for the year. I cut 4″ x 8 1/2″ tag board tents for name plates and have the students write their names on day 1 this helps me learn/ remember names after the break and we use that name tag to bind our sketchbooks so everyone’s name is in the same place and so that it helps me along the way. I have students store sketchbooks in a table portfolio that’s color matches the color table for easy passing out and retrieval. A tip, give yourself permission to teach the same concept with a variety of lessons versus every student learning the concept with the bane project. This makes better bulletin board displays, kids pay closer attention to the displays because they are looking at the projects they didn’t do and applyinglearned information to that, and your art show works are going to be of a wider and more varied range or works versus all being the same works repeated. Also, don’t be afraid to do the same lesson but use different colored paper or different sized and shaped papers to make it easier to i.d. no name papers with their class stack.
Kristin T.: I play a draw me something game. Fold the paper in fours so you get eight boxes total. Then I give a topic. Draw me your favorite food, your family, you like to do etc. I get to know the kids in a fun exciting way!
Susan: One tip to make the year go smoothly- label all supplies in a kid friendly way and give a tour of the room/scavenger hunt. Then, gradually give the kids responsibility for getting and returning supplies. Less running around for me to do, kids have ownership, and builds a sense of community!
Box Artist: Rules and seating first day, vocab the second, draw your neighbor the third, then fix your seating because by now you might get an idea of who is a jerk before you get into the routine, and you can re-seat them. You’ll also know who can follow directions via the notes, and basic skill level from the drawings. I save them and return them on the last day.
Julie Mueller Cacciola: For high schoolers: I did a Scavenger Hunt last year. It worked like a charm! I had 2 lists (same stuff-just in a different order) to alleviate traffic issues. I also do assigned seats right away just to instantly put the control on me. (Change up the seating later depending on each class).
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