Jude Cover Shoot

This image is from a Book Cover Shoot that we did with an English class.  I found some really cool images on Pinterest and wanted to create our own with the book we just read.  The Book was Jude, by Kate Morgenroth.  Pretty good book, great High School lesson.  The students really got into it!  

When I met with the students, I showed them some sample images of what we wanted to create and then I asked what could be in the background, midground and foreground depending on what the character went through and some things from his life.  It was a great discussion and the students came up with some really cool ideas.  We decided on the above, after about 8 pictures and some cropping.  

Great way to summarize the book and digitally express their ideas and summaries.

PTSA Award!

I had the privilege of attending the FCPS PTSA Luncheon yesterday and our school's PTSA won an award!  Back in the fall, our school partnered up with the Northside YMCA and we collaborated on a "haunted house" with the theme of Mysteries of Ancient Egypt.  All classes and disciplines were involved with students creating projects, outfits, activities, displays... everything!  Our students even worked the event, and they LOVED it!  Both the students and the YMCA are begging for a 2013-2014 repeat!  I can't wait to lead another event!

Bring it on!  It was SO much fun, busy and stressful, but SO much fun!!

Bodies Exhibit @ TLC Museum

TLC Bodies Exhibit

Our classes have been collaborating on a TLC Bodies Exhibit that displays projects and activities from our Biology and Health Standards.  

So, what will you see?  Well, we have sculpted and created a Respiratory System with organs and learned about the functions of each organ.  We have sculpted a Human Circulatory System with organs and learned about the functions of these organs.  We did some vitamins and minerals research to see what is most beneficial to these bodily systems  and then created an Eat This Not That poster complete with pictures, calorie and fat gram info AND what exercise you would need to do to burn off the eaten calories.  We collaborated with KY Nurses from the University of Kentucky.  (Thanks Rachel!)

We also took a field trip to the Kentucky Science Center to visit the official Bodies Exhibit.  To check it out click here.

Biology class dissected some animals and we are currently testing out some methods to preserve the organs.  

More pictures to come, but here are a few to see what we have so far.

Social Media in the Classroom

So, here is my proposal for using Social Media in the classroom.  My school would like me to lead a PD regarding utilizing some internet resources.  I love using Instagram for pictures and sending them out via twitter and then obviously this Blog.  I am currently testing out Kidblog and Edmodo to determine which is more "user-friendly" and also which ones the students prefer. 

Any thoughts/comments/suggestion?
If you have used these in your classroom, do you like them?  What would you recommend?

..........................................................................................

Go Paperless!!

Goal: 

Improving Classroom Management and Communication through incorporating 21^st Century Skills that will improve teacher, student, parent communication; improve school-wide Customer Service for students, parents, staff/faculty; increasing Global communication opportunities and upholding school-wide initiative for Sustainability.

Objectives:

(1)   Identify and experience 21^st Century Skills in the classroom.

a.      See handout and activity - TBD

(2)  Identify and experience how Digital/Social Media can improve communication and customer service in the classroom as well as for teacher, student, parent and staff/faculty collaboration.

a.      Pinterest – (Instagram) – photos of really well done products to advertise to others

b.      Twitter – (Instagram) – snapshots of daily life, goings-on in the classroom, etc.

c.       Blogs – finished piece to display nice images, videos along with written reflections/descriptions, etc.

d.      Kidblog – teacher creates master blog, students have blogs (does not inter-face well after graduation); testing in progress

e.      Edmodo – Teacher/student/classroom “facebook”, post assignments, planners, grades, conduct quizzes, post comments; testing in progress.

(3)  Global Communication Opportunities

a.      Quadblogging – associated with Kidblog, link up with Global communities and collaborate on projects.

b.      Skype

c.       Facetime

(4)  Sustainability, Why go Paperless?

a.      HIPPA – The federal government established the timetable with Congress’ passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which included the so-called HITECH Act. (Education is next, let’s get ahead of the game)

b.      Money saved from printer paper

                                                              i.      School Year 2012-2013:  estimated printer paper cost:  $1,000

                                                           ii.      GOAL:  School Year 2013-2014: estimated printer paper cost: $500

                                                         iii.      School Savings:  $500.00

Ashley Baker

May 5, 2013

Tech is the New Black

Tech is the New Black

So I found an article about integrating technology into the classroom from my Twitter feed.  

(It’s amazing where a few clicks can take you when you start playing on the internet.....and where a few hours can go!?!?)

Granted, I am an art teacher and we typically don’t use a whole lot of technology unless it’s graphic design or using the Smartboard for a demo, but I promised that I would seriously attempt to integrate the 21st Century Skills and technology more into my classroom flow.  

This chart is really eye-opening when it comes to the differences and sad to say, I have seen more teachers in the left column than the right.  More PDs please!  

I think a lot of us know that we need to do this, we just don’t really know how.  

Either (A) we don’t know how it works and are afraid to figure it out on our own; and/or (B) don’t know how to apply/implement/manage the usage in the classroom.  So those who are willing to attempt all the tech usage are doing their best; their best just happens to be in the left column.

So......solutions and next steps:

Wouldn’t it be nice if.....

1. Apple hosted a big conference and made us be the students.  We used the technology and apps to learn and create something by the end.  
2. District’s hosted PD’s on exactly what they are looking for in the classroom instead of telling us the basics and letting us figure it out/screw up on our own.  (Example:  “Okay folks, I heard 21st Century Skills are the NEW BLACK, so let’s do that, OK and GO!!”)  
3. Have a few model by example.  Have one designated teacher within each school to be the Tech Leader.  He/She has to teach ALL the teachers and staff how to use all the technology.  No excuses!  Teachers are held accountable for learning it AND performing a test/quiz at the end.  Of course, Phase II would be holding each teacher accountable for implementing ONE, just one, techie practice and using it consistently.  
4. Communication to the Community (parents) could be more efficient, instant and effective.  Alerts and messages could be like texts, Parents could log in at THEIR convenience and touch base regarding Homework, Expectations, Documentation and just what the heck is going on.

I am a total fan of technology, I know my students are also!  And yes, I am going to do my best and try to live on the right side of the column.  

Chart/Image came from this website:

http://edudemic.com/2013/04/integrate-technology-in-education/

Kitchen Makeover 2013

If you’ve never taken down wallpaper before and plan on doing so for a project, give yourself plenty of time!  It took us about 3 days for this project.  Your motivation and excitement might still be there, but the feeling in your little fingers and in your shoulders won’t!  Just take everything in moderation, pace yourself, and you will be just fine.

Materials that we used:

Tiger Claw from Perspectives in Lexington KY.

DIF, scrapers (1” and 6”), sandpaper foam blocks from Home Depot

DIF in the blue bottle is AMAZING!! 

The fabric softner I used was the second to last cheapest I could find, I didn’t want to spend a lot of money if it wasn’t going to work.  Man was I wrong!  That stuff was awesome!  The best part.... when I went back and sandpapered the walls and wiped them down, the smell came back and made everything smell really fresh and clean.  

Watch this guy for a tutorial:  

How to remove wallpaper Quickly and Easily

I had to spackle a few holes and blemishes.  Then smoothed them out with the sandpaper.

The color of paint we selected was Amazon Stone by Behr.  (Actually, it was my Husband’s choice, I wanted to go lighter; but I am really happy with it and glad I listened to him!)  We got the paint and primer in one for the first coat and then just the color for the second coat.  I highly recommend this on walls that have never had a layer of paint on them.  

We used your typical rollers, a medium-size hand brush and then a little brush for the edges and details.  Standing on the kitchen counters trying to paint the little edge above the cabinets was a real pain in the neck (literally), but it was completely worth it!

For the kitchen light fixture, I used Rust-o-leum Metallic in Carbon Mist.  Yes folks, that is the original light fixture.  I am not one to voluntarily get electrocuted, so I was NOT going to mess with any wires.  But spray paint, no worries, I got this!

The Backsplash behind the stove is Fasade 18 in. x 24 in. PVC Traditional 1 Backsplash in Brushed Nickel

I also bought new light switch covres and outlet covers and spray painted them with the Carbon Mist Spray Paint, to match of course!

Yellow Bowl on the table is from Marshalls  Thanks Mom!!

The whole project was a lot of fun, grueling at times, but I love my new kitchen AND the fact that I did it!!

DIY Fake Stone Wall

Title:  How to make a Stone Facade out of Insulation Foam Board.

Materials:  

• 4 x 8 sheets of insulation foam board (Lowe’s or Home Depot) Make sure to get the kind that does NOT have the foil on the back.  They had to cut the original size into thirds just so it would fit in my car, but they were more than happy to do so.
• meter stick
• straight edge
• marker
• jigsaw
• knife
• spray paint (we used “stone” colors: grey, tan and black)
• hot glue gun
• glue gun sticks
• wooden column was made by our math class with 2x4’s, plywood and nails.  

Step One and Two:  Decide on the sizes of “stone” you want to cut.  We picked a variety of 18”, 12” and 6”.  Let’s take 12” to start as an example.  From the foam board, measure out 12” sections.  (The width is going to be 12”, but the length can be whatever, kinda like a bookmark.)

Step Two:  With the jigsaw, cut on the lines.

Step Three:  One the new 12” section, measure out every 3”.

Step Four:  Using the straight edge, draw your lines at every 3”.

Step Five:  Use a jigsaw to cut on the lines and make a lot of 3” x 12” sections.

Step Six:  With a knife, create a textured edge.  We trimmed off just the corners of one side and moved our write to create a more dramatic texture effect.  We even flicked or *popped* our wrist (like popping a tab off a pop can) to create an even MORE textured effect.  Let’s just say we were going for LOTS of texture.

Step Seven:  Spray paint your textured edges with your selected colors.

Step Eight:  Use the hot glue gun to put glue on the bottoms of your “stone” and stack them on top of each other.  We even placed glue on the backs of a few to keep the tower of foam stone attached to the wood column.