Elements and Principles Review

We are off to a great start!!  We began with a quick intro to the class including expectations, where to find info and the art fee.  Students are learning about Elements of Art and Principles of Design in our first artwork.  Being able to use this vocab when analyzing art, writing about art and creating art is very important!  We also had time to do a Kahoot E/P review, students LOVED Kahoot!!  They begged to do the "quiz" again!  Seriously?!  Sure!  Then we worked on a Fun Friday Sketch!  Pictures to come next week.  :)

2016 Quarter 3 Welcome Letter and Syllabus

While teachers (and students) look forward to our Christmas break, honestly I am anxious to get back to school after the first week off.  Meeting new students and seeing old ones, planning new and fun art projects, just thinking about getting back into the schedule excites me.  And with the New Year, starts a new Quarter!  Quarter 3!!  

I have 4 General Art classes and 1 Ceramics 8th grade class.  I am really excited about what we have planned!  Some drawing, painting, sculpture, sgraffito and finally installing our Cafe Exhibit!  

With the beginning of a new Quarter, I have refreshed my syllabus, curriculum and welcome letter!  Told ya I couldn't wait!!!  :)  I am posting the Welcome Letter and Syllabus below, just in case.  I will be sharing our artworks and ideas here as we progress through the Quarter.  Program Review updates will be here, Instagram will be here and class website will be here.  

Welcome Letter to Parent/Guardians:

Hello!

My name is Ashley Baker and I am the Art Teacher at Jessie Clark Middle School.  I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself.  Like any good art teacher, I love to draw, paint and take photographs!  I also love Pinterest, DIY projects, and running.  I am a Tough Mudder Legionnaire and participate in half marathons.  I have 2 kids, 2 dogs, and 1 husband (so really 5 kids).  

This quarter in art class, your student will be doing all sorts of amazing things.  We’ll learn about color theory, drawing techniques and art criticism.  We’ll also explore different media such as drawing, painting and sculpture and learn how to write an artist statement.  All the while, I’ll be putting some math, language arts and social studies connections for some sneaky cross-curricular connections.  It is my goal that all students will leave art with a strong capacity to solve problems creatively, which is a highly sought after skill in today’s world.  There is a $5.00 art fee for supplies and materials.  Cash or check to JCMS.  Students will also need a folder to keep starters and sketches.  

The class expectations are below.  Please review and talk about them with your students.

A - always do your best. Think outside the box, imagine, create and have fun with it!

R - respect yourself, others, other artwork and classroom space and materials.  

T - tools are treated properly while in use, they are cleaned and put away in their homes.  

Our JCMS school-wide Behavior Mark System is applied in the art room, as well as the Positive Reward System.  I like Positives more than the Mark system!  

If students are having significant trouble following the expectations, I will be sure to let you know so that we can work on a solution together.  

I believe that for students to be successful at school, we need to work as a team.  Please feel free to contact me at any time with concerns or questions about your child’s art education.  My hope is that your child will have the best art class experience possible and gain new skills and confidence throughout the Quarter.  If there’s anything specific I can do to help make this happen, please let me know.  My email is ashley.baker@fayette.kyschools.us

Thank you so much for reading!  I look forward to the upcoming projects, ideas and seeing what everyone creates!  You can stay up to date by checking out our class website, our instagram account or my blog.

Website:  https://ischool.fcps.net/course/view.php?id=781

Instagram:  @jcmsartstudio

Blog:  http://abaker0312.blogspot.com

Artfully Yours,

Ashley Baker