Leonardo and student names

How to remember all those names!!??  I have created several lessons to help me remember student's names while simultaneously working to teach either a concept or some art history.   Leonardo was a fascinating man who contributed much to the world.  Find my lesson here https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Angled-Names-Leonardo-Da-Vinci-4027463 
This lesson lets you spend some time discussing Leonardo while also focusing on the students names. 

How To Learn All Those Names!!

The number one rule of teaching is.....learn their names, learn their names, learn their names!!  Which isn't too difficult if you have a class of 20-30 kids.  However, Art Teachers, and other Encore Staff have literally hundreds  of students!  Not to mention-the kids tend to "change" or grow up a little over summer break.  This year I had one student that I have known for several years cut 24 inches off of her hair, get glasses and grow (at least) 2 inches over the summer.  On the first day of school I had no idea who she was-even though last school year I had spent many class periods sitting next to her- she always chose the seat closest to me! 

Over the years I have created or "borrowed" many different projects that center around the student's names.  Since I always want them to be learning something, I have modified or changed these projects to emphasis something about the art world. My 2nd graders project focusses on warm and cool colors.  To download the lesson visit my TPT page here...
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Warm-and-Cool-Names-For-2nd-Grade-4027315


This lesson is free to you! 

As we go forward into the new year....Learn Those Names!!

Back To School (set yourself up for success)

The week before students arrive at school is a little bit different in the art room than in general ed classrooms.  In elementary classrooms, teachers are putting names on cubbies, writing postcards to their new students, putting parent phone numbers and email addresses into their cell phones and wondering what these new kids will be like.

In the art room life is a little different-I don't have cubbies, and my class list is 6 pages long (in tiny print).  Also I don't focus on just this year with these kids-simply because I will have them for 6 years.  I personally believe that Encore Teachers (art, music, PE, library, title and counseling) have a totally different relationship with their students than general ed teachers.  Neither is "better" and both are good for kids.

Encore teachers see a child's growth over several years.  It's true that we are (usually) not as involved in the kid's daily life-I mean how could we with hundreds of students-however we see how far a child has come over the years, and over time we are quite possibly more invested in a student's success than a teacher who has them every day, but for just 10 months. 

The first thing you have to do as an Art Teacher is figure out a way to learn (and remember) those hundreds of names.  I mess up kids names on a regular basis!  When I do I apologize, and let them know it's not because I don't know who you are, I just have hundreds of names in my head and I have to mentally change the "class list" every hour all day long!

My first year I had each student make a name place card that I had students put at their seat each class.  Some teachers have seat charts, but the idea of 28 seating charts what just more than I could handle.  Instead I let the kids pick their own seats and I reserve the right to move anyone at anytime without any explanation. 

Somewhere along the line I developed the use of "sketchbooks" or "safe folders" if you will.  I use them for many different things, but the main reason is each child has something in the room that is theirs and theirs alone.  For my younger students this is nothing more than a 12 x 18 piece of drawing paper folded in half that they then add their name to and "decorate".  For my older students we add a pocket flap (to hold rubrics, handouts, worksheets and so forth) and staple some blank papers inside for note taking and sketching. 

Find the full lesson here:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sketchbooks-4001020

Another bonus to this lesson is that when "Surprise!! you just had a new student walk in the door!" happens you instantly have something that you can hand to him or her that will not only give them something to do that first day but will also allow you to assess their prior art skills. 

One time while my Principal was evaluating me I had a new student walk in-and he was so impressed that I had this project waiting for the student that my evaluation only reflected this one small act. 

For my youngers it takes about 3 seconds to grab a sheet of drawing paper and fold it for them, for my olders I keep a few pre-made sketchbooks on hand so all I have to do is grab one and give it to them.

Sketchbooks have saved my sanity more times than I care to admit!!