Book Study-- UnSelfie

I recently downloaded the audio book "UnSelfie; Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World" by Michele Borba. As I listen, I continue to ask myself, are we (my husband and I) giving my two children the correct tools to develop Empathy. Then my question broadens, am I encouraging Empathy in my Visual Arts Classroom... is that an appropriate place to teach this skill? 

I decided that I wanted to invite you... our #PLN (Professional Learning Network) to join along with me in this read.  In the month of November, I will be tweeting out slow chat questions through out the month. A slow chat just means I will post a question that relates to the book, and you can answer it in your own time. 

On Thursday November 30th, I would like to invite you to our #k12ArtChat at 8:30pm. I will have a variety of questions to discuss the subject of Empathy. I invite my #PLN to join along. I will also invite my other groups on social media.  If you are a teacher, administrator, or school leader in some capacity, I would like to invite you to join in on the conversation... Even if you have never done a twitter chat before, this would be a great way to join in! 

Michele Borba has also offered questions to lead us in our discussion. If you are interested in doing this book study beyond our social media chats, this guide could prove to be helpful. click here  See some of Borba's other books and accomplishments by visiting her website. click here

Seesaw Uploading for Kindergarten

This is the third week of school for me and there are so many fun activities happening in my class that I can't wait to shout it from the rooftops.  The best way for me to do this is via Seesaw.  This is the strongest tool in my classroom for advocacy!

For the past couple of weeks, I have been sharing class happenings of the Art Room by recording the action my self and sending it to all parents with just a couple quick steps. Now I want to put this in the hands of my students and what better place to start, but with my Kindergarteners. 

Here's the deal, I set up my station ahead of time.  I show them the big job of coloring that is required.  I tell them they have to get rid of all the 'white spots' and they must ask three before asking me.  When they get three 'yes's' they can come on up and upload their art to Seesaw.

As the K's make it up to me one at a time I walk them through the process. This is my most training I have to do for Seesaw, so I take the time to talk to each student, bring them through the process, and celebrate after they have posted their artwork for their parents to see. 

In one of my classes, I lost my job. This little K was more interested in helping her peers than she was interested in playtime.  I gave her the rule that she could not do it for the students but rather guide with her words and pointing.  She taught the majority of the class how to upload their own work to Seesaw. Talk about empowering students! 

Here is the setup for the unloading station. We were so lucky to receive these 'Justand Tall' iPad stands by ProComputing Products, through curriculum review.  I have an IKEA end table for the base. It is the perfect height for the littles and the stand is incredibly sturdy. I have placed the stations by outlets so I can have the iPad plugged in if needed. I plan to have the stations available at all times for the students to upload their work to Google Drive, Schoology, and/or Seesaw.

Introduction to Sketchnoting

In May, I posted on Instagram that I was recording for The Art Ed Now conference. I was so excited to present on something new to me... sketchnotes.  I should rephrase that... I have done sketchnotes my whole life, in my classes, at conferences,  in meetings... I used sketchnotes all the time. I have not brought this skill into my classroom up until now. 

The Art of Education always puts on an amazing conference and I have been honored to be part of it for the last 9 conferences. This one was record breaking, says Tim Bogatz of the Art of Education in his recap post. It was so much fun presenting on this subject because there were several participants that created sketchnotes for the rest of the conference.

I'm really excited to be working in the middle school this next year.  I have never worked with 6th grade and with a job change, I will be for the 2017/18 school year.  How exciting! Even better is the fact that 6-12th grade will have 1:1 chrome books!  My lessons are going to be flipped, organized, and online for students to access.  My 6th graders will be working on the national standards specifically responding and connecting using sketchnotes.  Before they can do that... they need to know what sketchnotes are.

I have created the first Unit of this study... my hope is after students have completed this unit of study, they will be able to sketchnote during the creative process, and during my lessons.  Who knows... maybe even outside of the art room.  In fact, this lesson is designed for any teacher who would like to give their students another tool for obtaining information in a way that allows them to connect with the content in a deeper way.

Here is an example of one of the eight videos in this Introduction to Sketchnoting...

After students watch this short video, they are invited to do a challenge. This is using one page in their sketchbook/notebook to practice the skills discussed in this section of the lesson.  Eight videos... Eight challenges.

  

You can present this lesson to your students in so many ways.  If you are a Seesaw School... You can share this via Seesaw.  Schoology school? Share it on Schoology.  Your school does not have technology in all the kid's hands?? No problem.  This is designed so that you, the teacher, can use it in a group learning situation.  Because these videos are so short, you could share this at the beginning of class for a warm up or at the end and assign the 'challenge' for homework. 

Allow me to share this lesson with you.  I hope you find it as exciting as I do.  Now until Friday, Aug. 11th there is a sale on this lesson to celebrate it's role out! Enjoy... 

Click here for the Introduction to Sketchnoting lesson plan

on Teacher pay Teachers.

ISD 728, Student Art Work

Every year, all of our art teachers at ISD728 select two works of art to represent their school.  These images are photographed and printed on a really nice foam core and framed to hang in the District office for the next year. We celebrate these chosen works by presenting a certificate to the students at a school board meeting.  Leah Schultz, a K-5 Art teacher at Twin Lakes Elementary School, takes the lead on this one and creates a slide show, and prints out the certificates. She presents the program with such grace to the School Board. Damien Husen at Elk River High School does the posters for us. He has done this in such an efficient way for so many years.  Rana Nestrud also added these images onto a card so that each of the school board members would have a set of greeting cards with the student Artwork on it. We (the Art Teachers of ISD728) thank these three for the extra hard work they do on this project. 

I promise you, this recognition allows these students to identify themselves as an Artist for the rest of their lives.  I can't tell you how many past students who have been recognized have continued their path in Art.  Parents often have share that students interest in Art increases after this night of recognition.  This tells the students, "I see you, you are awesome, and you are Artist!"

These are the two works of art from Hassan Elementary. Louis, a Kindergartener told me, "Mrs. Hahn, I was really surprised because I'm only a kindergartener."

When Callen's Artwork was shown on the slide show, the crowd gasp because they were so impressed!  Callen has always tried so hard in my class so it was amazing to have the opportunity to recognize her as an Artist! She will be leaving for the middle school next year, so it was just in time. 

And the rest of the Artworks.  This is why I love my coworkers! Look at the amazing work coming from our district.

Elk River High School

Marlys Oliver, 12th Grade (above, left)

Max Friese, 12th Grade (above, right)

Ivan Sand Community High School

Anna Liashko, 12th Grade (above, left)

Meranda Burton, 11th Grade (above, right)

Lincoln Elementary

Levi Holmgren, 4th Grade (above, left)

Stephanie Menning, 5th Grade (above, right)

Meadowvale Elementary

Alex Ree, 4th Grade (above, left)

Audra Bitzan, 3rd Grade (above, right)

Otsego Elementary

Ellianna Riter, 1st Grade (above, left)

Kylie Long, 5th Grade (above, right)

Parker Elementary

Avery Hemmer, Kindergarten (above, left)

Katelyn Vonada, 3rd Grade (above, right)

Rogers Elementary

 Alexa Juntunen, 2nd Grade (above, left)

Gabriella Boman, 3rd Grade (above, right)

Rogers High School

Kendra Bolster, 12th Grade (above, left)

Morgan Rgnonti, 12th Grade (above, right)

Rogers Middle School

Delaney Hegarty, 8th Grade (above, left)

Morgan Fischer, 8th Grade (above, right)

Salk Middle School

Elizabeth Johnson, 8th Grade (above, left)

Mandy Christy, 6th Grade (above, right)

Twin Lakes Elementary

Keagan Borer, 2nd Grade (above, left)

Lillian Osterman, 4th Grade (above, right)

VandenBerg Middle School

Kylie Urvig, 8th Grade (above, left)

Megan Kelley, 8th Grade (above, right)

Westwood Elementary School

Ava Crawford, 4th Grade (above, left)

Taylor Steindl, 3rd Grade (above, right)

Zimmerman Elementary

Addison Riebe, 1st Grade (above, left)

Savannah Krueger, 2nd Grade (above, right)

Zimmerman High School

Hannah Helson, 9th Grade (above, left)

Katie Merwin, 11th Grade (above, right)

Zimmerman Middle School

Elle Werner, 7th  Grade (above, left)

Louise Kritzeck, 6th Grade (above, right)

mARTch Madness, Round 2

We have entered ROUND 2 (ding, ding, ding) of mARTch Madness.  Hassan Elementary students have been voting for their favorite Artist from our #BitOBio series.  This has been so much fun for the kids.  We have been using a Google form to vote. Here are the final results...

How awesome is this?  Students are empowered, they have a voice. They get to see live data and understand that their vote can change the overall look of the data. Best thing is these kids are passionate about the Artists they have learned about. They cheer (or boo) when they see the live results at the end of their class. 

The four artist being voted on are... Frida Kahlo vs. Matisse Hahn and Sawyer Hahn vs. Bob Ross.

For the introduction to the mARTch Madness, click here.

To learn more about the artist in the #BitOBio Series, click here.