iPad Deployment-it's Elementary my dear

Donald ES was the first elementary school in Lewisville ISD to deploy iPads to all student 1-5th. *so excited!*

Last week, teachers and parent volunteers manned stations to help students set up their iPads with starting apps, assist parents with Apple IDs, and so on. Families pre-scheduled online for 15 minute rotations.  It was a busy day, from 9 am to 7 pm, but WOW. Great success. Check out these grins:

you found me.

What are you most excited about?

Leave me a comment!

oh snap!

Thank you Mrs. C at rainbow skies and dragonflies for nominating me! I love that I can communicate and share ideas with a fellow Jersey girl from my Texas art room. The Shore doesn't seem so far away!

I fell (reluctantly, I might add) into blogging while trying to find cool ways to incorporate technology into Art. 2 years ago, I was recovering from surgery and had some time on my hands...and discovered Tricia Fuglestad at Dryden Art and Theresa Gillespie at splats, scraps and glue blobs. Holy moley. I. Had. No. Idea. Seriously, you guys.

So, I played around with blogging and found that it really suited my personality. I love spreading the humor of my classroom and sheer craziness as an "Artist Who Teaches". I was able to learn A LOT more at the NAEA convention (thanks Mr. E and Art of Ed!! You guys are the bomb diggity. I mean it.)

Blogging has enabled me to not only promote the awesomeness of my student's art, it has allowed their secondary art teachers to see what they can do, our administration to see how we in the arts can incorporate technology without always having a device in our hands, and pushed me into a leadership/advocacy role. This year, I presented 6 inservices to our district art/arts teachers, from Beginning Blogging to Digital Portfolios to Ways to Incorporate Tech into the Arts. How many inservices did I present last year? Zero? The year before? Zero. Ten years ago? Zero.

Blogging is fun, easy and I love connecting with all the cool and wonderful artist educators out there.

My goal for this year: creep less and comment more ^.^

Here are some  other blogs that I love:

Mess to Masterpiece- a fellow LISD Art teacher!
Organized Chaos-I am sure she has a ton of followers but I love her posts so I don't care!
........and the remaining spots will be filled when the LISD attendees of the Blogging Basics inservice finish their blogs *ahem* *cough* *poke* 

This made my 13 yr old son literally laugh out loud.

Check out who moved into the Art Room this summer- an Art Fairy! Check out her way cool door! She is going to need some stairs. Or a ramp? I am so excited--iPads and a fairy! Could this year start off any better?

Blogging Inservice. It was a MONDAY.

Blissful LISD Art Teachers Blogging

So I taught my very first inservice (with McAuliffe Art teacher, Rebecca Lake). On a Monday morning. And if it could go wrong...ho boy.

1. Our newly wireless school had no wireless. Server was down. Naturally.
2. OF COURSE I had used Google Presentation. Luckily, I saved it to a flash.
1. Remember kids, always have a plan B!
3. The printers are wireless. I couldn't print. I couldn't print!
4. Finally, with 20 minutes to go, I was able to print the 24 page Presentation and make copies...
5. Toner was down, and I forgot to hit the collate button. *smack head*
6. By this time I was so flustered I couldn't make my laptop and projector talk, so I am totally old schooling it with a document camera.

Remember, I am teaching an inservice. ABOUT BLOGGING ONLINE. Using paper copies on a document camera.

Until Rebecca plugged in the correct cable. Doh!

Luckily the wiffy came on around 9ish. I was able to stop crying and start over and hopefully everyone learned Very Important Lessons. I know I did.

Most important:  heads up blogging-world, we just sent a new bunch of art teachers to you! You're welcome!

Raise your hand if your summer flew by...'cause mine did

For the first time in 20 years, my room is ready before the kids are here! 2 weeks of summer left  ^.^

I am curious about my "icases" (jumbo book covers) for iPads. I will keep you guys posted and let you know if they work or not....I am hopeful as they are a super cheap alternative *fingers crossed*

I am pumped about teaching professional development this week! Blogging with Art Teachers tomorrow!