Website Share // TeacherTube

I like to think of TeacherTube as the education-based version of YouTube.

This is what the "about" page says:
"Our goal is to provide an online community for sharing instructional videos. We seek to fill a need for a more educationally focused, safe venue for teachers, schools, and home learners. It is a site to provide anytime, anywhere professional development with teachers teaching teachers. As well, it is a site where teachers can post videos designed for students to view in order to learn a concept or skill."

That sounds pretty neat to me. This is another site that could be limitless for teachers to utilize as a networking, inspiration, or planning tool within their classrooms. 

Check it out! 

-RE

Website Share // Pinterest

I may have a Pinterest addiction.
This site, http://www.pinterest.com, is a new breed of social media. I have had it since it was fairly new, but many people still do not know about it or use it yet.

I like to use it for personal uses, but I can see the vast potential is has for use as an inspiration, networking, and lesson planning tool for educators.
For instance, I have been following several art teachers who pin and repin ideas for their classrooms, workshops they have attended or created, and full lesson plans.
This art teacher in particular is my Pinterest hero: Donna Staten

This is just another way for educators to band together and make education better.

Website Share // Class Dojo

I wanted to share a website I recently became aware of: classdojo.com

"ClassDojo is a classroom tool that helps teachers improve behavior in their classrooms quickly and easily. It also captures and generates data on behavior that teachers can share with parents and administrators

Better learning behaviors, smoother lessons and hassle-free data - and its free!"

It is all that it says it is and I have found it to be quite effective in the classroom I am student teaching with. 

My students are in high school and I worried that this might be too elementary for them. However, I was impressed that my students actually enjoy it and it keeps their attention. My cooperating teacher was looking for a new way of rewarding/punishing behaviors and so I suggested we give ClassDojo a try. So far, we have enjoyed the results.

Anyone else had any luck using this tool? 

Origami Heart Lesson Plan

While student teaching I did this lesson for my students right about Valentine's Day.

Unit: Origami Basics

Objectives: Students will be able to identify different types of origami and effectively follow directions to create an origami heart.

Standards: Students will be able to demonstrate effective use of art media and tools through an origami exercise.

Materials: Video clip (Between the Folds Trailer), PowerPoint with examples of types of origami, example of in progress origami steps, handouts of steps for each table, paper, scissors, glue, and magazines.

Duration: One class period

Anticipatory Set: Show trailer of Between the Folds

Input: Go through the PowerPoint and explain Origami and show examples.

Modeling: Show the materials, the examples on the board, and the finished product. Demonstration of the steps to be done once with students working at the same time, using the ELMO.

Check for understanding: Walk amongst the students and confirm their understanding.

Questions to ask:  Question : What applications can origami serve besides art? (Answer(s): airbags, packaging, medical stents, space telescopes/satellites) Question: How can you make your paper folding better? Answer: Make your creases really sharp. Use a ruler to make it straight, etc.  Question: What could you use these hearts for? Answer(s): Garland, wreath, put them on a card, write a note on the paper, etc. Question: What would be a nice way to display them? Answer(s): place them on a canvas.

Guided Practice:  Students will work at their tables to make two more heart models. One will be glued into their classroom sketchbooks and made from a magazine page with a warm color scheme. The other one will be made of plain white computer paper to be turned in for a daily grade.

Closure: Have students write on the same page as their origami heart “One thing you learned about origami”.

Independent Practice: If students finish early they may make more hearts for themselves.

I showed the trailer to an amazing documentary, Between the Folds. You can watch it full length on Netflix and there are some clips on YouTube. 

I then made a PowerPoint that went over the basics of Origami (its history, common techniques, and ways it is used in our world and time). 

Students seemed to really like this project and had something to give their Valentines at the end of the period. 

Storybook // The Muse

For a class I made an online storybook. You can check it out here!

Educational Philosophy

My educational philosophy could go on for days, but I thought I would sum up the most important part: everyone is creative.

It is my belief that every single person is capable of creativity, and in turn, creating art. I also believe that using this creativity is vital to the human experience.
Creativity is one of the most sought after qualities amongst major corporations. It is the thing that keeps business driving and innovation occurring.

So many people, and children especially, have created a barrier for themselves by doubting their innate abilities. It is my wish to become a nurturer and facilitator for my students to rediscover these abilities and start using their creativity. It is not an easy process, or even particularly fun at times. It  takes hard work, perseverance, and an open mind; all of which I wish to incorporate into my classroom. With practice, anyone can better themselves and learn more about themselves than they thought possible.

I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes:
"Creativity is intelligence having fun" -Albert Einstein


-RE

Introductions

Hello there,

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. My name is Rita Epp and I am currently finishing up my journey to become an art educator. I will be graduating from West Texas A&M University in just a few short weeks.
You can see more about my professional development within the pages of this blog, located on the left side.

For now, I'd like to share a bit more about me personally.

I am a newlywed, having just been married in November 2013. My husband's name is Jeran and he is a fantastic partner. Together we have three cats (not human children).
We are in the process of buying our first home and so in my free time my thoughts are consumed with home decorating, gardening, and other fun things that go along with that.

I am a photographer first and foremost. I enjoy all the art forms and think they are all equally vital to creativity, but photography is the one that has captured my imagination and abilities the best. If you would like to see some of my favorite artworks, check out the "selected works" page on the left side.

Other than that, the other personal things I can tell you about myself include:
I'm a list maker
I'm a bike-ride lover
I'm a baking enthusiast
I'm a bookworm
I'm an wanna-be entrepreneur
I'm a board game player
I'm a collector (vintage cameras, globes, owls, etc.)
...and last, but certainly most, I'm a nerd. I like to geek out about whatever makes me happy.