New and Exciting Lessons on Teachers Pay Teachers!

Welcome back to the new school year! haha Literally, it is 2015 and today felt like the first day for how sluggish the kiddos were in the classroom. Motivating them was like pulling teeth! If you are lost on ideas for the winter months hopefully some of my lessons or power points can help inspire you! I have been revamping and editing my lessons on my teachers-pay-teachers account. I have an array of lessons that are for both elementary and middle school level students. I hope you enjoy the lessons I have to share with you all and I look forward to posting more resources for you in the future! Creative Wishes, Ashley

ART TEACHERS! I am sorry I have been M.I.A!

Hey there everyone, it has been such a long time since I have gotten on here. Life hit and it has been one crazy ride. A woman totaled my car, I was going to doctors and therapy, and well it is the holiday season, so I have been on the go. I had my first craft show/fair and sold some of my jewelry, art, and artistic treasures and I have been in the studio working on a lot of new pieces. WOAH! Hope everyone is enjoying life and being creative! Visit my shop, I am still working on vamping it up :)

Visit my Etsy Shop!

My after school arts club/group that I created called "The Creative Minds" was featured in our local newspaper. If you are interested in the group and creating a chapter of your own at your school, join our facebook group/page called "The Creative Minds." We are a service learning arts group that helps create beauty through the arts in our local and school communities. 

Read the Article Here!

The Art of Freedom- Exploring the work of Jasper Johns and America's History

This lesson was done my 4th grade students. I have not done this lesson in a few years and I thought this would be the perfect year to use my book and some of my history books for this lesson. 

Students brought in their own newspapers and cardboard pieces from home. 

We cut 3 sizes, small, medium, and large-pre-cut by the teacher.

Students modge-podged each cardboard piece with newspapers. Let dry, and then next class we painted the white stripes. The following class we painted the red, blue, and white stars. We then let dry, and used small cardboard squares behind each piece to make it 3-D and a relief similar to Jasper Johns work. 

This piece below is the work done by Jasper Johns, Three Flags, 1958 that we used as inspiration. We discussed symbolism, freedom, America, and what those topics mean to them.

We used this book by Bob Raczka as inspiration and talked about using America as a subject in a work of art and why artists have chosen to use America in their art work.

The Art of the Picture Book---The Cat in the Hat!

This year my library teacher and I are collaborating with our students and we are doing "The Art of the Picture Book" as our theme. We are using sketchbooks that students take to Art Class and Library to do different activites. I love my librarian, she integrates art in so many ways in her class and she has such great books!

My 3rd Grade students did observational drawing and we discussed styles of art looking at illustrators. We chose Dr. Seuss to start off. We used a tints and shades background discussing how to create various blue hues. We also added some red collage paper pieces as a border. I am so proud of these kiddos. They did such an amazing job!

SWEBS ticket mosaic murals!

In my elementary school we use SWEBS as our behavior management system. Students recieve tickets for positive behaviors and choices. Over the past three years we collected thousands of tickets from the kiddos which is a very cool thing. My principle and guidance counselor wanted me to possibly do something with the array of tickets collected. I figured what better pieces for a mosaic banner mural to be hung around the school made by all students! Here they are a work in progress!!! 

Art Everywhere!

Does anyone else forget how Kinders are in the beginning of the year? Hehe

Art everywhere!! The year has begun! 

My honeymoon, wedding, and trip to Paris!

I can't believe how fast this summer went by! I got married, celebrated my honeymoon in Paris and am now unpacking my classroom! I absolutely loved Paris and it truly is every artistic persons dream to have visited there! The architecture, art and environment is unbelievable!