Art Teacher
J.T. Lambert Intermediate School
Projects
This year, we will be exploring concepts of art and design in so many different ways! We will have days where we draw, days where we sculpt, and days where we paint. Some days are set aside for sketchbook prompts- and you can draw almost anything on those days! Other days are set aside to learn about new and exciting artists that are shaping the landscape of art in today's world. We always do a totally unique project on those days, too! This is not your typical art class! We even face off against each other in special art challenges! I am a teacher who loves playing games, and so whenever possible, I turn learning into game play!
Sketchbooks 'If I don't practice one day, I know it; two days, the critics know it; three days, the public knows it.'
Jascha Heifetz, Russian-American Violinist (considered by many to be the greatest violinist of all time)
Sketchbooks are a fundamental part of the artist's toolkit, where an artist can record ideas, work creatively, and can be free to make mistakes without any pressure to be 'perfect'. Many artists use sketchbooks on a daily basis. In fact, if you draw every day you will almost certainly improve. We would like to see our students using sketchbooks in class every day to plan their projects, develop ideas, and respond to creative prompts- just to get them thinking 'outside the box' with more confidence!
Special Events
As if all the fun stuff we have planned in our regular curriculum isn’t enough, from time to time a special event pops up, and we jump at the chance to try something new or participate in something being celebrated in our school community, or around the world! Here are a few special events we’re already planning on joining:
Dot Day on Thursday, September 15- live streaming with Lehman Intermediate , teaming up with #PoconoKindnessRocks. Students will be creating 'Kindness Rocks' and will be able to add their rock to our rock garden, right outside of JTL Administrative offices (visible as you walk to the front doors).
(this is not my mistake- the picture won't paste vertical!)
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Unity Day at JTL (standing up against bullying)
Snow Flake Challenge
Holiday artmaking with the whole school on the last day before Winter break
Youth Art Month Artist Trading Card swap
Connect with JTL Art Online
@jtlart
@jtlart
Contests and Special Opportunities:
Posted outside of art room, or check with your teacher.
Teacher Biography:Michelle Christopher (Miss Chris) is one of two art teachers in our building, and teaches both sixth and seventh grade. Before teaching at J.T. Lambert, Miss Christopher was the Photography and Digital Art teacher at the South High School, where she taught for 13 years. She has also taught Fine Arts, Drawing, Advanced Drawing and Painting, Crafts, and Graphic Tech. She began teaching in our district in 2001 at the North High School, where she was a long term sub and taught Animation, and then Algebra 1 and Geometry. She certainly has a diverse teaching background!
Miss Christopher graduated from Kutztown University with a degree in Art Education, and a minor in Literature She then attained her masters degree from Wilkes University in Classroom Technology. She places a high priority on integrating technology when and where it is appropriate in the art classroom.
Miss Chris is working to integrate Minecraft, Social Media, QR Codes and more into the classroom to enhance the art curriculum. She still places a high priority on the traditional art media such as drawing, painting, and sculpting and uses technology as an enhancement, rather than a replacement of, those media. Her current project is the creation of a Makerspace in the classroom where kids can explore, create, and play! Minecraft!!! Miss Chris is bringing Minecraft into the classroom! We're learning about art and engaging with art in the Minecraft world. Check out the links below to see how Minecraft is a valuable educational tool and why we're so excited about it!
A middle school teacher blogs about his Minecraft classroom:
http://http://www.middleschoolminecraft.com/
Middle school students use Minecraft to keep in touch with a deported classmate:
http://http://www.latimes.com/local/la-fi-c1-rodrigos-world-20130902-dto-htmlstory.html