Hi Y’all,
Our students head back to school on Thursday! As summer winds down, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to how I want my students to learn, behave, and feel in the art room this year. Creating a calm, welcoming space where students can be creative and successful is always the goal, but I know it takes intention and consistency to make that happen.
To help me prepare, I’ve been watching videos from Smart Classroom Management (no affiliation) and recently purchased the book. I’m excited to put some new ideas into practice and see how they work. One concept that has really resonated with me is the importance of being incredibly calm. The teacher’s energy sets the tone, and students often reflect what we bring into the room.
When I step back and think about the classes that have gone especially well—and the ones that have been more challenging—I can usually identify the difference. The best days are the ones when I’ve taken the time to clearly explain expectations, move slowly, and be intentional with my energy. The days that feel rushed are often the days when things go sideways.
So, my theme for this school year is Calm Flow. Here's my into slideshow, if you feel like looking a little closer. Art Expectations 26-27.pptx
I want students to enter the art room knowing exactly what to expect, feeling safe, and ready to create. I’m slowing things down, being more purposeful, and focusing on building routines from the very beginning. If you’re curious, I’ve included my entry slideshow with this post.
I’ll let you know how it goes!
The garden has also been full of surprises lately. Our watermelons have suddenly taken off, along with the peppers, and it’s been so fun watching everything grow.
And one final bit of happy news: I turned some gourds into birdhouses and hung them along the fence, and we already have a wren building a nest in one—yay! It feels like a little sign of good things to come.
