Sketchbooks from Sketch for Schools

   
This is the second year I have ordered custom sketchbooks from Sketch for Schools.
I was first introduced to the company through the summer professional development from The Art of Education and instantly intrigued as I always used sketchbooks in my classes. 
I create sketchbooks for 2nd-5th grade as White 3 ring binders with three hole punched white paper (photocopy/printer paper). We start the year with 10 sheets. They keep these binders for all four years and each year we add 10 pages and change out the cover. It is great because it has pockets for any handouts. At the end of year 5, they take home the sketches/notes from the previous years.

In order to set my middle school students apart, I call them Varsity Art and give them each their own custom sketchbook with weekly sketchbook assignments. I have 28 students from grade 6, 7, and 8. The sketchbooks cost about 3-4 dollars each. Our theme this year is Around the World in 180 Days, so the image I created has a globe on it. My sketchbook assignments are for purchase on Teachers Pay Teachers if you are interested. I created the cover image and sketchbooks in Adobe Illustrator. The entire year's list of sketchbook assignments, with due dates every Monday, are printed on the inside cover. I always get a few extra sketchbooks in case we have new students enter in the middle of the school year. If we don't use them, I sell them for 5-7 dollars at the end of the school as a fundraiser for supplies for the next school year.
Sketch for Schools prints on a strong cover. I got the 50 page, Intermediate paper, 8.5 by 11 inches.
I highly recommend the company as they are USA made and have excellent customer service. (By the way, this is an unsolicited review, its just my opinion and they didn't give me anything for it. )

At the high school, I use Canson Recycled Sketchbooks, 9 by 12, 100 pages for Studio Art students (usually around 10 kids), Canson Mixed Media, 9 by 12, 100 pages for Advanced students, and Black Hardcover sketchbooks, 9 by 12, 100 pages for my AP students.

What sketchbooks do you use?

New Gelli plates!

Through a contest on The Smart Teacher, I won 20, 3 by 5 inch Gelli plates from Gelli Arts!

I am excited to try these with my students, printmaking here we come!

The high school drying rack has still not been funded and it is ending in November, so there is still time to donate. Any little bit helps. It is difficult trying to create a high school classroom with the furniture we currently have, but I am trying very hard. This one piece will really bring it together.

The time I met Tim Gunn

 

NAEA Conference in New Orleans, March 2015

I was privileged enough to be one of 100 people in the first design challenge session with Tim Gunn. Our team had the challenge of making an outfit with a white t-shirt base and random supplies that can go from runway to safari. Yo can see our creation with its hood/back cowl on the fabulous lady to the right of Tim. In true Project Runway fashion, Tim came around to our table to see how we were doing. It was a really great opportunity and I am so pleased to have met such an honorable, humble man who supports teachers. 

Here are some photos of us "making it work":

Parent volunteer opportunity

I am looking for a art-confident, consistent parent to be my bulletin board artist this year. I already have two awesome ideas that are slightly complicated, but I would love to have someone to execute them while I am reorganizing my two classrooms. If you are interested in this volunteer position, please email me: missmsmeyers@gmail.com

Thanks!