A new frontier awaits...
Hello Chalker families!
We are excited to see all of the children again and we are off to a great start for the school year. This year we will continue our varied approach to the visual arts as we grow in our understanding of how art impacts our daily life. From skill sets in art production to art history and its influence on visual design we will explore and develop our growth in the elementary setting.
For those of you who are returning, welcome back to Chalker for another exciting year in the visual arts program. For those of you who are coming to us for the first time, you have great adventures and lessons awaiting you in the art classroom.
We will use lego as a theme again this year in art!
My name is Mr. Hale, and I have been instructing art here at Chalker since the year 2000. I graduated with cum laude honors from Kennesaw State University in 1999, I received teacher of the year for our school in 2009, and I represented our school as the elementary art teacher of the year for the entire school district of Cobb County in 2012-2013! It was a great honor to be recognized, and I will continue to work hard this year to make our art program an excellent example for students to accelerate in the growth of visual arts as we prepare them for the future.
Here is the basic information you need to know as we get started this year in art.
I will be seeing all grades K-5 in our special rotations. This includes our special needs children as well. Our art program follows an organized approach for an excellent, balanced education for your child.
Curriculum
Our art curriculum is mandated by the state of Georgia. All art lessons that are written fall in compliance with the specifics that are clearly outlined. I create and script fun, exciting lessons that allow our children to build skills in the arena of art, and I encourage a vast array of opportunities for children to explore their imagination through art.
I believe at these early ages that drawing is a fundamental aspect of growth in the future leaders of tomorrow. Drawing is actually a detailed way of seeing and investigating new ideas and understanding about our world. Those who can draw use it as a foundation in painting, sculpture, and even other disciplines such as architecture and concept design. We will incorporate drawing from life, perspective drawing, free-form drawing, and mathematical drawing principles into our approach as outlined by the state standards, and in our classroom we will make it a priority to thoroughly investigate the coordination of eye and hand through the drawing process.
I also research drawing from both the left side of the brain as well as the right. Every learner is different, and over the years I have found that being conscience about how a student utilizes the hemispheres of their brain is a critical component to understanding the differences in the children I teach. I modify instruction to reach all of our learners through kinesthetic, visual, and auditory approaches.
We will explore a variety of media and materials. Together, our classes will build clay projects through slab construction and hand built methods. Children will experience sculpture, watercolor painting applications, tempera and acrylic techniques, crayon and marker strategies, and a whole host of other exciting and fun approaches in art.
In addition to the skills of art we will look at the art history of the world. We will identify art movements, artists, and a variety of art from cultures around the world. By employing the technology of the internet, our interactive smart board, and our textbooks, we will see how art has influenced our world in its development.
Assigned Seating
I will place children into an assigned seat within the art classroom. This will enable them to have ownership over their own personal space in the room to do their work and it will also help me learn the names of all the children. This is also a method that allows me to organize the storage of artwork based on the seating within the room.
Behavior
Students have 5 simple rules for our art classroom environment that they are responsible for following.
Silent at the Start of Art
Follow Directions
Respect Others
Respect Art Materials
Do Your Best
I use a star system with the children to offer them three chances to change behavior if they are breaking the rules. With this “three strikes” policy students clearly know the expectations that are in place to govern themselves in the art room. Your child is offered a safe environment to learn, but they must conduct themselves in accordance with the classroom rules to have success.
Artwork
I will keep all artwork throughout the year. Every year in the Spring we have our annual art show, “Art in the Park”. I keep all of your child’s art so that they can decide the best choice to showcase in our art show. At the end of the year, after the show, I will return all art projects to your child. This year I plan to have some of our art out in the community as well so stay tuned as I inform you about where Chalker art can be found out in our local community.
Grades
Within my lesson plans are rubrics that align with the state standards. Through essential questions, various assessments, and teacher communication, your child will know the clear requirements for every lesson we employ. Since I keep the art for the year, it is also easy for me to provide the data for every grade given.
Art Advocacy
It is not out of place for me to remind you that you are your child’s best advocate for maintaining the integral importance of fine arts in your child’s education. I will continue to work hard and commit myself to your children. Your support for the fine arts program in our schools is greatly appreciated!
Contact
Feel free to email me @ my school email, [email protected].
Twitter:
My handle on Twitter is B.Hale@haleartteacher.
This is my main source of communication, but I will also use this blog to update you. I tweeted like 100 times last year, so that is my main way of informing our meanderings in the art room.
Additional Supplies:
These items are always welcome in my room.
washed baby food jars
crayola crayons
prang watercolors
sketchbooks
80lb. drawing paper
aprons
acrylic paint
So, smile and enjoy our great school! I have seen so many of our Chalker children grow up and become highly successful. It has been a blessing to know that I have contributed to the growth of many students who have gone on to become architects, graphic designers, and working artists. Within time, I will be able to look back and see some of these children of today approach those some benchmarks. That is why I remain. I wish you and your child the best this year!
Mr. Bradley Hale