.

  As an elementary art teacher, I have all ways been very lucky to receive many small gifts from students. I am always challenged to get thank you notes passed out quickly.  I always keep a collection printed that my students can also color. This year I made thank you bookmarks. You can easily copy or print on colored paper or white card stock.  I included a second set that just say thanks for diversity.  Check them out on my TPT page. Click  HERE Enjoy the Season!

I updated one of my favorite back to school drawing sheets  for the first day of art for the little ones.  You can find it here .  In the past I use a sheet that I received from a previous art teacher. The students created a drawing of themselves and me with the information about me, which I cropped out of this photo)  and their art day of the week.  I usually started off the lesson with the book ART!  Art by Patrick McDonnell Hope this helps you start off the school year stress free!  

Tomorrow is the first day of Spring! The teachers at my school are challenging our school families on the school  FB page each day to connect. I personally challenged the kids to take photographs that express SPRING. The parents will upload in the comments of my video to share on Facebook. I used the app Clips on my iPad Pro to create the video challenge.  After all of the rain we have had, the sun came out and  I went on a nature walk today and took some photos, edited and used Pic Collage,  a free app to make my SPRING photo. It was refreshing to see so many families out at lunch time!

Why???  Because of these guys and a few more amazing art buddies too!  Laura Grundler from #k12artchat and who happens to be my boss lady too,  buddied up with the most amazing Cassie Stephens .  Laura and her Dallas team spent many long hours preparing for this state event. She told me she wanted everyone to have fun and learn from Cassie about how she found her  Passion as a teacher and artist! Cassie was our keynote speaker and presenter on Saturday at TAEA's conference  here in Dallas this past weekend.   My friend Tracy Evans and I got the job as Handlers! As follower of hers for more than two years, we were all virtual friends.  Anyway...... You see Cassie is kind of Popular. It is really hard to get her from point A to B. I had to use my school teacher voice a few times so that we didn't stop traffic.  But she is so kind to welcomed each teacher with a hug and posed for pictures.  ...

I am so jealous of all the fancy art rooms that I have seen popping up blogs and Facebook.  This is my new/ old art space that I taught in during Summer School. It is an old space, since I taught in this classroom 9 year ago. Our building is adding a SPED unit and my old space was in the wing that is being converted     It was big and open and now it is empty. I am going to stay positive and cross my fingers that we will get a new space in 2 years when our building is refreshed!  Our building is being painted this summer, so I only added a little decoration this summer. I am thinking of getting rid of some of the big chairs to help with space and using  Creatubbles this year to keep the art clutter contained.  I'll update this sight as I update the space over the next few weeks. I am hoping some cabinets were  installed and the sink was fixed along with a printer moved.  Stay posted!

I am So grateful to have the week off to stop and enjoy Thanksgiving. I  reused some of our wedding props and chalk pens to make these today.  I love chalk pens.  You can wipe them off if you need too.  Hopefully you all will have time to rest, enjoy family, and reset for a busy three weeks  next month.