Sunday, February 13, 2011

No. Keeping Up Isn't Happenin'!

But I will attempt to tell you what's goin' on.  : )

I'll do this in a way where I can go in order through my classes...
TAG.  The 2nd grade students were testing last week, so I didn't see them, but, the 2 boys,
Isaac and Riley have created a Blog about their favorite animals.  The 2 girls and I have been
checking out cool experiments and decided on several using dry ice!  We also want to create volcanos out of clay and use soda/vinegar/food coloring to make them erupt!  The Kindergarteners are creating props and scenery for our Choral Reading.  The 1st Graders will be creating their own Blogs, but we have yet to start, with the exception of Aiden.

The Art I and Art II students have been creating either mobiles or paper mache pieces.  This week we will finally be glazing our handbuilt clay pieces and pour molded pieces to glaze and fire as well!
  Some will then creating contrastos or collages.  One of the seniors is drawing an oil pastel car.

Photography.  They have just completed their 3D reliefs and will be starting a "List" of items.  They need to shoot three different views of each item, then put 1 of each in a presentation format.

Graphic Design students are learning about careers in Graphic Design.  There is a great website that is aiding in our endeavors.  Hopefully, everyone will see that this is a field that has more depth than they thought about!

Independent students are working on collages, painting old shelving from the old classroom and covering it with photos and draw/painted imagery.

The 2nd grade will hopefully be finishing up their shape mobile this week. 
The 1st grade will finish their Valentine Cards even tho' it's after Valentine's Day.  (Mother Nature kindly created a problem for us, by not allowing class or making it shorter the past few weeks. BAD girl!)
The Kindergarten is learning about warm and cool colors.  I think it's time to get out the tempera paint!  Look out world...!!!

My dancers have been battling illness, but we will be practicing for the 2 Showcases next month.

The Juniors are on their way to a GREAT prom.  Planning is in full swing now for the Masquerade!

Advisory students are expected to start completing an artifact a month (even it if kills them).  They'll thank me in the end.

The website is getting better and better and I haven't done it alone.  Scott Fosseen from the AEA has been my "guru" and when I have a crazy idea, he helps me get it right on the site.  If you haven't seen it go to http://www.gtschools.k12.ia.us .  Just a little better than the old one.  : )

Art Show is coming up!  Monday April 18th at a place to be decided.  I'm hoping the college, but we'll see.

That about sums it up, other than we will be having Professional Development on Friday and I hope to get a lot done with Curriculum Manager.  As part of the District Leadership Team I should be setting a better example!  Oy.

Alright.  I can't sign off without saying that I am thoroughly excited to be going to Hawaii in just 11 days!  I'll be accompanying my mother, who is 30 years my senior, but still "has it" and we are going to have some fun!  Maybe I will even attempt surfing (maybe not...I am a realist).  We will be spending time with my daughter and cousins (who she lives with/nannies for).  I'm sure I will eat plenty of pineapple, drink great coffee and see a hula or 2!  Hopefully I will only eat lobster and look like one.

I better hit the hay, here.  I need to be "fresh" for all the kids on Valentine's Day!

Farnum
OUT.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Keeping Up!

Or trying to...
It's just that I now have too many websites to deal with.  Ha.
The new school website is coming along if you want to take a peek.
http://www.gtschools.k12.ia.us
There are still many inactive links where things need to be loaded or
"connected" so they appear.  There will be more downloadable forms
and documents, but I discovered that many of them must be updated
before we can load them.
The Dance Club has been practicing and will perform their pom routine
Friday February 4th during halftime of the boys game.  They are looking
great and I'm really proud of them.
I had the privilege of taking some of the Large Group Speech team to
Spencer last weekend and really enjoyed their performances.  I hope
everyone gets a chance to see the Choral Reading group.  They wrote their
own script and it's super!
The high school students have been enjoying having clay in the classroom
again.  With the help of Mr. James, we now have a kiln.  Cross your fingers
that all of our hardwork stays intact!  Wedging clay is not a favorite activity
of the kids, but it's SO necessary!  If there's an air bubble in a piece it can
destroy the pieces around it when it "explodes", so cross your fingers.  : )
Because I have updated all my Wikis I will put links to them if you wish
to visit them for information on what's happening in the classroom.
For Elementary Art go to  http://gtelementary.wikispaces.com/
for Graphic Design go to http://gthsgraphicdesign.wikispaces.com/
for Photography go to http://gthsphotography.wikispaces.com/
Advisory go to  http://farnumsadvisory.wikispaces.com/
for Art II go to http://gthsart1.wikispaces.com/

Alrighty...back to work on the website.  No rest for the wicked.

As always, I'm here if you need me!  Stop in or call!

df  OUT

Monday, January 3, 2011

Trying To SOT (Stay On Task)!

Ok.
So, I've really gotten behind in posting to my Blog, but that doesn't mean I've quit teaching or being completely "crazy busy".
I am going to list my classroom Wikis, so you can see exactly what's happening if I don't post here or am not as specific as you might like me to be!  (ha.)
So.
Here they are:
Art II:  http://gthsartii.wikispaces.com/
Photography:  http://gthsphotography.wikispaces.com/
Graphic Design:  http://gthsgraphicdesign.wikispaces.com/
Advisory:  http://farnumsadvisory.wikispaces.com/
"General Art Site":  http://gthsart.wikispaces.com/
Elementary Art:  http://gtelementary.wikispaces.com/

I'd also like to invite you what is going to be our new school website:
http://www.gtschools.k12.ia.us
I am working to get the site up and running and then to have students help with keeping it current and accurate!  So far it's been overwhelming and interesting...special thanks to Scott Foseen at AEA8 for all of his assistance!