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Mental Notes to Self for Teaching Grades K-5
· Saying that Monet had cataracts sounds an awful lot like Cadillac’s. (This led to several 2nd graders rapping about Cadillac’s). · Using sticker labels for names on artwork is extremely time saving in lower grades. · Kids love to talk about their cultures. · Don’t take questions in the middle of stories. It only leads to five more questions and half a class off-task. · Kids love having nicknames (beautiful, bud, big guns, darling, sweetie, etc). · Getting tips from other teachers about particular students helps to make connections. · Seeing red and yellow mixed together to make orange for the first time, is literally the most mind-blowing experience a kindergartner can go through. · When cleaning up, tell them an amount of scraps that they need to pick up before getting in line. · If something needs to be done, ask the whole class who wants to do it. [i.e. who wants to collect the scissors? (every hand in the class will go up) vs. please pick up the scissors (nobody will want to do it)] · Using props while making art is an instant engager. · Telling the students that you can’t wait to brag to their teacher about how good they are is also an excellent engager. · Take chairs off of the desks for the students in the morning. It’s worth the couple extra minutes of work time. · A little pat/rub on the back can completely turn a kid’s day around. · Tempera paint doesn’t always wash out… Usually not. · There’s no need to be a paint snob in the younger grades. They are always thrilled to paint. Powdered paint works just fine. · When a kid tells you that a paint shirt smells too spicy to wear, it needs to be washed. · Having a deep voice comes in hand. · If you can make a work of art 3D, do it. · If a string of full school buses drives by you, expect to wave at every single bus. · As a man, expect to be called misses and vice versa. · If one kid stops for a drink of water, then they all think they need to. · The faculty will treat you like an extended family member. · If it sparkles in anyway, it is the equivalent to real gold. · Repeated positive affirmation is key during work time.
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My kindergartners working hard on their sketchbooks after finishing a project.
I had the pleasure of being requested by Jen Dahl to be her student teacher in Black River Falls for grades K-5. Coming into student teaching, I had never worked with elementary students before so I was pretty nervous of how it would go. I was pretty set on teaching middle/school students. That has all changed since working with Jen. I can legitimately see myself teaching in an elementary setting now. Black River Falls, Wisconsin  Heading off to my final first day of school. |
Devon CalvertHarmony and Consolidated Elementary Art Teacher in Milton, WI. UW-Eau Claire graduate. WAEA President. Apple Teacher. 
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