SmockTip #10- Establish Routines

Establish clear routines in the art room, especially with the youngest learners. My nursery students know to enter the art room and to immediately sit down on the rug. We always begin class by singing two short color songs that include fun motions. This helps get the wiggles and chatter out before a brief lesson. Then the art exploration and creativity begins!

My nursery students singing "Rainbow" to begin art class

SmockTip #9- Slideshows Made Easy with PhotoPeach

I recently started using PhotoPeach and I couldn't wait to share it with you!  I am always looking for quick and simple ways to share student work electronically. With PhotoPeach you simply choose a batch of photos to upload, organize them, select music, and voila! You have an awesome slideshow to share with students and parents.

Check out my PhotoPeach stream here.

2A Radial Symmetry Designs on PhotoPeach
1C Mondrian Project on PhotoPeach
KA All About Me Robots on PhotoPeach

SmockTip #8- Pin It!

When the Pinterest craze hit, I avoided it like the plague.  With so much social media in our faces all the time, it was another item that I did not want to pile onto my internet browsing plate.  That is, until I realized how Pinterest could be used professionally. 

I have been using Pinterest as a teacher for about a year now and it has been an invaluable resource.  I create boards to organize project ideas, works of art, artist bios, classroom management strategies, etc.  It is a great way to organize all of the web-based information that influences projects & lessons.  I am even able to Pin links to video clips that I use for lessons.  I am able to save and organize all of the cool stuff that I find online in one place VISUALLY.  As an art teacher, I live for the visual, so Pinterest is perfect for me!

Visit my Pinterest board at http://pinterest.com/foxinsmocks/boards/

***If you are an art teacher, check out the Pinterest board of Donna Staten. WOW!!!

SmockTip #7- Don't Underestimate the Power of Posters

As the new school year starts, I want to share a simple classroom management strategy with you.  I spend a lot of time at the start of the year teaching my students procedures within the context of the larger art lesson.  I have found it very handy to make posters of classroom procedures. I model the desired behavior, display the poster, and then I am able to refer back to the poster throughout the school year.  A simple and effective strategy : ) 

SmockTip #6- How to Get Students Out the Door On Time!

When the bell rings, is your art room spotless with students standing in a perfect & orderly line?  If your answer is no or not always, continue reading for another helpful SmockTip.

SmockTip #5- Use Your Head

Let me introduce you to the SmockDo.  This is a unique and handy suggestion for storing art supplies AND looking stylish.  This practical updo can be done with a paint brush, pencil, pen, marker...many tools found in the art room.  It can be used to store one or multiple brushes at a time.  The SmockDo craze is sure to hit the runways before long!

Hair storage + wearing a smock = ultra prepared teacher!

SmockTip #4- Renew those magazine subscriptions!

Painting is messy.  There is no way around. BUT there are ways to reduce the mess.  

I remember reading on some blog somewhere that old magazines make great disposable palettes. I decided to try it out with a Pre-Kindergarten class.  They were doing some found-object printmaking with tempera paint.  I set up each table with two magazines in the center. I spread a thin layer of paint on each magazine and set out lots of common recycled objects.  The students had a blast dipping objects in the paint and printing on their paper, all the while mixing the two colors of paint on the magazine palettes.  At the end of class, cleanup with simple.  I tore off the top page of the magazine and threw it away, leaving a new clean palette for the next class!

SmockTip #3- An eggcellent idea!

At the beginning of the school year, I ask parents to save and donate certain materials to recycle in the art room.  I always ask for cardboard egg cartons.  Color mixing with a classroom full of first graders can get messy.  After several attempts of shared palettes turning into a mush of brown paint, chaotic clean up at the end of class while washing palettes, and many students upset that their partners didn't let them do the mixing, I knew I had to find a better way.

Using egg cartons for color mixing worked wonderfully.  I cut the egg cartons into trays of three wells, and pre-filled them with the colors to mix.  I was able to do this step at the start of the day prior to a string of back-to-back classes.  Each student LOVED having their own paint and the opportunity to try out the magic of mixing independently.  When students were finished, clean up was simple.  They threw away their egg palettes and tossed their paintbrush into the rinse bucket.  So easy!

***Note:  In the photo you might notice that I had my students mixing yellow, magenta, and turquoise instead of yellow, red, and blue.  I have found that with the Crayola washable tempera paints, the primary colors do not mix very attractively.  By substituting magenta and turquoise, the students get shades of orange, purple, and green that really pop eliciting lots of "oohs" and "ahhs" in the art room : ) 

SmockTip #2- Head to the drive-thru!

Have a tight budget for ordering supplies? Do you envy teachers who have lots of supply caddies to organize their classroom? Have you been shocked at how expensive those supply caddies are?  If you are like me then your answer is "Yes" to all of these questions.  

SmockTip #1- Hang on to those pizza boxes!

SmockTips are simple tips of what works in my art classroom. I hope you find them helpful!