Formative Assessment

Click below for some great formative assessment ideas!

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Minnesota NICE! New Institute for Ceramics Education

What a program!

https://www.northernclaycenter.org/education

What a place! Look at this wheel room. I think I would like to go there. 

Look at the kilns. I think I would really, really like to go there.

I think I will.

In fact- I was accepted into the Minnesota New Institute for Ceramic Education (N.I.C.E.) program back in September. It's a good thing I like snow! So as I button up the Greensboro, PA studio, wish me luck in my adventures in Minnesota and check in here and on Facebook for and musings from Minneapolis!

The room...

This is where I will spend 10 days with 2 classes of 5th graders at Bobtown Elementary. I'm so excited to see the kids and how they will transform this room with their energy!

The Wall at Bobtown

One large, empty wall. But not for long! 

Let's see what a bunch of 5th graders and one PF/ PCA Resident Artist, one art teacher, one math teacher, one reading teacher and the best team of adminstrators EVER can accomplish in 10 days at Bobtown Elementary in Greene County, PA!

Can you say value scale, measurements, Chuck Close, grids? Oh yeah, this is going to be good!

For the table

Tableware and a butter dish. Sometimes you just have to build it!

September 18th at Society for Contemporary Craft

So, as artists do, I answered a call for submissions and waited with baited breath for 

"The Letter." 

Well, when the envelope arrived its was strangely thick. It usually takes one page to say "Thank you so much for your hard work and keep at it ...you're out, yada yada yada." Or, "Thank you so much let us validate your existence by offering YOUR work a place in our gallery and of course you can attend and be sure to send us the addresses of your best patrons so we can invite them and hope to increase our List and yada yada yada..." One page either way. Bam Pow! in or out. (The reader is, by now, sensing my dry wit/coping mechanism about juried Fine Art events).

But this letter was different. There were actually 2 letters, one was a rejection from the primary show ok, it was a long shot! And, another was an invitation to participate in a companion exhibition. 

...and I am both humbled and honored to be a part of this amazing and long reaching endeavor that validates and celebrates so many and so much... and to share my little message of hope.

COMMUNITY VOICES

SEPTEMBER 18 - DECEMBER 7, 2015

SCC STUDIO DISPLAY CASES

"A Set of Cutting Edge Tools"- wall hanging: (detail) Stoneware, slips, underglazes and decals- multiple firings

               

Summer Sketching

It wouldn't be summer without sunflowers &zinnias & a little splurge on a new sketching toy- watercolor markers from Winsor Newton.

Don't worry Gordon- there was a sale that couldn't be beat!

Pottery or posies, it always seems like Nature creeps into the studio!

Summer is upon us!

Something to try!

http://www.greenchairpress.com/blog/?cat=18

I haven't posted in a while, but I promise I will catch up! I couldn't resist passing this on ... As something I would love to try  AND as a motivation to clean the large surface sometimes known as my dining room table!

Credit to The blog of Susan Angebranndt,  - See more at:www.greenchairpress.com

Blackhawk School District, Highland Middle School, so long until next time!

Stroke and Coat was applied to the tessera and the students practiced good craftsmanship
by applying 3 coats to the top only.
It was meticulous work but worth every bit of the effort.

Choices choices!

There were a whole lot of tiles made- each one represented
either an abstract self portrait or the student's initials

Before cleaning off the grout-ick!

Great Use of Complementary Colors Z. C.!

   

Hard work and Happy Faces!

Hmm.. blue man?

Dancing colors.

There were lots of creative solutions for hanging the tiles!

Ms. Kunkle amd Mrs. Keck stayed late on the last day so the students
could see their works of art in the display cases
on the next day of school!

Micography and extreme Watercolor!

Contour drawing was a lot of fun and now the students have been challenged to write a list of POSTIVE words about themselves. Once they have a word bank they use those words to make the outline, or trace the contour

Another year at Highland Middle School

Welcome to my second year at Highland Middle School as a Resident Artist from the Pittsburgh Filmmakers/Pittsburgh Center for the Arts (PF/PCA) Artists in School and Communities 

Day one! Some vocabulary and references 

 

     

Faith

...in the studio.

  

Sooo. I have been in the studio, but spending more time working on the space, rather that in the space. This sun-porch has been a great place to make the pieces that I am hopng to  have gallery ready by Spring. During these cold months you can see from the photo (above, right) that it has been a cold Pennsylvania winter,.. Spending time painting and throwing pots over the holidays was rejuvenating and being able to roll down stairs (and NOT to the cold basement!) was wonderful... bright sunlight, a comfy chair, and a kitty free zone! The only thing left to do is put up a shelf.

The work in progress has a lot of surface treatment, so a space like this has really helped with the challenges of tired eyes! Please enjoy a sample of some of the work in progress.