Publishing an Article

Once again one of my professors has encouraged me to challenge myself by publishing an article on the lesson plan that I created. So I have sent of my article to SchoolArt Magazine along with some pictures and we shall see what happens. I have already been in touch with the editor Nancy Walkup and given her some preliminary information along with some pictures and she was excited to see the complete article. So we will see what happens. I am quite excited about this and if this one gets published perhaps I will try for some more. The picture you see here was created by one of my classmates who donated it to my lesson plan.

IAEA Conference 2009 Hailey Idaho

Mask Making (3 stations)

BSU Multicultural Art Students, under the direction of Kathleen Keys, present three stations of mask making; African dot painting, Japanese paper cutting, and Balanese mask making. Pictured here is Jena explaining the art of Japanese paper cutting, another student Heather Whitt sits to make a mask.

BSU Secondary School Art Methods sutdents (under the direction of Linda Buczynski, present four stations of ductigami sculpture; stick figure sculpture, emotions sculpture, abstract sculpture, and sea turtle sculpture. A teacher attending the conference creates giraffe.

Jackie Nelson, Presenter at the IAEA Conference in Hailey Idaho, presents a lesson plan on recycling and the prevention of letting hazardous materials into our landfills. The subject of computer parts is brought into the lesson for use in art as well as many other materials considered trash that can be used in art. The lesson is meant to bring awareness to our children and their family and friends.

BSU Art Education Student Named President Elect of IAEA

Undergraduate art education student, Jacqueline Nelson, (pictured below) was elected to the Idaho Art Education Association's board member position of President Elect at last weeks Art is Essential: Idaho Art Education Association Conference in Hailey. In this new role, Jackie will assist board leadership and the organization of the IAEA conference for the next two years, prior to becoming the president in the subsequent two years. This is an extraordinary privilege and a challenging responsibility for a student and a wonderful opportunity for Boise State. Congratulations Jackie!

Left to right: Dr. Kathleen Keys, BSU; Dr. Bonnie Rushlow, past president of the National Art Education Association; Joni Cashman, IAEA Past President & Art Teacher, Hailey; Jacqueline Nelson, IAEA President Elect; Karen Fothergill, IAEA President & Art Teacher, Twin Falls.

Idaho Art Education Association Conference Haily 2009

Well, the time has arrived. I am leaving next week to present at the conference in Hailey this year and I am so excited. Along with presenting my own Lesson Plan, two of my classes will be presenting as well, my Multicultural Arts Class on Masks from different cultures, and my Secondary School Art Methods Class on Ductigami. Yes things you can do with Duct tape. Will post pictures and information after next week.

Shannon received your comment on the cage idea. I love it. I would love to use it. Give me a ring. 887-2061 or 830-2334. Thanks so much for the advice. I don;t want any more pregnant cats running around, now all we have to do it catch the mom. That's going to be tough. Kittens first, mom second.

What I Get to Do When I Grow Up

As part of my curriculum at Boise State University, I am required to put in 30 hours of teaching/observation at a school. Last year it was for Elementary school kids, this year is for High School kids, I reversed them and did High School last year and 4th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and 10th graders this year. Susan Ballenger, pictured with three of her students, is my mentor and an extremely talented and well traveled teacher. I love working with these kids who are so polite, well-behaved and also extremely talented and smart. It was been so much fun interacting with all of these kids, they truely are amazing. I have also had the opportunity to sit in on Maestra Crills Spanish classes, she is another amazing teacher. Anyway, I get to be an Art Teacher when I grow up and I cannot tell how excited that makes me.

Mysterious Visitors

These are pictures of some kittens that were born in the spring in our neighborhood. We discovered them living in the back yard of a house that had been deserted. We also discovered two Ferrets. So our lovely neighbors, whom nobody knew, deserted a pregnant cat and two ferrets to fend for themselves. Needless to say the kittens were born and needed food so the mama cat killed the ferrets and birds and whatever else she could get her paws on. We tried to capture them when they were young but we couldn't get to them inside the dryer vent or under the deck. A new family moved in to that house and the mom moved her kittens to one of our other neighors, who are next to us, underneath their shed. Then the kids discovered them so the mama cat moved her kittens again, this time to the other neighbors on the other side of us under their shed. So that neighbor started feeding them. Then one day about two months ago our kitty, Little Man, discovered them through the cracks of the fence, he can't climb because he has no claws, so he would sit beside the fence for hours talking to them. One day we found all 5 kittens in our back yard playing with our cat, who has been spay thankfully. When little man is not outside they go back home, but as soon as they hear our backdoor and see little man through the cracks they come climbing over. The other morning one of the tigers came into the house ran into the bedroom and jumped on James back where he was kneeling saying his prayers. He thought it was little man but knew better because our cat is huge and weighs a ton, to his surprise it was one of the little kittens. Too funny. One of the three black ones, patch, comes into the house all the time to eat and be with little man, we have gained his trust. One of the tigers is getting more trusting as well. But the other two black and one tiger are timid and jumpy. We need to catch them to get them to the Humane Society. We've been told that The Meridian Humane Society will not take them, but that the Idaho Humane Society will. Wish us luck, if you have any advice would love to hear it.