Monday, May 29, 2017

Art Teacher Life: (Video) My #OurFCPS Spotlight

"Some people only dream of meeting
their favorite artists, I teach mine" 
On Thursday January 19, 2017, I tweeted the photo above. It was dismissal and I had grabbed my selfie stick and walked out to see students off! We were getting the next day off. January 20th would be the 2017 presidential inauguration.

I teach in Virginia, but we are just a few miles from Washington DC. If you live in a big city or near one, you know that living miles from any big city puts you in a mixing bowl of activity spanning far and wide. We call our area the "DMV" standing for "District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia."


You can find me here on twitter as BRIGHTBLUEHUE  The tweet got lots of love which I thought was just the coolest thing! Our awesome news liaison, Laura snagged it up and sent it in to the FCPS folks who gather potential pictures for news letters.

With our school's amazing news liaison!
Couldn't have braved it without ya Laura! 
Laura was contacted about the photo, asking to know a little more about the teacher pictured. I sent in the usual, where I went to college, years teaching, and few other things. They came back and said, "tell us more!" They had sent a list of questions this time. I was starting to get a little nervous. What is this for? I didn't ask questions. I just replied with meaningful answers trying my best to write like a rock star! However, it all kinda just came out as....."y'all, teaching art is pretty much the best thing ever!"
I didn't hear back for weeks and weeks. Finally, Laura said, "Margaret, they want to send a production crew here to film you!" Gulp..... My inner dialog was....'NO! NO! THAT'S NOT NECESSARY!!!'  Alas, it proved to be such a fun process. Terrifying, but a blast! Check out the video! 


A writer from the communications staff in FCPS wrote an article about me. It is amazingly well written. I'm so grateful that someone took the time to put it together. They really made me sound awesome! Amazing writing! You can read the short article here posted on March 3, 2017





In the article, I talk about how to keep up that joyful classroom at year 11 and how I kindle and rekindle my passion for teaching art!  I had this to say: 

 "I see how their art is ‘imperfect’ and how meaningful it is to view and enjoy.  This, in turn, taught me to let go of my inhibitions when doing my art. When my creative soul is full, I am ready to inspire them to know they are artists, too.” 

Margaret McDonald, Art Teacher

Check out that colorful back ground! The crew emailed ahead of time asking for an  "artistic" background to film against. So, I grabbed all the International Dot Day artwork from our September mural and threw the board together! It has stayed up  in this conference room all school year! 



I was asked, how I got the opportunity to be filmed. When I think about this experience and the little moments that lead up to the crew coming to film me, I realized that it all boiled down to something very basic - "passion"

On that Thursday afternoon at dismissal, I was genuinely having a good time with some of my "favorite artists." Most days, my job doesn't feel like a job. Don't get me wrong, it's tough! However, I can't imagine doing anything else. I think that is what showed up in this picture. Our smiles and that passion for art and for teaching!


I'm so grateful that I got this chance to be an advocate for art education. Sharing its importance in every single school for every single child!

I truly believe art education gives every child a voice! No exceptions! I'm am quoted in the spotlight article saying;

“When a child is given the opportunity for curiosity, exploration, imagination, risks, ideas, new materials, and challenges, that yearning and ability to create is awakened and expression is born.”

Saturday, May 20, 2017

Autism & Art: Bubble Wrap Printing.


Bubble wrap has proved to be one of the most beautiful no fail things to print with!  We pulled print after print until it was time to go home! 


I brushed a poster board with Mod Podge and patted down small and large bubble wrap.  Don't worry if its been popped. It will still make awesome prints!


We used magenta, yellow and turquoise tempera. (this time I also added some purple,) These are my 3 go to when I know there will me lots and lots of mixing!



Some students used their hands to apply the paint


Sponge brushes were also used


 1. Paint the paper.



2. Get paper and  "pat pat pat."  



3. Pull the print



and more prints...


and more prints!


I saved the poster board with the bubble wrap glued on so we can get another use out of it.


My student enjoy discovering new textures and processes. We could have made prints all day!




Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Art Teacher Life: What I Wore #2 "You don't look like a Ninja!"

 

Me: "Have you ever seen a Ninja coming? 
You may never know when
 Ms. McDonald becomes an Art Teacher Ninja!" 


3rd grade had a lot to say about my "CAREER GOALS" shirt! They did some guessing about my innovative hair bow and also told me a joke.

 

I decided to laminate a poster for a DIY dry erase board I can hang anywhere.  




     


"Art Teacher Ninja" It's a thing y'all! 


They also loved guessing which part of my shirt 
I chopped off to create my bow! We are innovators!


I adore how we quickly move on to the important things! 
JOKES!!!!!



"Hi Jorge!" 
Love, Ms. McDonald
Making connections and building relationships with my students is one of the most important things I can do as an educator to give them the tools they need to succeed!

Saturday, May 6, 2017

Art Teacher Life: What I Wore #1 "Art is the new cool"



I will admit that my "Art Teacher Attire" Amazon wish list is a little out of control right now! I've fallen in love with fun art T-shirts! When "FOMO" (Fear Of Missing Out) kicks in, it's hard to resist buying one of each! I have racked up a pretty good collection but I definitely need more! 


What I wore. 
Fridays are the days I often reserve for fun shirts! However the crazy art teacher lady can and does come out on any old Tuesday. Tacky, gaudy or colorful are not requirements for teaching art or being an elementary school teacher. However, if you are looking for an excuse, best job ever! 



Today I tried something new for my "early finishers." I did a new sticky note writing prompt. I wanted to know what was in those little brains of theirs! This is what the white board said and what they had to say;
"I'M DONE!! WHAT DO I DO??"
In a complete sentence, write a comment, question, or exclamation, about Ms. McDonald's T-shirt.

Check out a few of these adorable sticky notes!


Kids LOVE sticky notes y'all! 

These are keepers!
They are all KEEPERS!
 

This was the #1 question!

Many notes made me smile or giggle!

Said to me by a 4 year old this week in the hallway,
" Hey! You're looking good!" #artteachergoals

What the art teacher wore was fun to talk about in the art room this week! I can't wait to see what next week's sticky notes say! 
Come back and see! 

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

It's Art Day!: (VIDEO) Kindergarten Printmaking Time Lapse


When Ms. H dropped off her class and said "It's a full house of 26! Meet our new student!" I thought to myself, "ALL RIGHT! 26 KINDERGARTNERS!" This ya'll, is the controlled chaos I live for! 

I try to always greet my classes at the door and say a quick hello and try to check in with the teacher. I try and I say "try" because teachers are...well...JUGGLING! Always one hand on a ball and a bunch up in the air with one coming down that needs catching!!


After the students and I chatted, we popped on smocks and were ready to print! We are printing with 6 different found objects. Students are up and moving to choose objects and create masterpieces!







In this video: 
  • Students put art on drying rack mostly on their own. Making sure they aren't stacking paintings on paintings still has to be checked in on. They have gotten better and are reminding each other! 
  • No kindergartner goes to the sink but one because he was REALLY purple! Many still try  but with a quick reminder to wipe hands on smock til towels are out.
  • I wet towels (while students are working because I forgot to do it beforehand) and put them on the "island" (table in middle.) 
  • Students get a towel to match their table color and wipe hands then table. 
I would love to know how you paint and print with large groups. These Kindergartners had a blast!