2013-2014 New School year projects!

We are working on mosaic mirrors!  These are just a few of the beautiful artwork samples students are creating using a combination of science (glass composition, elements, and scientific processes), math measurements, chemistry (glue and grout chemical processes), and art (creating and drawing the designs and cutting the wood in WoodShop class).  Students are selling their artwork to earn money for a fieldtrip to Art Glass Connection, Davie, Fl.  Last year, Ms. JoAnna Vitale, owner and glass artist extraordinaire, taught the class how to make resin jewelry.  This year, we would like to purchase glass supplies to make our own resin jewelry in class.  We will be posting additional photos of the finished mirror projects.  We will take orders for custom designs by email to carody@gmail.com.

In addition, we rec'd a grant to create wind chimes from recycled wine bottles.  The wind chimes will be sliced and "tuned" so that each produces a musical note scale.  This grant, from Broward Education Foundation, allowed us to purchase a wet saw that will help us with the slices of bottles.  We hope to be making these before the holidays as they will make awesome gifts!

This year, I have 4 returning artists and 4 new students so the mix of experience is nice to see.  Each student finds his or her own niche with glass.  A few like the precise details of stained glass and most are comfortable with the less restrictive mosaic artwork.  In our future lessons, we will learn how to heat and bend the glass in a kiln and how to use resin to create jewelry.  Stayed tuned for our updates.

BEF Impact Expo Feb 2, 2013 - 2 new items

This past weekend, Broward Education Foundation sponsored a series of teacher training sessions - all based on Common Core and Marzano strategies.  I was able to present "iPadded my Project" for the second year and co-presented "Padded Frogs" with Ms. Adams.  One of the cool apps I demo'd was NearPod.  This is an app that allows a presentation to be shared from the teacher's iPad to student mobile devices.  The teacher can build in polls, tests, and interactive drawing slides.  When students or participants complete those slides, the results are sent to the teacher/presenter presentation and reports can be pulled that show the results or drawings!  It is an awesome app that allows students to become part of the presentation.  The app creators are based locally in Hallandale Beach, Fl.  This app has a free version for both teacher and student and you can upgrade to get some of the cool features for a modest monthly fee.  I am trying to write more grants to get more tablets into the classroom so that I can use NearPod regularly.

At the Expo, NSU hosted us and I was able to use their Apple TV network.  I was able to wander around the whole auditorium-style classroom using my iPad for the presentation and not having to worry about a 6" dongle!  I loved the freedom.  So now -  I need to find out more about this tool and what it takes to bring it to our school.