In an effort to make sure that every student group is celebrated and emphasized on campus, I have begun a Hero of the Month feature board in one of the main hallways.

In an effort to promote digital literacy in my students, as well as streamline documentation for courses, I have digitized the class syllabus and signature process! The portal to provide a parent signature also compiles preferred contact information, provides a platform to ask questions, and provide insight about their child.

In an effort to promote a positive classroom environment I painted all of my student chairs with "I AM... " affirmations. My overarching goal as an instructor is to inspire my students in their day to day lives and not just creatively. Every student comes to school with a different background and head space, and I want to elevate their self esteem and know that they are appreciated, even if it is in a small way.

Affirmations are very powerful. Your subconscious mind does not think in terms of past, present or future. To get what you want, affirmations must be in present tense! When you say I AM CREATIVE, then life will provide you the means to have creativity.
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Overall this was a huge success in the classroom. Students were excited to see which chair they got every day and the chairs would often promote spontaneous positive compliments and engagement between peers. I even had a student try to take the chairs with them to other classes!
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Third year of teaching and I have grown ever tired of my supplies growing legs and walking away. OR even worse being destroyed and left on the ground to decay, never to be used another day.

I had a great idea to start charging for replacement supplies! But the idea of having a student store makes my entire teaching soul groan with extra work. So the first implementation to automate this process and potentially teach students respect for their own supplies, I have filled a gum dispenser with pencil top erasers! There has already been three purchases for a quarter during day 1!

This will help fund the purchase for additional supplies and is overall aesthetically charming! 

Finally! We successfully fundraised for 3 more protected display boards for student work and just in time for the end of the year art show.

I am blown away by the parent support at this school, and I know students really appreciate having their artwork up and shown off for all to enjoy. It has really proven to add to the school culture and celebrate their creativity. I want to try and get some more for next year as well! Fill up all of the hallways!

School shootings are a continual concern for teachers across the US. At my current school they installed these wonderful roll down screens to help block views into classrooms in the event of an intruder. Unfortunately my students broke it within the first couple months of school, so I was presented with an opportunity to problem solve!

Using multicolored paper and assistance from one of my lovely TAs, we created this fantastic temporary solution! It has also proven to help with classroom management because I have less hallway interruptions from students passing by. I made this double sided as well so it creates a fun reminder to "Make SMART choices in your life" in the hallway and in my classroom.

Inspired by my old art teacher, Myron Stephens, I created a magical demo space for my painting demonstrations! It has proven to be really fun overall and designates a specific space for my students to focus in on.

I had the sign painted on Matt board with acrylic paint by my lovely TA and now it is a beautiful addition to my room. The magic library sign is to indicate where I will store all of the example demo canvases, but currently some of my student's work is nestled under there to dry.

Nothing is worse than having an art demonstration or lecture interrupted by the high pitched ring of the classroom telephone. I can't count the number of times I will be mid sentence and be cut off by the repetitive chime.

In order to streamline classroom interruptions, and teach phone etiquette to my students, I have started to allow them to answer my classroom telephone. It became readily apparent though that students needed some extra assistance in being polite and making sure that they get the information needed. I posted this lovely visual on the wall right above my phone!

Most students now refer to this when answering my classroom phone. So I would call it a success!  

Always continuing to improve my classroom environment and making sure to have lots of visuals to support academic literacy. Many students have been using these as references when posting their art on our digital gallery and leaving their artists statements. 

​I didn't create the smaller posters and they can be purchased on Amazon! Overall great quality and sturdy material. I highly recommend to my art teachers out there.