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A little about our art classes!
The best parts of my job are my students! I love getting to know my students and helping them learn, create, explore, and problem solve in the art room! Each grade level and age brings it's own excitement and experience to art class, and it's a joy to watch our students learn through the years.
We do so many things in our art classes! All lessons are based on the TDOE visual art standards, which are categorized under the 4 domains of Create, Connect, Respond, and Present. I always tell my students that just as with any other subject, learning about and creating artowork is not a magic trick! We are not born writing paragraphs, reading chapter books, doing complex math problems, or creating pieces of artwork that are museum ready! It takes instruction, time, practice, feedback, and more practice to get better at ANYTHING, and art class is no different.
We learn to think outside of the box in art class! We use problem solving skills while exploring new materials and media, improve our skills in various types of art making, learn about other artists and art genres, talk about and display our work, work on using our tools and materials safely and effectively, become efficient at art room procedures, and make connections between the subject of visual art, other classroom subjects, and our daily lives along the way!
About me
I'm originally from Monroe County OH - a rural, forested county bordering the Ohio River in the heart of Appalachia. As a child I was interested in several careers including equine veterinary science and nursing, but when I went to high school I had the privilege of having my first ever art classes (we didn't have elementary or middle school art), and when I was a senior, my new art teacher made such an impression on me that I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in art education. I graduated college in 2003, moved to Smith County in the fall of 2004, and have been teaching art here ever since!
In those years I've worked at many of our smaller county schools here in Smith County, and taught thousands of students! Currently, I teach PreK - 8th grade art at DES & FRS, and Kinder - 8th grade art at UHS. I hold my bachelors degree in Fine Arts, my masters degree in Instructional Leadership, and am liscensed to teach both Visual Arts K-12, and Elementary Education K-5.
My husband Ed and I live here in Smith County, and our two children - Nathan and Hannah, attend Smith County Schools.
In my free time I love spending time with my family, supporting and watching my children as they participate in their extra curricular activities, walking, cooking, reading, a good cup of coffee, planning and taking trips with my family, and spending time with our pets - a GoldenDoodle named Gunther, and two cats - Fluffy and One-Eyed Harry the Wonder Cat (yes...Harry really does have only one eye).
I'm thrilled to be in Smith County teaching a subject I love and believe to be imperative to each child's education. It's going to be a great year! Please feel free to email me at hmassey@smithcoedu.net, or reach out via Parent Square should you have any questions.
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