Art Budget Spreadsheet

One of the aspects of teaching art that isn't always fun is budgeting. Other subjects have to plan their budgets as well, but the art budget is big, complicated, and can be frustrating. There's nothing worse than running out of paint of paper mid-year and having to go over budget, believe me I used to do it all the time at KidSpirit until I had more experience. Plus other teachers sometimes need to use your supplies for projects and aren't always great about letting you know in advance, "Oh you needed paint for a poster and used all the expensive acrylics for it? That's great but I actually had tempera for that..." You get the idea. Staying organized can make your life a little easier when it comes to budgeting and one way to do that is to use a spread sheet to keep track of what your budget is, what you ordered, and how much money you have left. Some people are great at Excel spread sheets and don't need any help in this area. If you're one of those people then rock on with your geeky self and create a spread sheet so organized and detailed it'd make my OCD heart proud. If you do need some help or even just direction in creating a spread sheet I'm here to help.

I had to make a spread sheet project for my computers class last term and decided to create an art budget spread sheet to help keep me organized and on budget when I have my own class. The spread sheet has an itemized budget section where you type in how much each supply cost, then a totals and percentage section where you can see the total monetary amount you've spent on that category of supply and also the percentage of the budget that is devoted to it. For example, I can type in the amount I spent on acrylics, tempera, and watercolors and see how much money I've spent on paint in total and what percentage of the budget goes toward paint. I've included both the actual spread sheet itself which you can use just as it is, but I've also included instructions on how to make it yourself on Excel, step by step. I think it's a good idea to look at the instructions because if you ever want to change something about the spread sheet, or make it more personalized you'll know exactly how. Happy budgeting!

Art Budget Spread Sheet

Instructions for Excel Spread Sheet

Peace!

Work Sample Lessons

I realized after looking at my last post that it isn't that useful unless you are writing a work sample. So for all those teachers out there that just need some good lesson plans I'm giving you just the part of my work sample is actually taught in the classroom. All the lesson plans, handouts, tests, and slide shows. If you're looking for an interesting way to teach color and line this unit might be a good fit.

Peace!


Goals and Objectives
Lesson Plans
Handouts
Pretest
Posttest
Rubrics
References
Slide Shows
History of Graffiti
Line Examples
Color Examples
Test Graffiti Slides

Visual Art Rubric

Well it's been a while since I've posted anything because I got busy with grading, then with the flu. Just a little reminder to all the teachers out there that the flu shot takes less time and is less painful than the actual flu. I guess they even come in a nasal mist now (no needles!). Anyway, thought I'd quickly post something that has saved me lots of time so far: my complete visual art rubric. I use it to grade just about every project at the high school because effort, craftsmanship, composition, creativity, and use of medium are important in any project. At the beginning of the year I went over the whole rubric with the class so they knew exactly how they'd be graded. Right now it's out of 20 to match my mentor teacher's system, but can be altered for what you need. I don't have the actual word document anymore so it's a jpeg, but if you needed to make any changes it's pretty easy to retype. When I have more time I might redo it myself in case I wanted to change anything. It's been really efficient having one grading sheet to worry about (and try to find next year) instead of boxes full, and the students get used to it and learn what the different areas mean more in depth. Hope it saves you some time!

Visual Art Rubric

Peace!

The Beginning...

Well, this is my first post on my blog. Welcome! My name is Chantel and I'm currently in my last term of graduate school earning my Master of Arts in Teaching. When I'm done I'll be certified in both middle and high school art. I'm starting this blog for a class project, and at first I wasn't even sure I wanted a blog, because I didn't think I had anything interesting to say and I was worried about having personal information on the web because well....I have to be professional as a teacher. After thinking about what I want to say, who I'd want to read it, and who I'd write it for, I decided to dedicate my blog to art education. I'll discuss and present anything art or education related. That means lesson plans I've made, found, or been given, fun craft projects for art day camp classes (which I taught for two years) or just for fun, personal art I'm making, art events locally in Oregon, educational sites, classroom tools I've made in my grad classes, education theory discussions, and useful links for teachers (art or otherwise).

So I'm dedicating this blog to all those under appreciated art teachers out there. The teachers that encourage experimentation and risks, the teachers that stay after school so students can use the supplies they couldn't otherwise afford, the teachers that donate their own pencils and brushes when the class runs out, the ones that put their own art aside to teach others for a while, and who are constantly trying to wash paint (or is it printmaking ink?) out of their new khakis. I'm inspired by all the teachers I've met, and wish that I could someday be half the teacher they are. I hope this blog can be a resource for some of you, and maybe a way to feel that you aren't so alone in your subject as I sometimes feel (only art specialty in my whole cohort). I hope to hear some of your stories, and if you ever come to a Portland First Thursday gallery opening you might run into me. I'll be the debt laden new teacher in the corner drinking the free wine and putting rolls in my purse.

Peace!