First Grade van Goghs

 

First grade has been focusing on Vincent van Gogh during the month of February. Older kids tend to remember van Gogh as "That guy who cut his ear off!", so instead, I introduced the class to his art through the book The Starry Night by Neil Waldman. We discussed the concepts of fiction (fantasy) and nonfiction (reality) and I told the kids that while Vincent van Gogh was a real artist who lived and died many years ago, this fictional story imagines what might happen if van Gogh visited New York City today. This first grade class is particularly large and loud, so instead reading the book to them, I'd made a video of it to show on the SmartBoard. Yay, technology!

Back to School!

I've survived the first week back at Saint Ann School.  I'd forgotten how nice it is to be a second-year teacher - you go in and already know the school, the faculty and staff, and most of the kids.  I failed in last year's goal of remembering every child's name, so we started with a name tag project that I hope will help get me off on the right foot this year.  I'm also looking forward to starting an Artsonia gallery for the school, taking a fall field trip to the Met, and possibly scheduling a school-wide art show.

But in the meanwhile, have some art from last year...

 

 Stained Glass Windows, Our Lady of Angels 5th Grade