kindergarten 1st day of art class lesson

Kindergarten 1st day of art class lesson

I found a great lesson for the 1st day of art class from the Double Loaded paintbrush blog. 

http://doubleloadedpaintbrush.blogspot.com/

When the children arrived for their first day of art class I had them sit on the floor. I filled a backpack  with art supplies for the children to pull out of the bag. Each time a student pulled out an item we discussed what it was and how to use it. I made sure to have something for each student to pull out of the bag. In the front pocket I had a heart with the words "respect" a "smiley face" and a trapezoid with the word "try" written on it. We discussed how to respect the teachers and the art supplies, to always "try" in art and to enjoy art (smiley face). 

I then had the students make art! I printed on 12" x 18" multi media paper a frame and the rules we discussed. 

Students were then instructed to draw a picture of me. This gave me a quick assessment of how students were developmentally in their drawing skills. 

Again, thanks for the idea "Double Loaded Paintbrush". 

1st day of art class for 1st graders

1st day of art class for 1st graders lesson

I found this great lesson plan on http://dripdripsplattersplash.blogspot.com/. It is the perfect lesson for the 1st day of art class. My first graders are already familiar with the art room so I do a brief review of the classroom and rules and then read the book "The Dot" by Peter H. Reynolds. 

We discuss the terms "negative" and "positive" in art and then I demonstrate (actually review) how to paint with watercolors. Students are instructed to use only the primary and secondary colors (no black or brown). Students also can only paint the positive or negative space of their paintings.
Great 1st day project with students.

Classroom management for the art room

One of the incentives I give my students in art class is the opportunity to earn a star for their classroom. Students have to have all green on the "Be Art Smart" chart. I made magnets with little faces on them. Green is good (happy face), yellow is a try harder (straight face) and red is an uh'oh (sad face).  When the class earns ten stars then the class earns a free day. I found this system here. http://www.mpmschoolsupplies.com/ideas/2713/behavior-management-strategies-visible-goals-daily-evaluations/ . I changed it a little from their system.

I like free days as well because those students who haven't finished other art work have to do it during their free day.

I give the students a variety of things to work with on their free day such as play dough, stencils, learn how to draw cartoon books, art building toys, art matching games, a box of scrapes so they can make whatever they want etc.

When I have a student who is very difficult I send home a letter. You can see it here. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3jcyrMhp2GddUlJMDdyTUFRb2s/view?usp=sharing

If I don't get the letter back from the student then I e-mail or call the parent.  Their classroom teacher will appreciate this as well, because they probably have similar problems with the child in their own classroom. 

I also have a student desk beside my desk. I have a couple of students who have trouble concentrating at their table so they sit here to help eliminate classroom distractions. I tell them it isn't a punishment, it just helps them to concentrate better away from everyone. After I have introduced the lesson, usually they can go back to their original seat and get to work.