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!

Graduated!

Well I actually did it...I graduated! It got pretty tough towards the end there, and to keep my head above water I had to cut myself off from the world and work. I was student teaching a freshman class at the high school in the morning, then driving over to the middle school and teaching two 7th grade classes in a row. After teaching and inhaling my lunch I usually tried to work on my 2nd work sample on my laptop for the rest of the day. This last term, while a little lighter on the work load, was emotionally draining and I was often fighting back tears or yells of protest during the day. Nothing like a good cry in the kiln room eh? Without going into details, lets just say that you can't always choose who you work with and as a grad student you have to grin and bare it...then drink when you get home.

There were several things that got me through this term besides alcohol though. What really helped me the most not just this term, but this entire year was my fiance Mike. Without his support, home cooking, advice and love I don't know if I would have survived this year without an ulcer. The other big thing that got me through was actually my students. I had some amazing classes this year that I really bonded with (shout out to the 1st period freshman art class in WACA!) and although at times we all wanted to strangle each other I think everyone learned something important, maybe me the most of all. Other people that I should thank are my mentor teacher Cathrine who is the most patient, inventive and dedicated teacher I've met, and my entire cohort at Western who always kept me laughing when I wanted to cry or fall asleep in class (remember: the answer is always Marzano!).

Please excuse the sappy rant, but the finality of this adventure is starting to sink in and I have a good glass of dessert wine beside me. I read in an NEA magazine once that every teacher should have an emergency file for when they don't think they can make it another day and they're wondering why they chose teaching. They recommended that you put in inspirational articles, letters from students, or anything else positive and motivating. Above my fiance's computer he's taped a story that he got from a coworker about teaching, and every once in a while I'll read it and am reminded of why I'm doing this. He recently found the online version of the article and I thought I'd post it here. Although I'm sure that many of you have read it before I encourage you to print it out and start an emotional-emergency file of your own for those days when you find yourself crying in the kiln room.

Peace, and remember: you make a goddamn difference!

http://rattle.com/blog/2009/04/what-teachers-make-or-if-things-dont-work-out-you-can-always-go-to-law-school-by-taylor-mali/

Field Trip!

I'm finished with my comprehensive exit exams! After two days of essay writing I really needed to relax this weekend, and I actually have a little time to post something. I'm really excited for this upcoming week because I get to go along on a field trip with the IB Art class from the high school I student teach at. We're going to the Portland Art Museum to see the China Design Now exhibit. Field trips with upper class men are awesome, and I get to spend a little time with my Junior (now Senior!) class that I student taught last year. I'm stoked to go because I don't know much about modern Chinese design, and I'll try to write up a little something about the exhibit when I get back.

Peace!

Art Appointment Passes

Bogged down in my work sample and getting nervous for comprehensive exams, but I thought I'd update this blog and post something small but useful: art appointment passes. These ensure that your students won't forget if they need to come to your room and it lets other teachers know whats going on. I always hate it when students say they need to go to someone's room, but I'm never sure if they really are going there are just skipping and I never have other teacher's numbers. Anyway, these can be easily modified into art hall passes too. In order to save trees you could even laminate them! You know you're an organizational freak when you're excited to laminate and label...

Art Appointment Pass

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

Work Samples

Today I thought I'd ask for comments and suggestions on work samples from those of you that haven't blocked them out due to painful memories of assessment analysis and goals and objectives. I'm preparing to start my second (and biggest) work sample and would love any suggestions that people could give me about art work samples. So many of professors can't help me because they aren't familiar with my subject. Any advice you guys could give me on structure, tests, time management, or something you discovered along the way would be great. I have an idea for my next work sample but I just don't know how it will all turn out. I'm worried about the outcome of this work sample a little more than the first. Do you have any horror stories about work samples you'd like to share as well? I don't know if anyone is actually reading this thing yet, but I'd love to hear from anyone who is and has a work sample story. I've included a condensed version of my first work sample on graffiti art, line and color. It's kinda boring, like most work samples are, but I thought it might help anyone out there needing examples of how an art work sample could be put together. Hope it helps a little!

Graffiti Art Work Sample

Peace!

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!