Stargazer Studio

It is so fun getting to share the Stargazer Studio blog with my students, thanks to my new Promethean ActivBoard! The students are excited both about the ActivBoard and the Stargazer Story Quilt/button project, which they are learnng more about thanks to the blog. I haven’t yet had a chance to show the blog to every class, but at least most of them have seen it now.

Last week was a different kind of week. Our 3rd-5th grade students took their TCAPs (standardized achievement tests) every morning. I proctored a class during the test, and afterwards, taught a highly modified art schedule–30 minute classes, back-to-back, which limited our studio (hands-on activity) options.

Those 30-minutes were perfect, however, for sharing the blog with some of my classes and answering questions about the project. I have discovered that many of my students are not familiar with the concept of blogs. Some 5th graders are, but not many 4th or third grade students. So I get to introduce them to a whole new realm of the internet! Mrs. Deaver’s class noticed that I mentioned them specifically…they liked that.

Last week I also sent home a letter to families about the project and the blog. We are now getting more visitors. I love checking out the ClustrMap in the side bar each day to see how many visitors we had the previous day, and see if there are any new dots indicating visitors from afar! I am also delighted that we are getting more comments. I haven’t had time to respond to all of them yet, but I am so happy that people are visiting and sending in comments, questions, and encouragement.

Up until now, my students have not had a complete picture of the Stargazer Story Quilt project. It will be our focus from now until the end of school, as I teach them more about quilts–traditional quilts and contemporary art quilts.

I am flabbergasted at how quickly the school year is coming to a close. I wish I could slow things down a bit. There is so much more I’d like to do with all my classes!

I have lots more to share with you…come back soon for another update.