A Color of His Own-Kindergarten Collage

This year I have two extra classes I teach besides the regular classes that are all Kindergarten and First Grade. One of the Extra classes needs to be taught in the regular Kindergarten classroom because there is an other class that Peggy teachers down in the art room at the same time. With this extra class I don't need to "follow" the curriculum per say, I could go in different directions, try new things, even do experiments! However, after working with this class for three class times I realized they there are some special needs children that may need extra time learning the basic skills like cutting, hand washing, general direction following. etc. The only hard part is doing projects that aren't as messy as those we do in the art room.   Here are a few of their resent pieces.    

I can't figure out why when I tried to turn around the photos in the photo wizard program they cam up right side up. Then when I go to place them here they turn around again! Anyway, as you can see their are variations project out comes! As you can see here most would cut out the entire chameleon but, some ran out of time or had trouble with the smaller fine motor skills of cutting the triangles out for the toes! One even kept cutting even though he had cut enough, he discovered that tape would do the job of fixing some over cuts. I let him continue to tape even though he didn't need too. Using the tape dispenser isn't an easy skill for a Kindergarten, I was impressed! Next I will definitely have this student STOP before he does too much  to his project! He doesn't know when to stop!    

Class or no Class?

     I keep trying to decide if I should do a class on Saturday mornings during the fall. As soon as Thanksgiving hits there is no time to have class as all my extra time is devoted to everything Holiday. I absolutely LOVE Fall and can think of a million projects I would like to do with the kiddos! From Autumn trees to Halloween Monster Paintings to something decorative at Thanksgiving.   
  *Autumn Tree Paintings
  *Real Leaf Rubbings
  *Miro goes Spooky Pastel and Tempera Paintings 
  *Itsy Bitsy Spiders Painting and Collage 
  *Monster Paintings
  *3-D Tom the Turkey for Thanksgiving       

Some Changes in the Art room and the First Weeks of Art Lessons

    Here it is after 2 weeks I've got my art teacher grove on!! It was a slow start with only teaching one class a day. Not too challenging, but I was able to get some other things done as you will see at the bottom of this post.

I'm back into my routine and enjoying my classes so far. Both grades have completed their Self Portraits and the second project of the school year is underway....... 

    After Reading Mouse Paint by                       Each grade did a lesson involving Primary and Secondary Colors. Kindergarten mixed using watercolors. This isn't as simple as you may think because of their short attention span and the clean up which is an entire lesson in it self. 

My example of Watercolor Mix.

First Grade started Color Wheels using Tempera Paints. Week #1 they painted in the Primary Colors and Week #2 they
used the Primary Colors to mix in the Secondary Colors and added in a mouse they draw themselves.  Pictures to Follow.

 Supply Area:

 Before

 After

Wall as you enter art room:

Before

I don't feel like its complete!! Maybe words?

After

Marker and Color Pencils:

Before

 After

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AIDAN!!!

I can't believe my Aidan is 10 today!!! He is not a little boy anymore, but a blossoming young man.

Not to compare him to flowers, but he is really maturing!!