Parent Teacher Conference

Art Show And Tell

This school goes year around. The past two days they had parent/teacher conference and this was the best time to show their art work. This was so that the parents do not have to come again just a week after to see the artwork before they go off track again.

The children self guide the parents around the classroom showing their school and art work. Mrs. Mortensen had all of the art work that we have done and more, around the classroom!

 She also had a slide show of projects we have done among other activities she had done with the class. She also had a basket of cookies!

Mrs. Mortensen also put together pictures of art work and school work into individual binders for each child. I think this is a great idea to keep track of all the cool things the students get to do as first graders!

I was only able to come to one night of meeting the parents but it was great!

I got to admit teaching the class was hard. I had to learn about different ways of explaining things and make sure that every child understood my instructions. Nonetheless, I really really enjoyed this class! They are such amazing children and hope they have a great rest of their first grade year!

Mrs. Mortensen is such an amazing teacher that I hope I am able to keep in contact with!

Half Portraits

Last Day!

Half Portraits!

Supplies: Paper, half picture of their face, pencil, glue stick, and color pencil

Today we talked about symmetry and drew the other side of our faces. The class had talked about symmetry a lot in their class. While explaining I tried to explain that what they are drawing was a mirror image of their faces.

**Note the human face isn't exactly symmetrical but for this purpose it is. :)

First I had them to fold their paper in half and put their already cut out face pictures touching the folded crease. Then on the elmo I should them step by step what to do.

 With a pencil they drew in the features of the face. I explained that the lines needed to be very light. First the head shape that touches their chin and the top of their head in a complete shape. Next drawing the eyes like almond shapes. Next drawing the nose, mouth, and eye brows. Next was the hairline, neck, and shoulders. 

When the children were done drawing the outlines they were instructed to make a boarder on their drawing.

Since we did a self portrait for the first project we took pictures of the children with the first and last portraits of themselves. They look great!

Moon Books!

MOON BOOKS!

Supplies Needed: Paper, scissors, paint (blue, teal, purple, white), tooth brush, and glue

This week we made moon books! Before I came my teacher Mrs. Mortensen had the children with sturdy paper make abstract sky like painting on one side. The colors were blue, teal, and purple. With mixing the colors they created the night sky. Then because they were learning about teeth she had them to use tooth brushes to add white flecks that looked like stars on the paper! What a great idea!

She also had the phases of the moon on a piece of paper and had the children color in the dark parts of the moon.

When I arrived for class we talked about the moon. I talked more about how to make the book and how they can make their own books with the fold that I was going to teach them. Here is the instructions for the book.

I showed them how to fold first by telling them to fold with the color on the outside. As I did the steps with the class I constantly reminded them of "kissing corners" to match each corner and to "iron" out the sides to make the creases. The great wording was developed by my teacher.

When it came to the cutting in the middle of the paper, I came around with an exacto knife and a self healing pad and cut a little slit so that the children could cut along the line. However, it looks like we could have just folded the paper in half and had them cut the paper. Anyways, at that point I made sure they understood where to stop cutting. It worked well.

 Then next was the hard part. Folding it. It was hard to explain to pop out the paper to fold but most of them got it. Then I went around to those who needed up.

Next we talked about how we need to have a title of the book pasted on (talked what a title was) and then to put New Moon on the front page. I think by this point it would have been good to discuss which page would be the front page. Some made the back as the front. I didn't realize that something so simple of which way a book opens is not apparent for a first grader. We learn something new everyday. 

Then the children cut out their moon phases and put them in their book!

***To keep the class under control during the steps I had them put their hands on their heads or do something else when they were done. It helped me know which students needed more time or help.