What a fun and busy week before Spring Break!

We started the week out on Monday with kindergarten experimenting with finger-painting.  I was shocked at how many kids had never experienced this medium.  They had a wonderful time and we will definitely be bringing the paints out again soon!

Finger-painting is F-U-N!

I was able to create another Animoto video about this year's Fun Fair last weekend.  This is a great website/ app to use!  You can make a 30 second video for free, or a longer one for a yearly subscription.  Super easy to use.  Thank you to all of our volunteers for the Fun Fair and a BIG shout-out to Ashley Hoffman for all her dedication to making kids smile!

On Friday, I had the pleasure of accompanying Miss Wiemer's class for our math rotations!  The kids had a great time playing different Box Cars and One-Eyed Jacks games.

Hope everyone has a wonderful spring break!  

It's great to be back!

Pecatonica Elementary is such a great place to work!  It's an honor to both live and work in the same community!  I received many well wishes and gentle hugs since my return.  It's wonderful to be in the Studio again!

We jumped into the art of printmaking this past week!  Ask your child about monotype printmaking.  Some students created prints using markers and styrofoam (BRING IN THOSE TAKE OUT CONTAINERS, please!) and some students experimented with the new Gelli plates.  The Gelli plates feels like gelatin without the mess of cooking.  Don't worry, we still got very messy and had some great discoveries in the process!

 If you forget the directions, here's the menu!

 Showing off her work!

 Students help each other so I can circulate the other studios.

 Mini-demo before opening studios.

Some students chose to visit other studios this week.  The wonderful thing about TAB is the freedom of choice of chosen mediums to create authentic child art!

Hope everyone had a great time at the Fun Fair this weekend!  I am working on creating an Animoto video I will post soon!  

Since I have been gone...

The Dragonfly Studio is really taking shape even in my absence.  Mrs. Hamblock has been focusing on the fibers studio, which I am thrilled about.  I am not a fiber artist and I am eager for the students to teach me when I return in the beginning of March!  

Students cut and are sewing little heart pillows from felt.

These young men are making trading cards and books.

Future engineers!

Love his weaving progress!

Pancakes! Pancakes!

On Friday during my normal Power Hour time, I had the pleasure of assisting Miss Wiemer's class make pancakes!  What a great time we had!

The children gave me a wonderful send-off to my upcoming surgery!  I can't wait to hear all the fabulous things Mrs. Hamblock teaches during my recovery!

Inventors Studio Opening

This week, third and fourth grade students earned a new studio!  Inventors Studio consists of recyclable materials I have collected for students to "invent" new sculptures with.  Do you have any materials to offer?  The one rule is the items must be clean!  No one wants to create with dirty materials.  Please rinse and de-label if possible so we may see items in a new light!

Painting foam corners from our new front lobby bulletin boards.  What do you think he is he making?

A computer! (Love the windmill in the background, too!)

These boys were very hard at work on their football field.

I love this guy and will miss him so much next year!

Liquid Tempera gives me freedom!

This week, I introduced the liquid tempera paint in the Painting Studio.  We are learning how to set up and clean up the studio as a team as well.  Ask your child about the ribbon wreath for random acts of kindness in the Dragonfly Studio!  Our goal is to have it covered by the end of the school year!

The painting studio was a popular choice this week for these 2nd graders!

Bead-working in the fiber studio.

These builders are hard at work for their marble mazes!  Problem and puzzle solving skills at work!

Mr. Gray mixed to make his signature gray paint!

He was so proud of his "camo-green!"

I shared with many classes about my upcoming surgery.  I am having a hysterectomy on January 23rd.  My estimated return to work date is March 6th.  I am leaving the studio and my interventionist duties to the wonderful Mrs. Hamblock.  I will be checking in with her throughout my recovery and look forward feeling much healthier!  Thank you for your continued support!