Art Class 101

 My Teaching Story

Where I live, we need to complete at least 100 volunteer hours that involve a community issue. One night, while at a volunteer fair, I met a couple of librarians who were looking for volunteers, specifically for someone to start a kids art program. We are in an area that is very close to several other towns, but we don't have any kind of community center in our area, so there was never an opportunity for kids ages 4-9 to explore art outside of the classroom. I have had experience doing this before at a summer camp, but I had never done it alone. After creating a proposal and presenting it, they gave me the go ahead to start my own art program. In order to plan ahead, I put out a sign-up sheet so I could prepare for the number of kids in the first class. Our goal was to have ten kids sign-up but we were fine with less due to it being the first class. Little did I know how popular it was going to get. Within a week, ten kids were sign-up and there was even a wait list! And after that first class it became so popular that we were signing kids up at least a month in advance. As summer approached, the library asked me if I would continue my program in summer by doing a mini art camp. Of course I agreed! I did a week long class during June, but so many people wanted to sign-up for July that ten spots in the class wasn't cutting it anymore. To accommodate the growing number of kids interested, I added a second class that would meet after the first and both of these class filled up within a couple of days. From worrying I wouldn't be able to get ten kids to sign-up for my first class to having twenty-two in my last class, my little art program has come a long way. Even though I have already earned my volunteer hours, I love doing this so much that I am going to continue it as long as I can. :)

My Class Structure

During the school year I divide my class into months. The class is held on Saturday mornings for 3-4 Saturdays a month. Kids must sign-up for each month individually and each month has a different theme. During the summer, I teach one week-long class per month that meets for an hour Monday through Friday. At the end of the last class, an art show is held for the parents to see the kids' work- they take home the projects after the show. I like to get the kids engaged in the theme so along with the art show is some kind of activity that they can do as a group such as a puppet show or group games. There is no charge for the program, but I will sometimes ask for parents to bring in items such as paper towel rolls and tissue boxes.

Tips

I have learned a lot in the past year. So here are some tips I have learned to live by:

•  Save items you might other wise throw out! I have a growing stockpile of paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, etc. because I never know when I might need to use them in a project. I also save my newspaper for covering the tables with and yogurt/rice cups and other plastic containers to put paint in.
• Whenever someone gives you something they aren't going to use the rest of, always say yes! I don't like seeing things go to waste, so why not make it into art?! You can create an art project using almost anything. I have used empty cardboard boxes from a shipment to the library and turned them into mini lockers the kids could decorate and I have also turned shoe boxes into pianos. The best part is that these are the kids favorites projects!

Supplies I Love

Other supplies I love to use:

• paper towel/toilet paper rolls
• paper plates (all sizes)
• pipe cleaners
• foam stickers
•  sequins