Art Primary Classroom library

 Children's art library 

Using my Square 1 Art fundraiser money I just purchased a boat load of board books from Amazon. In my art room instead of allowing the kids to do "free draw" when they are finished with an art project they are to read a book about art from my art library. I used to be a kindergarten classroom teacher so I really encourage reading.  I teach only kindergarten and 1st grade so many of my books about art were over their heads. Board books are perfect for this level because there are few words and the pages are boards! This is perfect for the art room in case they get paint on them I can just wipe them clean! 

Here are photos of all my new board books.

I still included some of the books I had that were age appropriate such as "The Day the Crayons Quit"  and "Museum Shapes" to name just a few. I added colored dots with numbers on each book so the kiddos can keep them organized. 

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. 

My art room

Here are pictures of my classroom.   

Below is how I distribute jobs to students. Each student has a shape on the back of their chair (duct taped). They are to look at the poster in front of the room to see what they are to get for their table. This works out so well. Make sure you use a picture with the words for non-readers. They are laminated with Velcro on the back.                                                           

This is how I keep all of them organized. I laminated cardstock and added Velcro. This makes my life so much easier!

Each table has a different artist hanging above it. These are artists we discuss through out the year. The children are always delighted when I mention their table's artist. 

I have a noise level chart to let children know how loud they are to be during a lesson. 

Each class has the opportunity to earn a star for their behavior in class. After ten stars then their class earns a free day. I put various art materials out and the children get to pretty much make what ever they want. If a student has work they need to finish from previous lessons then they have to finish it first before they can do the free day activities.  Here is the chart I use. I put faces on the magnets and move them to reflect their behavior. Green for good, yellow for try harder and red for make better choices. I got the idea from mpmschoolsupplies. 

Students must enter the classroom quietly and sit Mona Lisa style. I love to see the children give  me a Mona Lisa smile! 

I try to have everything labeled for the children to find and put the materials away quickly. It is best to have a visual cue along with the words for non readers. 

I also have a craftmanship poster for students to check their work. I had my student teacher make it. I found this idea from http://primarilyartwithmrsdepp.blogspot.com/2016_07_01_archive.html

When students are finished with a project then they can go to the book area. Because I am a former intervention specialist and classroom teacher I wanted children to read books about art instead of doing free art. In the past I have found that some children rush through their project so they can do free draw. I have collected children art books from garage sales and second hand book stores. This collection has taken me about 28 years! 

Being an Ohio teacher we are required to post the common core standards we are working on. I bought these on teachers pay teachers.

Make sure to have an area for pencils that need sharpened. I sharpen the pencils. Children  love to use the electric pencil sharpener! 

Tired of the kids asking you where to put their art? Refer them to a poster like this. 

I have a visual timer for the students to monitor their time.

I also have a map of the world so we can discuss where the  artists are from that we are studying. I add labels to mark the places.

I teach kindergarten and first grade so many of them are into the Ninja Turtles. I made these posters and put them on my door for students to look at while they are waiting for their teacher to pick them up. I found the one in the upper right corner on line somewhere.