Mr. Mills Blog

As technology continues to move faster and faster, it is hard to keep up with everything. I continue to love working with the students on the blog, but not only does it need a lot of upkeep, but it needs to make sense with the curriculum. I’m learning how to put pictures, sounds, and video up, but you can do all that work, and it doesn’t make any bit of difference with what the kids are learning. I think the Internet is THE most powerful learning tool out there, but the massive nature of it makes it difficult to use in the classroom.

Just this week, I only scratched the surface of searching on Google and Wikipedia with fourth graders. With the amount of information to sift through, it can seem almost impossible. On the other hand, though, it is necessary because the days of finding information strictly through books and magazines is completely gone. We need to update how we look for information now or our students will be left behind.

I’m happy to see all of my classes making a lot of progress with their artwork this week. Both third grade classes are working in groups to create community murals. Not only are we learning how to think about community and how to draw, we are also learning how to work in groups. The fourth grade continued working on their high contrast pictures this week. Some students might have taken their original pictures home. They are also adding winter themed tissue paper so we can have them up during December.

The fifth graders are working on a couple different projects right now. Both classes need to finish their accordion book stories and turn them in if they not have done so already. We have moved on to a new project this week, so it is important that they turn it in soon. The stories will be displayed during the final event for Smart Explorers. I hope you all are able to attend. Mr. Bynum’s class has their final event on Monday, Novemeber 20th and Mr. Brown’s class has their event on Tuesday, November 21st. Both events are from 6:30 to 8:00 in the evening. All of the students will be docents for artwork they picked out on their fifth trip to the museum. They will be discussing the elements of art, what the story of the piece is, and what the function of the artwork might be. It is a fun night for everyone, so please do not miss out.

The sixth grade students have finished up their logos. They can be found here. We are also going to the Museum of Contemporary Art on Wednesday this week to see an exhibit called Massive Change. It is a great exhibit that I previewed this weekend about sustainable design and the global economy. It is not what you would call your “normal” art exhibit, but a tremendous learning experience for the students. I certainly learned a lot when I went there.

Until next time…