaze website :: http://www.johnpost.us
:: elementary art website :: http://www.wemakeart.org
> I like using puppets with my kindergarten class, I don't do good
> impersonations, but they don't care, they get sucked into the puppet
> anyway, even if my mouth IS doing all of the talking. Music is
> great too, I can't play or sing very good, but we play a lot of
> music from CD's, again, they don't care.
>
> Earl Brunner
> Las Vegas, NV
>
L. P. Skeen on fri 29 aug 08
Thanks for the suggestions; I will try some of them, but clay is out. =
Just not going there, since there's no kiln. At one of the schools, =
however, there IS something called Model Magic. I have to research to =
find what it is tho.
L
----- Original Message -----=20
From: Pat Southwood=20
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=20
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 3:50 AM
Subject: Re: OT (sorta) Elementary art funny
Draw animals or people - only out of straight lines/circles/triangles =
then
paint them.
make lines/shapes out of string and glue them to paper, then paint.
Do you have spongebob squarepants in usa?
Most children can recognise a square from seeing him.
Those polystyrene dishes that pizza/meat/fruit etc comes in make =
excellent
monoprints, score lines with a pencil then paint n press.
oh, I've been there, with about 30 of the sweeties,only I was doing it =
for
free, at least you are getting paid!
Good Luck.
Pat. Southwood
----- Original Message -----
From: "L. P. Skeen"
To:
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 10:18 PM
Subject: OT (sorta) Elementary art funny
Ok so some of you know that I have been, in the past, a middle school =
art
teacher. I've been out of that loop for about 8 years, working as a =
sub,
mostly at the middle school level with some high school thrown in for
giggles. Never done elementary.
Times being tight, I decide to apply for a full time art teaching job =
in the
local school system. Problem: All the available jobs are at the =
elementary
level in Title I schools. Since I've been trying for 8 years =
to get
my foot in the door, I apply anyway, and am accepted because I've =
worked
with the Title I population before. Tuesday was my first day teaching
elementary. What makes this OT is that there's no kiln at either =
school,
which means no clay, either, 'cuz I ain't hauling it home to fire.
MY job is actually at two schools. The main one is 3 days a week, 19
classes at the Title I school. The population is over 60% black, =
something
like 30% foreigners (mostly Hispanic) and the rest white(ish).
They have staggered entry at K level, so yesterday I had THREE kids =
in my K
class. The days before, I'd had about 5 or 6 each day. So, imagine =
my
shock when at my second school today, having never really worked with =
Ks
before, I get 24 of the little boogers all at once. I will get a =
DIFFERENT
24 of 'em tomorrow... And they're not really 5 year olds; they're =
more like
4 or 4.5 year olds. Dear God. They do not care one damn thing about
learning art words. They do not give a rip about lines or shapes. =
They
have no idea how to draw a triangle for cripesake. And in the book =
that I
have for the K level (provided by the county, no less), guess what one =
of
the vocabulary words is? I'm not kidding - the word is ILLUSTRATION. =
At
kinder level.
So I'm trying to go over the list of 6 rules for the class (Stay in =
your
seat, use your manners, work quietly, keep yer hands/feet to yourself,
etc.). I get as far as "Stay in your seat", and a kid at the back =
pipes up
about his dog. Then another one starts in about his mom's car. The =
kid at
the front table spontaneously combusts into tears because he misses =
his
grandaddy and he wants to go home NOW. Another one has been crying =
since he
got to class b/c his mother is the OTHER K teacher, and he has =
separation
anxiety. And on and on.....
Finally, I try to do the lesson I have planned, which is actually a =
warmup
exercise from the Mona Brooks book _Drawing with Children_. It =
involves
identifying types of lines (straight, curvy, curly, etc.) and then =
drawing
them in the manner instructed (make three straight lines from one edge =
of
your paper to the other edge of your paper.) Dude, all they wanted to =
do
was draw, so I finally just gave it up and turned 'em loose to draw =
and
color.
Most common question from kinders: "Are we gonna paint?"
And my feet are friggin' KILLING ME. I need a G&T.
ELementary school is not for wimps.
L. P. Skeen, Summerfield NC
Just 4 days left for pre-production pricing on the 2009 Clay Lover's
Calendar at http://www.living-tree.net/calendar.htm
http://www.livingtreestudios.etsy.com
www.living-tree.net
L. P. Skeen on fri 29 aug 08
ROFL!!! I'm gonna have to check into getting a puppet....that's a great =
idea!
----- Original Message -----=20
From: John Post=20
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG=20
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 11:02 PM
Subject: Re: OT (sorta) Elementary art funny
I bring Grover the puppet to school for the first day with the
kindergarteners. He does everything wrong and then I have a
kindergartener model the right way to do it.
He eats the paper towel instead of throwing it out. He blows his nose
in a kleenex and then eats. He takes a shower in the sink instead of
washing his hands quickly.
After a little of this if there is a cryer, he is laughing and the
kids learned how to use everything in the art room the right way since
they have to teach Grover what to do.
With the little tykes, you gotta sneak the lesson in sideways. The
downside of this is that the kids want Grover to come to art every
week. I tell them he can't since he has to go to preschool. It helps
if you do a killer impersonation of Grover.
John Post
Sterling Heights, Michigan
:: cone 6 glaze website :: http://www.johnpost.us
:: elementary art website :: http://www.wemakeart.org
> Ok so some of you know that I have been, in the past, a middle
> school art teacher. I've been out of that loop for about 8 years,
> working as a sub, mostly at the middle school level with some high
> school thrown in for giggles. Never done elementary.
>
> Times being tight, I decide to apply for a full time art teaching
> job in the local school system. Problem: All the available jobs
> are at the elementary level in Title I schools. Since I've
> been trying for 8 years to get my foot in the door, I apply anyway,
> and am accepted because I've worked with the Title I population
> before. Tuesday was my first day teaching elementary. What makes
> this OT is that there's no kiln at either school, which means no
> clay, either, 'cuz I ain't hauling it home to fire.
>
> MY job is actually at two schools. The main one is 3 days a week,
> 19 classes at the Title I school. The population is over 60% black,
> something like 30% foreigners (mostly Hispanic) and the rest
> white(ish).
>
> They have staggered entry at K level, so yesterday I had THREE kids
> in my K class. The days before, I'd had about 5 or 6 each day. So,
> imagine my shock when at my second school today, having never really
> worked with Ks before, I get 24 of the little boogers all at once.
> I will get a DIFFERENT 24 of 'em tomorrow... And they're not really
> 5 year olds; they're more like 4 or 4.5 year olds. Dear God. They
> do not care one damn thing about learning art words. They do not
> give a rip about lines or shapes. They have no idea how to draw a
> triangle for cripesake. And in the book that I have for the K level
> (provided by the county, no less), guess what one of the vocabulary
> words is? I'm not kidding - the word is ILLUSTRATION. At kinder
> level.
>
> So I'm trying to go over the list of 6 rules for the class (Stay in
> your seat, use your manners, work quietly, keep yer hands/feet to
> yourself, etc.). I get as far as "Stay in your seat", and a kid at
> the back pipes up about his dog. Then another one starts in about
> his mom's car. The kid at the front table spontaneously combusts
> into tears because he misses his grandaddy and he wants to go home
> NOW. Another one has been crying since he got to class b/c his
> mother is the OTHER K teacher, and he has separation anxiety. And
> on and on.....
>
> Finally, I try to do the lesson I have planned, which is actually a
> warmup exercise from the Mona Brooks book _Drawing with Children_.
> It involves identifying types of lines (straight, curvy, curly,
> etc.) and then drawing them in the manner instructed (make three
> straight lines from one edge of your paper to the other edge of your
> paper.) Dude, all they wanted to do was draw, so I finally just
> gave it up and turned 'em loose to draw and color.
>
> Most common question from kinders: "Are we gonna paint?"
>
> And my feet are friggin' KILLING ME. I need a G&T.
>
> ELementary school is not for wimps.
>
> L. P. Skeen, Summerfield NC
> Just 4 days left for pre-production pricing on the 2009 Clay Lover's
> Calendar at http://www.living-tree.net/calendar.htm
>
Pat Southwood on fri 29 aug 08
Dear L.P.
When my childrens primary school discovered my occupation I was asked to
"help"
Some ideas based on experience-
If you want to use clay, let it dry completely and let them paint it 50/50
with pva and poster paint.
Draw animals or people - only out of straight lines/circles/triangles then
paint them.
make lines/shapes out of string and glue them to paper, then paint.
Do you have spongebob squarepants in usa?
Most children can recognise a square from seeing him.
Those polystyrene dishes that pizza/meat/fruit etc comes in make excellent
monoprints, score lines with a pencil then paint n press.
oh, I've been there, with about 30 of the sweeties,only I was doing it for
free, at least you are getting paid!
Good Luck.
Pat. Southwood
----- Original Message -----
From: "L. P. Skeen"
To:
Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 10:18 PM
Subject: OT (sorta) Elementary art funny
Ok so some of you know that I have been, in the past, a middle school art
teacher. I've been out of that loop for about 8 years, working as a sub,
mostly at the middle school level with some high school thrown in for
giggles. Never done elementary.
Times being tight, I decide to apply for a full time art teaching job in the
local school system. Problem: All the available jobs are at the elementary
level in Title I schools. Since I've been trying for 8 years to get
my foot in the door, I apply anyway, and am accepted because I've worked
with the Title I population before. Tuesday was my first day teaching
elementary. What makes this OT is that there's no kiln at either school,
which means no clay, either, 'cuz I ain't hauling it home to fire.
MY job is actually at two schools. The main one is 3 days a week, 19
classes at the Title I school. The population is over 60% black, something
like 30% foreigners (mostly Hispanic) and the rest white(ish).
They have staggered entry at K level, so yesterday I had THREE kids in my K
class. The days before, I'd had about 5 or 6 each day. So, imagine my
shock when at my second school today, having never really worked with Ks
before, I get 24 of the little boogers all at once. I will get a DIFFERENT
24 of 'em tomorrow... And they're not really 5 year olds; they're more like
4 or 4.5 year olds. Dear God. They do not care one damn thing about
learning art words. They do not give a rip about lines or shapes. They
have no idea how to draw a triangle for cripesake. And in the book that I
have for the K level (provided by the county, no less), guess what one of
the vocabulary words is? I'm not kidding - the word is ILLUSTRATION. At
kinder level.
So I'm trying to go over the list of 6 rules for the class (Stay in your
seat, use your manners, work quietly, keep yer hands/feet to yourself,
etc.). I get as far as "Stay in your seat", and a kid at the back pipes up
about his dog. Then another one starts in about his mom's car. The kid at
the front table spontaneously combusts into tears because he misses his
grandaddy and he wants to go home NOW. Another one has been crying since he
got to class b/c his mother is the OTHER K teacher, and he has separation
anxiety. And on and on.....
Finally, I try to do the lesson I have planned, which is actually a warmup
exercise from the Mona Brooks book _Drawing with Children_. It involves
identifying types of lines (straight, curvy, curly, etc.) and then drawing
them in the manner instructed (make three straight lines from one edge of
your paper to the other edge of your paper.) Dude, all they wanted to do
was draw, so I finally just gave it up and turned 'em loose to draw and
color.
Most common question from kinders: "Are we gonna paint?"
And my feet are friggin' KILLING ME. I need a G&T.
ELementary school is not for wimps.
L. P. Skeen, Summerfield NC
Just 4 days left for pre-production pricing on the 2009 Clay Lover's
Calendar at http://www.living-tree.net/calendar.htm
http://www.livingtreestudios.etsy.com
www.living-tree.net
Dannon Rhudy on fri 29 aug 08
Let 'em draw, Lisa. And whatever else they
can do with enthusiasm. I don't give a whatsis
for the school rules, and I'd be willing to bet
that no one is going to test these kids for
"straight line" identification. You'll get a better
handle on them when you have had time to get
to know them a little. THEN, if you want to
mess with curly lines/straight etc., go for it. Makes
no difference at all to the kids, your class will
be one of the very few that they actually end up
liking. So - stay calm. Most important of all,
however, get some shoes that really cushion/
support your feet, or you'll quit your job after
the first two weeks.......
A lot of those kids are going to have indifferent
parents; if the kids come home with scribbles for
the refrigerator, and at least one class they enjoy -
all to the good.
regards
Dannon Rhudy
MY job is actually at two schools. The main one is 3 days a week, 19
classes at the Title I school. The population is over 60% black, something
like 30% foreigners (mostly Hispanic) and the rest white(ish).
They have no idea how to draw a triangle for cripesake. And in the book
that I have for the K level (provided by the county, no less), guess what
one of the vocabulary words is? I'm not kidding - the word is ILLUSTRATION.
At kinder level.
Finally, I try to do the lesson I have planned, which is actually a warmup
exercise from the Mona Brooks book _Drawing with Children_. It involves
identifying types of lines (straight, curvy, curly, etc.) and then drawing
them in the manner instructed (make three straight lines from one edge of
your paper to the other edge of your paper.) Dude, all they wanted to do
was draw, so I finally just gave it up and turned 'em loose to draw and
color.
Most common question from kinders: "Are we gonna paint?"
And my feet are friggin' KILLING ME. I need a G&T.
ELementary school is not for wimps.
L. P. Skeen, Summerfield NC
Just 4 days left for pre-production pricing on the 2009 Clay Lover's
Calendar at http://www.living-tree.net/calendar.htm
http://www.livingtreestudios.etsy.com
www.living-tree.net
gayle bair on fri 29 aug 08
John,
You are a genius!
I'd been meaning to tell you that over the years but this posting put
you over the top!
In the late 60s I taught for the HeadStart Program. I had 3-5 year olds.
I was chided for doing similar things because of course there was a
lot of learning, laughter and fun going on in my class. Unlike other
teachers who felt they had to remain the "teacher figure" I'd even get
down on the floor with my kids.
I also did my best to break through the racial barrier. I believe that
happened when taking a walk outside with my class one day. Crystal was
holding my hand and she noticed a white person walking across the
street. She made some comment on how "we" were different than "that"
person. I said to her "Crystal, look at me..... look at our hands".
Her face lit up with realization. It was a defining moment for both of
us!
Thank you for being a great teacher. You will be one of the ones your
students choose to remember all their lives!
Best regards,
Gayle Bair
Bainbridge Island WA
Tucson AZ
gayle@claybair.com
www.claybair.com
On Aug 28, 2008, at 8:02 PM, John Post wrote:
> I bring Grover the puppet to school for the first day with the
> kindergarteners. He does everything wrong and then I have a
> kindergartener model the right way to do it.
>
> He eats the paper towel instead of throwing it out. He blows his nose
> in a kleenex and then eats. He takes a shower in the sink instead of
> washing his hands quickly.
>
> After a little of this if there is a cryer, he is laughing and the
> kids learned how to use everything in the art room the right way since
> they have to teach Grover what to do.
>
> With the little tykes, you gotta sneak the lesson in sideways. The
> downside of this is that the kids want Grover to come to art every
> week. I tell them he can't since he has to go to preschool. It helps
> if you do a killer impersonation of Grover.
>
> John Post
> Sterling Heights, Michigan
>
> :: cone 6 glaze website :: http://www.johnpost.us
> :: elementary art website :: http://www.wemakeart.org
>
Earl Brunner on fri 29 aug 08
I like using puppets with my kindergarten class, I don't do good impersonations, but they don't care, they get sucked into the puppet anyway, even if my mouth IS doing all of the talking. Music is great too, I can't play or sing very good, but we play a lot of music from CD's, again, they don't care.
Earl Brunner
Las Vegas, NV
On Aug 28, 2008, at 8:02 PM, John Post wrote:
> I bring Grover the puppet to school for the first day with the
> kindergarteners. He does everything wrong and then I have a
> kindergartener model the right way to do it.
>
> He eats the paper towel instead of throwing it out. He blows his nose
> in a kleenex and then eats. He takes a shower in the sink instead of
> washing his hands quickly.
>
> After a little of this if there is a cryer, he is laughing and the
> kids learned how to use everything in the art room the right way since
> they have to teach Grover what to do.
>
> With the little tykes, you gotta sneak the lesson in sideways. The
> downside of this is that the kids want Grover to come to art every
> week. I tell them he can't since he has to go to preschool. It helps
> if you do a killer impersonation of Grover.
>
> John Post
> Sterling Heights, Michigan
>
> :: cone 6 glaze website :: http://www.johnpost.us
> :: elementary art website :: http://www.wemakeart.org
>
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on fri 29 aug 08
Hi Earl, John, all...
This is a very good idea, and I intend to emulate it.
I will make a little Hand-Puppet, something along the lines of the one Shari
Lewis had, of little 'Lamb Chop'...or rather, a 'cousin' of sorts, to 'Lamb
Chop'...( or 'Hush Puppy', as may be, but personally? I liked 'Lamb Chop'
better...)
Any time I get pulled over by a Cop, I will put the Puppet on my hand, and
let it do the talking...let it hand him my 'License' ( or the folded
"C-Note', or both, ) in it's Mouth...
Likewise, when I stop at 7-11, go to the Bank or Grocery store, show up in
Court again over that 'Ticket', little 'Lamb Chop' cousin will do the
talking for me.
Arguing with the landlord over late rent again?
"Lamb Chop" will now how to settle his hash...
This is genius...
And what fun, too!
Everyone should do it...
Heck, just leave it on all the time even...
"24/7"
...little Hand Puppet at 'dawn' can start getting active, popping 'up',
saying "Hey!! GET UP already!!! C'mon, damn it, up-and-AT-'em!! Tote that
Bale!!" ..."Get that Coffee brewin'..!" and so on...
Spouses or significant others or even Ships who pass in the 'Night', would
find it intriguing and welcome in many cases, also..! for all occasions, and
would of course, get into it themselves, if not into it already...
This could sweep the World!
Soon, the Cop pulling someone over, reaches around to their driver's window
with HIS 'Puppet' on, 'Puppet' saying "Alright buddy, where's the fire!" or
whatever...
Lol...
Phil
l v
----- Original Message -----
From: "Earl Brunner"
>I like using puppets with my kindergarten class, I don't do good
>impersonations, but they don't care, they get sucked into the puppet
>anyway, even if my mouth IS doing all of the talking. Music is great too,
>I can't play or sing very good, but we play a lot of music from CD's,
>again, they don't care.
>
> Earl Brunner
> Las Vegas, NV
Eva Gallagher on sat 30 aug 08
One of my treasured keepsakes from my children's school years are their self
portraits from kindergarten. Each month the teacher had them draw themselves
with crayons - on a large piece of newsprint - the whole body etc. At the
end of the year she gave them to the parents - what a wonderful present -
You could see the progression. I keep thinking that I should frame some of
them. Not that my kids were especially talented artwise - but the freshness
of the drawings is very endearing.
By the way John I wish that I had you for a kindergarten teacher!
Eva Gallagher
Deep River, Ontario
http://stephenhilljourneyworkshopjuly2008.blogspot.com/
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Post"
To:
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 9:12 PM
Subject: Re: OT (sorta) Elementary art funny
> My first 4 art lessons with Kindergarten I call basic shape drawing.
> I use Ed Emberly drawing books and the kids follow along. On the dry
> erase board I draw one part and then they copy it. We use 6x6 paper.
> The kids leave class with 3-4 finished drawings per week for the first
> month. They can add color to their drawings when they are done each
> day.
>
> The parents are happy because their kids start to make recognizable
> drawings. It is a great way to evaluate the skill level of the kids.
> It is easy to visually see who is developmentally at grade level and
> who is not.
>
> Rhoda Kellog's book Understanding Children's Art gives some good
> insight into what to expect developmentally from kids at different ages.
>
> After the first day I can tell who has used pencils and drawing
> materials before and which kids have not. Little kids like some
> adults like to be taught some basic art skills. Teaching them how to
> draw complex things using simple shapes is a skill they will use for
> the next several years in my art classes. I won't always have to have
> them follow along with me on the board, but the first 4 lessons they
> really need it. If you make sound effects when you draw the lines,
> the kids will instinctively make the same sound you made without you
> having to say a word. The eyes, the ears and the hands are all
> working together at that age to learn.
>
> Think about how they learn to write their letters. They practice them
> a lot, then they write them correctly sometimes and invert them other
> times, but the repetitive nature of the process makes the connections
> in their brains stronger.
>
> Sometimes the other art teachers in my district struggle with what to
> teach kindergarteners. I teach them how to draw and sculpt with basic
> forms and at their level. Lots of repetition and practice.
>
> John Post
> Sterling Heights, Michigan
>
> :: cone 6 glaze website :: http://www.johnpost.us
> :: elementary art website :: http://www.wemakeart.org
>
>
>> I like using puppets with my kindergarten class, I don't do good
>> impersonations, but they don't care, they get sucked into the puppet
>> anyway, even if my mouth IS doing all of the talking. Music is
>> great too, I can't play or sing very good, but we play a lot of
>> music from CD's, again, they don't care.
>>
>> Earl Brunner
>> Las Vegas, NV
>>
>
>
Lee Love on sat 30 aug 08
On Thu, Aug 28, 2008 at 10:02 PM, John Post wrote:
> I bring Grover the puppet to school for the first day with the
> kindergarteners. He does everything wrong and then I have a
> kindergartener model the right way to do it.
>
> He eats the paper towel instead of throwing it out. He blows his nose
> in a kleenex and then eats. He takes a shower in the sink instead of
> washing his hands quickly.
Haha! Ever see the Frugal Gourmet when Elmo was the guest?
Reverend Jeff Smith was on the verge of strangling my favorite Muppet!
Elmo and Tigger are my co-pilots!
--
Lee Love in Minneapolis
http://mashikopots.blogspot.com/
http://claycraft.blogspot.com/
"Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground." --Rumi
Earl Brunner on sat 30 aug 08
This is the second one (that I know of) from John Post that I have only received as a quote in a response to the original. Makes me wonder how many other messages from ClayArt I'm not getting...........
Kindergarten kids in at-risk schools often come to school minus many of the skills and experiences of kids from more affluent neighborhoods. And the developmental level of their drawings are often really primitive or "young". Many have no idea how to draw, so the kind of drawing that John does with them really helps them become engaged in the process. Frequently on a self portrait you will get a circle, with the arms and legs coming right off of the circle which also has the eyes and mouth on it (if you get that much).
I like to demo the drawing to get more detail out of them. So I'll ask them about the body, the head, the ears, nose, eyes, mouth, adding details as we talk and I draw. I'll mix it up a bit by putting the parts in the wrong places..... and they have to correct me ( they think that's hilarious). But in the process it lets them see what they are leaving out and you start to see more attention to detail in their work.
Earl Brunner
Las Vegas, NV
----- Original Message ----
From: Eva Gallagher
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Sent: Saturday, August 30, 2008 5:10:52 AM
Subject: Re: OT (sorta) Elementary art funny
One of my treasured keepsakes from my children's school years are their self
portraits from kindergarten. Each month the teacher had them draw themselves
with crayons - on a large piece of newsprint - the whole body etc. At the
end of the year she gave them to the parents - what a wonderful present -
You could see the progression. I keep thinking that I should frame some of
them. Not that my kids were especially talented artwise - but the freshness
of the drawings is very endearing.
By the way John I wish that I had you for a kindergarten teacher!
Eva Gallagher
Deep River, Ontario
http://stephenhilljourneyworkshopjuly2008.blogspot.com/
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Post"
To:
Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 9:12 PM
Subject: Re: OT (sorta) Elementary art funny
> My first 4 art lessons with Kindergarten I call basic shape drawing.
> I use Ed Emberly drawing books and the kids follow along. On the dry
> erase board I draw one part and then they copy it. We use 6x6 paper.
> The kids leave class with 3-4 finished drawings per week for the first
> month. They can add color to their drawings when they are done each
> day.
>
joyce on sat 30 aug 08
I do empathize, Lisa. My only LIFE credential, through a fluke of
circumstances, is an Elementary Credential for California. All
my other credentials must be renewed periodically. "They" sure got
that backwards......... Except
for student teaching I'd never taught elementary and had no desire
to do so. (The thought of being the ONE responsible for a group
of little guys' education for one full year boggled my Mind Boggler.)
Actually, I'd never really taught anything besides the aforementioned
Student Teaching. We were brand new to the desert from L.A., to our house,
and I to teaching! Fortunately, I was in my 30s, not my 20s, where
my oft mentioned "maturity" may have helped somewhat.
I warn you.... don't do what I did. I had a pre-kindergarten class
for about 4 weeks The Second Week of School. Their very
respected and popular teacher had an emergency, and those precious
kids got ME instead. After rummaging through the lesson plans which
pretty much said "pick&choose; make it easy on yourself.," I found
a math lesson using cut-out petals of flowers to represent something
or other........ it was an art/math combo so I decided to use it to
make up for my not knowing which way the line for juice&grahamcrackers
was to form earlier..... where almost everybody cried because
they thought they had that part down, and now I'd confused them. One
wet his pants.
Sooo I let them stay out extra minutes for recess in our
little private, fenced playground in order to
calm them down. That was a disaster also which led to the
principal ...new at the job, too, but wonderful. I thought HE might cry
at one point when he discovered that two of my babies were still out on
the playground riding their trikes round&round.. and I hadn't missed them
....... YET, I told him, YET.... I would have missed them soon. (Did I
mention that the teachers, except for the new ones, were pretty upset, too,
because word got out immediately that I'd Broken The Rules and let my
class stay longer to play when theirs had to go in... and it was HOT......
and, new to the desert, I hadn't quite caught on to how much water the
little guys needed and how being out In The Sun was very bad for them....
so most of Recess was supposed to be spent learning to go in&out in
an orderly fashion, lining up for water both
going out and coming in.... and how to find their square on the rug and sit
down, with very little time in the Sun. (Yep, I'd failed
lining up AGAIN and they suffered...... although they were kind of getting
used to me and seemed to know that I was doing the best I could since
..... once in class........ I didn't have a single second for any kind of
preparation and, bumbling weirdo that I was, I think they knew that I
was crazy about them....... I just wasn't prepared!! Truth is I didn't know
that I could turn down a sub assignment.......
Ok, Lisa, back to the art part. The flower petals, remember? I still don't
know, but I think this must have been intended for later in the year..... I
realized finally that I should have prepared the cutouts the night before...
(but I was a sub and had no idea what I'd be doing the next day.) or have
come in much earlier to rummage the cabinets and find all the marvelous
projects the Perfect Teacher had stored, including such cutouts. So I,
blabbermouth, suggested that we each draw and color our own flowers
and cut them out................ I won't even describe the horror that ensued.
(I DID have an aide. Did I mention that she was new also and spent most
of her time hiding or gossiping about me in the teachers' work room? Don't
blame her. Guess it was too good to keep to herself.)
BUT I did get them all back on to those blessed squares, found books to
read to them, music to play (I can't sing either so I asked if anyone wanted
to lead........ drat! ...... no they didn't cry....... everybody wanted to lead
and proceeded to do so....... still.... better than crying.......) I
also began
our first Spanish lesson learning Red Riding Hood in Spanish (not on
the curriculum
but at that point, who cared?)
Thank God kindergarten was only HALF a day......... seemed like a week.
Did I mention that upon leaving the class as eager parents awaited, almost
every child wanted to hug my knees, pat me, and give goodbye kisses?
I'm sure I broke all kinds of rules there but who cared? I didn't
know that this
was pretty standard for the K-Babies and that the K-Teacher was to begin
teaching "boundaries" indirectly during this time. Right!! I hugged them all
back...... happily..... turned to spend (I figured) a couple of hours repairing
the wrecked room..... when here came the AFTERNOON teacher. I didn't
know we had an afternoon class. Oh, God! the mess!......... She took
one look,
said a great thing:
"Tomorrow will be better. NOW we're going to clean this up together.... then
you go eat lunch....... THEN stay with my class and observe while I teach.
You
survived ..... and from what I've heard, I don't know HOW. "
We're still friends today, but after that month I was thrilled to get back to
junior high and high school where I belonged! Did I mention that after
retirement, my new friend went to Law School and is a successful practicing
family law attorney ..... who collects my pots. She swears that one of her
trillions of papers was about me...... about surviving disaster in the school
setting and not getting sued!!
Joyce
In the Mojave desert of California U.S.A
Kim Hohlmayer on tue 2 sep 08
Dear L. P.,
I'm laughing with you as I remember back to my public school teaching days. And that age is totally squirrely anyway.
For anyone who finds themselves in this or a similar situation here are some helpful points;
First, wear comfortable clothes and shoes. I don't care what anyone else says, as long as you look remotely respectable comfort is a MUST. So many distractions in teaching, your comfort or lack of shouldn't be one of them!
Second, with small ones you don't so much overtly teach vocabulary as you "model" it. Use the correct word for any technique or material, defining it as you use it. Keep using it and begin to have the class define it. Even visual learners will catch on eventually. They'll learn how to spell it later (sometimes much later).
Third, for wee ones like your K groups set a structure that repeats each day. Praise! Praise! Praise! as they do what's expected. Example of structure: Kids come in, sit down, you give info/supplies for day's project, do project then BRIEF discussion of project and out they go.
Fourth, while the situation needs structure the projects should be fairly loose and open. My favorite was the "scribble fish." Every little kid can scribble! Project:
paper
crayons
pictures of real fish, the weirder the better!
Show students a big scribble then add fish parts,
talking about what makes a fish a fish.
Once they make their scribble and turn it into a fish,
have them tell you what fish don't have like purses or
noses or feet. Now let them make their scribble fish
really silly by adding things that real fish don't
have. And yes, this can be adapted to clay.
For the concept of illustration pick out a well illustrated book like Mercer Mayer's "There's a Nightmare in My Closet" Read it to them then explain that the pictures in a book are special and we call them illustrations. They can then make their own "nightmares" Discuss how the nightmare (a monster) is like us and how it is different, Let them tell you. This one never failed me! It can also be adapted to clay (said so this will qualify as on topic).
Finally, be really stern and strict as needed but have fun! And keep laughing!!! It is sometimes all that will save you! ;^) --Kim H.
--- On Thu, 8/28/08, L. P. Skeen wrote:
> From: L. P. Skeen
> Subject: OT (sorta) Elementary art funny
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Date: Thursday, August 28, 2008, 5:18 PM
> Ok so some of you know that I have been, in the past, a
> middle school art teacher. I've been out of that loop
> for about 8 years, working as a sub, mostly at the middle
> school level with some high school thrown in for giggles.
> Never done elementary.
>
> Times being tight, I decide to apply for a full time art
> teaching job in the local school system. Problem: All the
> available jobs are at the elementary level in Title I
> schools. Since I've been trying for 8
> years to get my foot in the door, I apply anyway, and am
> accepted because I've worked with the Title I population
> before. Tuesday was my first day teaching elementary. What
> makes this OT is that there's no kiln at either school,
> which means no clay, either, 'cuz I ain't hauling it
> home to fire.
>
> MY job is actually at two schools. The main one is 3 days
> a week, 19 classes at the Title I school. The population is
> over 60% black, something like 30% foreigners (mostly
> Hispanic) and the rest white(ish).
>
> They have staggered entry at K level, so yesterday I had
> THREE kids in my K class. The days before, I'd had
> about 5 or 6 each day. So, imagine my shock when at my
> second school today, having never really worked with Ks
> before, I get 24 of the little boogers all at once. I will
> get a DIFFERENT 24 of 'em tomorrow... And they're
> not really 5 year olds; they're more like 4 or 4.5 year
> olds. Dear God. They do not care one damn thing about
> learning art words. They do not give a rip about lines or
> shapes. They have no idea how to draw a triangle for
> cripesake. And in the book that I have for the K level
> (provided by the county, no less), guess what one of the
> vocabulary words is? I'm not kidding - the word is
> ILLUSTRATION. At kinder level.
>
> So I'm trying to go over the list of 6 rules for the
> class (Stay in your seat, use your manners, work quietly,
> keep yer hands/feet to yourself, etc.). I get as far as
> "Stay in your seat", and a kid at the back pipes
> up about his dog. Then another one starts in about his
> mom's car. The kid at the front table spontaneously
> combusts into tears because he misses his grandaddy and he
> wants to go home NOW. Another one has been crying since he
> got to class b/c his mother is the OTHER K teacher, and he
> has separation anxiety. And on and on.....
>
> Finally, I try to do the lesson I have planned, which is
> actually a warmup exercise from the Mona Brooks book
> _Drawing with Children_. It involves identifying types of
> lines (straight, curvy, curly, etc.) and then drawing them
> in the manner instructed (make three straight lines from one
> edge of your paper to the other edge of your paper.) Dude,
> all they wanted to do was draw, so I finally just gave it up
> and turned 'em loose to draw and color.
>
> Most common question from kinders: "Are we gonna
> paint?"
>
> And my feet are friggin' KILLING ME. I need a G&T.
>
> ELementary school is not for wimps.
>
> L. P. Skeen, Summerfield NC
> Just 4 days left for pre-production pricing on the 2009
> Clay Lover's Calendar at
> http://www.living-tree.net/calendar.htm
>
> http://www.livingtreestudios.etsy.com
> www.living-tree.net
Kim Hohlmayer on tue 2 sep 08
Hey Pat,
Don't forget air dry clay. It is isn't perfect but it works okay and no hauling it back and forth. Also check for recipes for clays out of cornstarch, salt and flour (not necessarily all mixed together.) --Kim H.
--- On Fri, 8/29/08, L. P. Skeen wrote:
> From: L. P. Skeen
> Subject: Re: OT (sorta) Elementary art funny
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Date: Friday, August 29, 2008, 9:53 PM
> Thanks for the suggestions; I will try some of them, but
> clay is out. Just not going there, since there's no
> kiln. At one of the schools, however, there IS something
> called Model Magic. I have to research to find what it is
> tho.
>
> L
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Pat Southwood
> To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
> Sent: Friday, August 29, 2008 3:50 AM
> Subject: Re: OT (sorta) Elementary art funny
> Draw animals or people - only out of straight
> lines/circles/triangles then
> paint them.
>
> make lines/shapes out of string and glue them to paper,
> then paint.
>
> Do you have spongebob squarepants in usa?
>
> Most children can recognise a square from seeing him.
>
> Those polystyrene dishes that pizza/meat/fruit etc comes
> in make excellent
> monoprints, score lines with a pencil then paint n press.
>
> oh, I've been there, with about 30 of the
> sweeties,only I was doing it for
> free, at least you are getting paid!
>
> Good Luck.
> Pat. Southwood
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "L. P. Skeen"
>
> To:
> Sent: Thursday, August 28, 2008 10:18 PM
> Subject: OT (sorta) Elementary art funny
>
>
> Ok so some of you know that I have been, in the past, a
> middle school art
> teacher. I've been out of that loop for about 8
> years, working as a sub,
> mostly at the middle school level with some high school
> thrown in for
> giggles. Never done elementary.
>
> Times being tight, I decide to apply for a full time art
> teaching job in the
> local school system. Problem: All the available jobs
> are at the elementary
> level in Title I schools. Since I've
> been trying for 8 years to get
> my foot in the door, I apply anyway, and am accepted
> because I've worked
> with the Title I population before. Tuesday was my first
> day teaching
> elementary. What makes this OT is that there's no
> kiln at either school,
> which means no clay, either, 'cuz I ain't hauling
> it home to fire.
>
> MY job is actually at two schools. The main one is 3
> days a week, 19
> classes at the Title I school. The population is over
> 60% black, something
> like 30% foreigners (mostly Hispanic) and the rest
> white(ish).
>
> They have staggered entry at K level, so yesterday I had
> THREE kids in my K
> class. The days before, I'd had about 5 or 6 each
> day. So, imagine my
> shock when at my second school today, having never really
> worked with Ks
> before, I get 24 of the little boogers all at once. I
> will get a DIFFERENT
> 24 of 'em tomorrow... And they're not really 5
> year olds; they're more like
> 4 or 4.5 year olds. Dear God. They do not care one damn
> thing about
> learning art words. They do not give a rip about lines
> or shapes. They
> have no idea how to draw a triangle for cripesake. And
> in the book that I
> have for the K level (provided by the county, no less),
> guess what one of
> the vocabulary words is? I'm not kidding - the word
> is ILLUSTRATION. At
> kinder level.
>
> So I'm trying to go over the list of 6 rules for the
> class (Stay in your
> seat, use your manners, work quietly, keep yer hands/feet
> to yourself,
> etc.). I get as far as "Stay in your seat",
> and a kid at the back pipes up
> about his dog. Then another one starts in about his
> mom's car. The kid at
> the front table spontaneously combusts into tears because
> he misses his
> grandaddy and he wants to go home NOW. Another one has
> been crying since he
> got to class b/c his mother is the OTHER K teacher, and
> he has separation
> anxiety. And on and on.....
>
> Finally, I try to do the lesson I have planned, which is
> actually a warmup
> exercise from the Mona Brooks book _Drawing with
> Children_. It involves
> identifying types of lines (straight, curvy, curly, etc.)
> and then drawing
> them in the manner instructed (make three straight lines
> from one edge of
> your paper to the other edge of your paper.) Dude, all
> they wanted to do
> was draw, so I finally just gave it up and turned 'em
> loose to draw and
> color.
>
> Most common question from kinders: "Are we gonna
> paint?"
>
> And my feet are friggin' KILLING ME. I need a
> G&T.
>
> ELementary school is not for wimps.
>
> L. P. Skeen, Summerfield NC
> Just 4 days left for pre-production pricing on the 2009
> Clay Lover's
> Calendar at http://www.living-tree.net/calendar.htm
>
> http://www.livingtreestudios.etsy.com
> www.living-tree.net
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