Time to catch up with what's going on in the art room!
My PreK just finished some winter tree scenes. They earned 10 marbles in their reward jar, so I had a reward day where we mixed colors straight on the covered table with our fingers! They are starting resist painted mittens soon.
The Kindergarten has completed their fish and I have finally transitioned them to whole class instruction, no more centers! We did a project on Kandinsky's concentric circles and are currently in the middle of creating mugs of hot cocoa - I was very impressed with their ability to create cylinders and the checker patterns this year.
Things keep pointing back to how valuable and effective it has been to pre-record all my lessons (Flipping my classroom). It forces me to review every word I say, clip it down to what is needed and organize the information. It's also very VERY easy to see what was lacking after a lesson that the students don't quite pick up because I'M watching it with them. I can go back and add a clip if I have time or I know to emphasize something before/after the video. Either way, instruction is smoother, my ability to grow and self-reflect has drastically increased, and (NOT KIDDING) nearly ALL of those kids who constantly call out and interrupt while you're talking/instructing.... DEAD silent during the video. More of them pay attention; yes, there are still some who don't, but I try to look on the bright side that at least the rest of the class can focus on instructions. I can use proximity to encourage those few to watch instructions, or deal quietly with a bigger problem. AND if a student comes late or didn't listen, I can sit them at the computer and replay the video (in part or whole) if I need to circulate to help the other students.
I'll save more student work for tomorrow! I am trying to build a really nice portfolio for my classroom and I am taking apart my old one today to start fresh!
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