Black & Orange Simple Highschool Teacher Cover Letter.pdf
M-ART-CH Madness
Students are getting a brief review of art history this week and predicting who will be our very first M-ART-CH Madness Champion! Students in grades 5-8 are competing along with staff in a bracket style contest. This week we fill out our brackets, and new rounds are announced each week until a winner is crowned.
We are including a variety of contemporary and classic painters, sculptors, digital and advertising artists. Some names like Vincent van Gogh and Edgar Degas are familiar while others like Dorothea Lange and Marcel Duchamp are new. Current working artists like Simon Beck and Woodrow Nash are introduced. I could include thousands, but the rest will have to wait for another year!
Make sure to ask your middle schooler who their choice is, because EVERY artist is choosing a winner and giving a 6 word description about WHY their artist is the greatest. I sure hope they enjoy this interactive art history lesson!
Student Shopping Guide
For all of you who have young artists in the house, I've created a list of much loved supplies for middle schoolers. Most of these we have used in the classroom to some degree, so children will already be familiar with them and you won't see your gift sitting in the box in April!
Feel free to share this list with family and don't forget to check out your students' new artwork! Each middle schooler has their own webpage, and we are in the process of updating. Most 7th and 8th graders will have content uploaded by winter break. You can find their page under their graduation year.
*We are not affiliated with any of these brands, nor do we receive compensation for any clicks.
New in 2022
Middle school artists are now in charge of updating their own web pages. You can find their work under their class tab. Seventh and eighth grades are beginning this process now, and we hope to have fifth and sixth added soon.
Digital Art
This year Digital Art is a new course option in our middle school curriculum. It is a choice for our 7th & 8th grade artists, and we are currently teaching 2 sections of digital art to this year's 7th graders.
Digital Artists will be able to design artwork using various graphic software programs, understand the language of digital art, and make connections to both historical and contemporary digital artists. Along with engaging in peer to peer fedback, and presenting work to a public audience, I am collaborting with local businesses to find opportunities for my digital artists to shine.
We dove into artmaking on the very first day with an About Me project. Here is MY EXAMPLE. Please see your artist's personal page for updates on their work!
08.12.22 Welcome Message from Mrs. Anne Crawford
Hello!
Once again, I'm excited to be the art teacher at Poynette Middle School. This marks the start of my 6th year in Poynette, which means the students I taught in Kindergarten will now be joining me in middle school! What a reunion this will be!
I'm planning some really exciting, new, and engaging projects for our kids this year and I hope you join us here and on Instagram @poynette_arts. My goal is weekly updates for you so you can keep an eye on what your kiddos are up to.
For those of you new to Poynette Middle School, we do things a little bit differently here in the Art Department. You might not see as many "projects" coming home as you did in elementary. This is ok, because we are shifting the focus to process over product. My goal is to coach children to become curious problem solvers, and persistent makers. This looks different for each child and doesn't always follow a straight line. I'll chat more about this in a later post. For now, take a look at the Art Class Syllabus to get an overview of what to expect in middle school art.
Artsonia
8.22.20
Artsonia is the World's Largest Student Art Museum. Yet it's so much more than that! It's a free, safe, educational program designed to connect parents and families with their child's creative activities at school.
Connect to your child's account on Artsonia, and then you can ...
View your Child's Artworks
New artwork is often uploaded by your child's art teacher at school, but you can also upload artworks with your smartphone that may be sitting around the house!
Start a Fan Club
Invite family and friends to join your child's official "Fan Club" so they can receive notification when new artwork is posted.
Approve Comments
Friends and family can leave positive comments about your child's artwork. Review and approve these comments so they can be posted on your child's gallery.
Get Feedback from the Teacher
Teachers may enter feedback or assessment of your child's artwork that is privately viewable by parents.
Support the Arts Program
You may purchase high-quality custom keepsakes with your child's art. The school arts program receives 20% of your purchase towards art materials and other supplies.
Use this LINK to access our CLASS PORTAL. Here students will upload ALL artwork for review and display. Access link and a short tutorial video are included. Make sure to give parent permission for student artwork to be viewed publicly in "art shows".
Please Note:
If you choose to add your email to Artsonia, you WILL receive promo emails from them automatically. You can ALWAYS opt out or change the frequency.
Boredom Busters...
07.27.20
FYI... This info and text comes directly from Brightly.com
They have wonderful recommendations based on age, reading level, and topic of interest. Here are some activity books that would be great for the home stretch of summer. These selections are recommended for ages 7-12. Enjoy!
Flamingos, Llamas & Other Cool Things
For kids who love to color, this book provides a rewarding experience. Color and assemble the shimmery designs to make 3-D ornaments. Then, let your child decorate their room with the ornaments or string them together to make a festive garland.
This book contains 10 intricately patterned butterflies for kids to press out, color, and assemble. Kids will love adding a touch of whimsy to their bedrooms by hanging a kaleidoscope of colorful butterflies!
Put those bricks to good use with this must-read book for LEGO-obsessed kids. With 200 builds that range in difficulty, readers will be inspired to use their imaginations and creativity.
From fake tattoos to edible snot, these fun science experiments include step-by-step instructions, an ingredients list, and a messiness factor rating so that you know what you’re signing up for.
The Amazing Ancients! series offers kids a chance to jump back in time and explore ancient civilizations. Through cool mazes, word searches, craft ideas, and puzzles, young readers will learn how the ancient Egyptians lived and thrived.
Summer Sketchbooks
07.20.20
Sketchbooks don't have to be fancy. It can be a Dollar Store purchase, an unfinished ruled notebook, a stack of post-its, or a collection of loose papers. The largest component to improving as an artist is practice, and a sketchbook is a wonderful way to see progress, fix mistakes, work through ideas, and be creative. Here's a list of ideas when you don't know what to draw... You should be able to find at least one interesting thing...
- Draw someone you sit by in an odd pose.
- Draw a family member with things that are important to them.
- Draw yourself (or someone else) painting toenails.
- Draw a crowd of people. (remember crowds?)
- Draw the ugliest baby you can imagine.
- Draw an animal playing a musical instrument.
- There is an animal living in one of your appliances. Draw it.
- Draw something from a pet's point of view.
- Draw an animal taking a human for a walk.
- Draw a pile of dishes before they get washed.
- Draw a slice of the best pizza you have ever seen.
- Create your own restaurant. What's on the menu?
- Draw the oldest thing in your refrigerator.
- Draw an interesting object from 3 different viewpoints.
- Draw three eggs and part of the carton.
- Draw a piece of fabric with all the folds.
- Draw a bridge and all of its details.
- Draw yourself as a superhero.
- Make a drawing that looks sticky.
- Draw a flower. Make it look dangerous.
- Draw an object melting.
- Draw a gumball machine that dispenses anything but gumballs.
- Draw what's under your bed. Real or imagined.
- Use song lyrics to inspire a drawing.
- Go somewhere new and draw what you see.
- Find the 3 most useless objects you can and draw them.
- Draw something that can't be turned off.
- Draw something that needs fixing.
- Draw something that's out of place.
- Make a drawing that is completely and utterly impossible.
- Draw an interesting form of transportation.
Artsonia
07.14.20
Artsonia is the world's largest online student art museum. It is free to students, teachers, and parents. Artsonia increases awareness of our arts curriculum, boosts student pride and esteem, and integrates technology into the classroom by allowing students to create their own digital portfolios.
Parents will need to give permission for their child's work to be seen publicly. Otherwise all artwork can only be seen by student and teacher. Permission allows for families to invite others into a students "fan club" and purchase merchandise featuring their child's artwork.
Artists are identified by an individual screen name to protect their privacy, there is no advertising, and students always maintain ownership of their art. You can preview our school art studio at: Poynette Mid
Week 23
02.17.20
We'e supposed to get weird snowy weather today, so let's talk summer!
This time of year is when I get notices from art camps across Wisconsin, the Midwest, and the country. Instead of posting ALL of the resources in the classroom, I will continue to add links here.
Week 22
02.14.20
Everyone's different. No two artists are the same. I wouldn't expect everyone to enjoy painting the way I do, and I wouldn't expect everyone to make the same clay coffee mug. Every artist is different; that is expected and encouraged in my classes. I hope your children feel that is true. No matter which way they draw a heart, I'm glad they are here, and I'm honored to be a part of their day.
Week 21
02.06.20
We have been working on Doodles for Google over the last week or so. The theme is "I show kindness by..." and each student is encouraged to share their own interpretation. Here is a glimpse at what the class of 2026 has imagined.
Week 20
01.27.20
It was quite an emotional day for my household yesterday as we watched news coverage regarding the helicopter crash that took 9 lives. With Kobe Bryant perishing in that accident, I found it was an appropriate time to share his attitude towards hard work and maximum effort. It's clear he wanted to be remembered as a talented athlete who worked as if he wasn't.
This academy award winning video I was unaware of until yesterday, but I quickly added it into our curriculum. Regardless of the big crazy dreams our students have, we have a responsibility to help them reach it. Maybe they want to be an artist, or an NFL player, or an astronaut, or a public speaker. All of these dreams require effort, hard work, dedication, and learning from those who came before you.
Week 18
01.15.20
Another teacher sent me this image today! I'm so happy that my eighth graders are sharing their talent around the math department. Believe it or not, math is used in art all the time. Proportions in portraits are a real thing! Can you see the guiding lines this artist used to draw an accurate image?
Week 17
01.09.20
The Third Annual Student Art Showcase is ready for viewing! This is our largest installation yet, and more artwork is coming still tomorrow. I am so proud of this group of Eighth Grade Artists! Every piece reflects their personality and interests. They are truly one of a kind.
The exhibit will run through January 27th, when we will have a closing reception from 6:00 -7:30 pm. Please join us in celebrating these young artists.
Week 16
12.19.19
Well, all three grades are wrapping up our food styling unit today. I think its fair to say that the cookie decorating was a big hit.
Enjoy your time with family and friends over winter break! It is truly a gift to be part of your children's education.
Third Annual
Student Art Showcase
You are invited to attend a reception for our 8th grade artists on January 27th, 2020. The reception will be held at the Poynette Public Library and artists will be available to showoff their creativity. We would love to see you there!
Week 15
10.9.18
Last week got away from me completely as I was hit with a rotten case of bronchitis. Ugh! Stay healthy out there!
Week 13
11.27.19
It's 50's dress up day and mix-it-up day at the middle school, so I thought I would share my attempt to join in the festivities. Our leadership group works hard to make this a fun event. Hopefully our students can share what makes them awesome with classmates who might not otherwise get a chance to learn about them. I'm certainly thankful to work in a place where students are so invested in each other. Happy Thanksgiving Puma Nation!
Week 12
11.20.19
At this point in the year we see lots of independent work coming in from students. These extraordinary photos of ordinary objects were taken by 8th grader Tobias Brue.
Week 11
11.14.18
We've been using FitBoost this week every morning in Homeroom to wake up and get ready for the day. You get a random warm-up, movement activity, and cool down that last 1 minute each. Every day a new person clicks "Let's Go!" and we do jumping jacks, push-ups, high knees, and yoga poses like you see here. Use the link below if you want to try it at home.
Week 6
10.11.19
Conferences! There are a few things I love about conferences. One, it's a great motivator for students to clean the art room. We do a "5-minute pick-up" at the beginning of class. I ask them if they ever scramble to clean their bedroom before something really important, and inevitably the answer is a resounding "YES!!!" So I tell my students that's what we are doing here. "Between you and me," I say, "let's pretend we clean it like this every day."
The next thing I love about conference season, is it's a perfect time to connect with students about how THEY feel their progress is in the class. What do THEY want me to tell parents about what's going well, what do THEY think they are struggling with, what do THEY think of the class overall. It's a time to validate their opinion, allow them to speak freely, and see who's got a sense of humor (Someone usually asks me to tell mom & dad to give them a phone back).
Finally, it's so fun watching student share work with their families. The smiles, explanations, questions, and genuine praise is totally worth the extra hours spent at school.
I know I've said this before, but this is just the best job ever.
Week 5
10.2.19
Every once in a while we have to review art room expectations. This week we will be brainstorming what it looks like to be safe with materials and be kind to others who use this space.
Week 4
9.26.19
Drawing and painting is my jam. I carry sketchbooks everywhere I go. I make mistakes, I try new things, I learn by doing. Teaching your children is part of what I do each day to life a creative life.
Anne
Week 3
9.18.19
I'm so lucky to have volunteer helpers after school! There is always something to clean and organize, file away or display, students that are asking for more help on a project or Art Clubbers looking for inspiration. Let me know if you would like to be a parent volunteer in the middle school art room someday!
Week 2
9.11.19
This week I will be sending emails to parents with a link to your child's art portfolio. We are using a template from TIME Magazine this year, so the format might look familiar to some of you. Please let me know if you have any trouble with the link.
It is so much fun watching these students explore a new program and problem solve. They are mentoring each other, asking great questions, analyzing artwork, and creating purposeful presentations. It's been a productive week!
Anne
Art Shirt Friday!
This week we explored a variety of materials in the art room. We explored "tackle boxes," paint, scissors, and collaborative artwork. Your children are a joy to work with! I am so pleased with everyone's efforts and positive attitude. I feel lucky to spend part of the day with them. Please check out your child's class page for more details on their week in Art.
Anne
Art Careers
My favorite part of the career list on the left is all the way down at the bottom, so I'll sum it up here:
"Art can be great preparation for any career that requires fine motor skills, presentation skills, an eye for aesthetics and creative thinking!"
This year all middle school classes will be exploring art careers such as: Forensic Art, Logo Design, Food Styling, Landscape Architect, Wildlife Photography, Gallery Owner, and Freelance Artwork. Check out your students class page for more info on their first projects!
It's almost here!
I'm sitting in a cafeteria full of staff members, I'm on coffee number two, eating a strawberry greek yogurt and waiting for our inservice to begin. I'm sure we will hear more about the construction of the new elementary building, insurance updates, all sorts of fun stuff!
While I wait, I thought I would share with you a few reasons why I think art is important for our students, and the lessons the arts teach. This is adapted from the National Art Education Association.
"The arts teach children to make good judgments about qualitative relationships. Unlike most of the curriculum in which correct answers and rules prevail, in the arts, it is judgment rather than rules that prevail.
The arts teach children that problems can have more than one solution and that questions can have more than one answer."
With that, it's time for me to sign off for the day. Looking forward to the year!
Hello everyone!
That's me there on the left. We were lucky enough to attend the American Family Insurance Golf Championship in Madison this summer, and we're a selfie sorta family! A few more pics from the day are below. I highly recommend taking your family next summer if you get the chance!
Anywhoodles... you're here to find out about your child's art program in Middle School. So let's talk more about that...
Each graduating class has a link above where I will post updates. My goal is to update weekly. Sometimes I miss the mark, but I'll do my best.
You will also get a welcome email from me that will include a link to your child's online magazine. This will be a live document that will change as your student completes projects. There will be images and writing, and should keep you up to date.
See the bottom on any page here for my office hours during the school year. I will make myself available at those times for phone calls, otherwise email is the quickest way to reach me during the day.
This year we are studying a variety of careers in art. Please see your child's graduating year page for more details. Thanks for visiting!
Anne Crawford
Jocelyn N.
Wisconsin
Youth Art Month
Because of their excellence in the visual arts, their artwork has been chosen to represent Poynette Middle School at the 2019 South West Region WAEA Youth Art Month Exhibition. Congrats!
Ryli T.
Valerie H.
Ashlyn L.
Ilse B.
Mandalas are a meditative art form that dates back to the middle ages. The idea of creating something beautiful that will only be temporary forces the artist to savor each moment of creating. It ensures the artist is fully focused on the artwork, and each mark is intentional. These mandalas were created by our 8th grade artists. You can see more images on the 2023 page.
Collaborative Decisions
8th grade
Brainstorming Ideas
7th grade
Learn a New Space
6th grade
Our front entrance shines with
beautiful light through the windows.
It's a new beginning! Welcome to the Class of 2025 and the Class of 2031, and welcome back to all my returning artists! My name is Mrs. Anne Crawford and I am thrilled to share Medieval Art & Art History with you all this year. The Middles Ages are often thought of as an awkward time period between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance, but it turns out there were some major social, economic, and artistic developments during that time.
All artists will be creating work inspired and influenced by this time period. They will be asked to explore traditional materials while discovering their personal artistic preferences. While specifics will change slightly between grade levels, students will be addressing the following questions during their terms:
How do artists care for and maintain materials, tools, and equipment?
How do artists create works of art that effectively communicate?
How do artists grow and become accomplished in art forms?
How does art help us understand the lives of people of different times, places, and cultures?
How is a personal preference different from an evaluation?
This website is a resource for both parents and students to check out what we are investigating in the art room. New updates will be posted weekly about assignments, events, and photos of students' work. Students update their own process portfolios. These portfolios will follow them through high school so you can see how they grow!
Please feel free to contact me with any questions. Let's have a great year!
Mrs. Crawford
acraw@poynette.k12.wi.us 608-635-4347 ex 329
Office Hours: M-Th 2:15-2:45 pm F 11:30 am - Noon
Jordan N
i made a flower. first i traced it in the light box then i added my own details and after that i colored it and blended the diffrent colors of purple i used. i think i should get a perficion i had only one day to work on it and i put a lot of effort into it. while makeing my flowers i had to overcome many obsticals like coloring outside the lines and having a small amout of time to colmplet it. something ive learned while doing this project is how to use a shading pencil.