Debra Markham

 Some may wonder why we teach art in the elementary schools in Cumberland County. I have heard students say, "I don't need to learn art; I'm just gonna get a job." We do more in art than draw pictures. Please encourage your student to get on board in art class because your child's boss one day will demand high standards, analytical thinking, creative problem solving, practice, discipline, teamwork, and follow through -- all these concepts are taught in the art classroom. My goal in art is to challenge students to give their best effort with a good attitude to try something new and to grow creatively. To see the National Standards for Visual Arts Education, visit the website for National Art Education Association: www.naea-reston.org.

SCHOOL YEAR 2009-2010 August 10 - Teachers return to school after summer break August 12 - Registration Day for students August 14 - First full day of classes.

Standards:
1. Understanding and applying media, techniques and processes.
2. Using knowledge of structures and functions.
3. Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols and ideas.
4. Understanding the visual arts in relation to history and culture.
5. Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others.
6. Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines.

Week 22 is January 18-22.

PreK will see Color Train, learning to distinguish colors on the color specrum. We will do Brain Gym, read, draw and visit play centers.

K-2 will continue Brain Gym, read The Child's World of Responsibility, draw and play.

Grades 3-5 will finish "Famous Sayings" illustrations.

Grades 6-7 will complete "Positive Graffiti" and begin Valentines for Troops, a card campaign sponsored by FCA to send greetings to military personnel stationed in the Middle East or confined to hospitals due to injuries sustained in action.

Week 23 is dated January 25-January 29 (five days of school).

PreK and Kindergarten will do Brain Gym activities, read the book, No One Like You, draw a picture and play in centers.

Grades 1-2 will explore drawing with lines and shapes.

Grades 3-4 will learn about symmetry and balance in their art work.

Grade 5 - one class will write about line; the other will make valentine cards for military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan (or in hospitals here in the U.S.).

Grade 6 will begin the process a illustrating the novel, The Cay, being read in their regular classroom. They too will make cards for the troops.

Grade 7 will receive their sketchbooks and will begin taking notes on elements of art and principles of design. They too will make cards for the troops.

Due to the snow event last week, we are playing catch up on art projects, etc.

Friday was our only day of classes, so we will:

PreK-K
Brain Gym, reading, drawing and play centers.
1-2
Brain Gym, color theory, drawing.
3-4
Learning the principle of design - balance; symmetrical and asymmetrical.

5
Drawing with perspective
6
Illustrating The Cay, novel being read in class
7
Notes in sketchbook regarding elements of art and principles of design.

Monday is President's Day - no school.

Tuesday we begin our regular schedule.

Grades PreK-K
Grades 1-2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5 will begin a landscape painting in the Regionalist style of Thomas Hart Benton.
Grade 6 will be completing their illustration of the novel they read in class, The Cay.
Grade 7 will turn in biographical information about chosen artists for their art project this nine weeks.

Spring is just around the corner.  Let us live in hope of a new beginning as nature displays it wonders.

"Practicing gratitude, acknowledging the blessings in your life, and making it a point to recognize those good things, will positively change your life.  You will be happier, healthier, and better able to handle the stresses of daily life simply by saying thank you."   

- Deborah Norville, Thank You Power

After eighteen weeks at Pine View Elementary, I am back at Crab Orchard to teach art the last nine weeks. PreK-1 We will read, draw and have cooperative centers. 2-3 We will be reviewing color; using our knowledge, we will create pictures of the changing world - Spring is here! 4-5 We will look at artists from other centuries and try to paint pictures using their style - impressionist, abstract expression, etc. 7 Drawing "3-D" pictures, cartoons, and doing a "grid" painting. I have missed my students at Crab Orchard and look forward to finishing the year with STYLE in the STUDIO. "Learn from the past, embrace the present, and plan for the future. The choice is yours!" Mrs. Markham Studio Artist @COS

YOUTH EXPO 2009 - at Community Complex, Saturday, April 11, 10:00-3:00
Mr. Newberry's S.T.E.M. class projects will be featured in the COS display area.

ART LESSONS FOR THIS WEEK:
Grades PreK-K Reading, Drawing a picture, Play Centers for cooperative play.
Grade 1 We will begin our City at Night crayon resist paintings, using rectangles and squares to create a cityscape.
Grade 2 Spring is here! We will draw a spring tree with oil crayons, paint a wash of blue sky, and add blossoms (next week).
Grade 3 We will explore balance in art...looking at symmetry and forms.
Grade 4 Mixing blue with white, black and gray to accomplish tint, shade and tone of that color.
Grade 5 A color's opposite is found across the color wheel; we will be learning about complementary colors.

Grade 7 I will be assisting Mr. Newberry to help get the S.T.E.M. projects ready for the Expo.

Stay warm on these unseasonably cold couple of days. Will we have school tomorrow (Tuesday)?

Due to TCAP testing this week, we are operating on a modified schedule for the visual arts classes in the studio. Testing takes place through the morning hours; art classes will not begin until 12:20 each day (Tuesday through Thursday). Friday classes will resume at 11:15AM with PreK.

PreK will be looking at book about colorful animals, from the COS library; we will then draw a "colorful" animal and then play in cooperative centers. We do not simply play though; we are "working as a team" to build one structure. Then we switch centers and "build" with another set of "tools". At this age, it is difficult for children to be willing to share the building materials and to work on th project together. Kindergarten will do this also.

Because we did not have school on Friday, April 10, third grade and fifth grade will:
Grade 3 - Look at Unlikely Pairs: Fun with Famous Works of Art to compare and contrast works done in different types and styles. This is the beginning of the analysis process used to explore works of art; it also addresses the National Standard for the Visual Arts: "Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others."

Seventh grade will receive their sketchbooks, taking notes and recording homework assignments for next class.

Monday and Tuesday will be testing days, with modified schedule. We will resume regular schedule on Wednesday.

PreK and K - Read, draw and play
Grade 1 - Finish painting "Cities at Night"
Grade 2 - Finish "Spring Trees"
Grade 3 - Mixing primary colors to get secondary colors
Grade 4 - Using monochromatic paintings to show movement
Grade 5 - Continue study of complementary colors
Grade 7 - Continue study of Elements of Art and Principles of Design

Since I will be out of class the majority of the week, all classes, beginning Wednesday, will have a substitute teacher.

Monday and Tuesday we will follow our regular lessons as stated in the teacher plan book. Lessons on Wednesday through Friday students will use what they have learned to be creative.

Back on schedule, finishing projects begun before Mrs. Markham left and TCAP testing.

Finishing another year at Crab Orchard. . .

PreK-2 We will be doing some copycat drawings, using simple shapes to accomplish "real life" works of art.

3 - Landscape with reflection.

4 - Marilynne Bartos, picture person with Fairfield Glade Art Guild, will be visiting Mrs. Bowman's class on Wednesday; Mr. Cox's class will be writing about art due to rowdy behavior.

5 Continuing our exploration of color by learning about Henri Matisse, using organic and geometric shapes.

7 Developing a portfolio of drawing, using elements of art, and principles of design (composition).

HAVE A GREAT AND SAFE SUMMER.

END OF YEAR HONORS PROGRAM
ART AWARDS
Grades 1-2 Lauren Ziegler; Billy Wyatt
Grades 3-5 Heidi Hennessee; Aric Moilanen
Grades 6-8 Amber Triplett; Bryce Rowan

We have several kindergarten students who show great promise in visual arts. I look forward to seeing what will be accomplished in first grade.

All classes will be completing projects and helping get the art studio into a holding pattern for the summer, putting all supplies into storage until the school year (2009-2010) begins in August.

Wishing you the best for a fun summer!