NAEA PRESENTATION

I will be attending the NAEA Baltimore Convention next week and doing my presentation on Thursday. I really enjoyed the NAEA Minneapolis convention last year and was very excited to go to SNAE workshops and awards ceremony (Special Needs Art Education). And thrilled they will provide ASL interpreters again, even though it is for a limited time.

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Theme-Based Curriculum for teaching Art to Deaf students with Multiple Disabilities

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

Silvestri will share her experiences in teaching art in a Deaf school that services K-12 students. Participants will join group discussions, sharing their experiences teaching special needs.

SESSION DESCRIPTION:

The Art Teacher at this Deaf school program is not limited to one grade level or department but teaches pre-school to 12th grade. In addition to working with Deaf students, the art teacher also engages students with special needs, and behavioral/emotional challenged students. The program not only services ASL-Fluent Deaf students, but also students with Cochlear Implants, Autism, ADHD, and Multiple Disabilities. To juggle teaching the variety of needs at three campuses, and provide meaningful learning in the art classroom, the art program uses a theme-based curriculum for the entire year, which provides spiral learning, and access for all levels. In addition to the theme, students have the opportunity to have their work displayed in several exhibits out in the community, as well as the annual campus art show. Participants will also discuss the trend of multiple disabilities in all art classrooms, and the need for expanding SNAE.

THE ART OF WEDDING DESIGN

I apologize for the longggg delay in posting for my art blog. I got engaged in September 2009 and have been focusing my creative energies in wedding planning and writing in my bride blog. Check out the website to see the creative progress at www.mywedding.com/maryjustin

Wedding planning can be a headache for many, all of those details and decisions regarding flowers, food menu choices, transportation, centerpieces, gifts, invitations, etc, etc. But for me it is like a big art project, selecting colors, ambiance, deciding what goes with what and more. At first I did think I would do more DIY (do it yourself) wedding art, but just the sheer number of guests made it unreasonable, so now I am more of a creative director to my own wedding. However, a wedding is not alllll about me, so my creativity also includes the tastes of my fiance, our families, and the venues we will use. It is more of a collaborative project.

If I was not an art teacher, I would totally enjoy being a Wedding Designer. Wedding inspiration boards are just like an artist's sketchbook and thumbnail sketches. Throw together bits and pieces to help you steer in the right direction and get that larger picture you want to portray.

Here are some examples of inspiration boards I found online (in my wedding colors!)

Current Theme Curriculum & and a new art room!

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2009/2010: India to Africa

This year we are studying and discussing visual arts, dance, theater and culture from traditional and contemporary movements. Our focus is on the art/culture of the Middle East and Africa, and also includes Tibet and India. During our recent summer 2009 session, art students had a brief introduction to color theory and Tibetian Mandalas. Just before I closed the classroom for renovations, students were working on Safari Sunsets & African Animals.

This is a watercolor of a peacock in the style of

India's Miniature Painting by a high school student of mine.

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NEW ART STUDIO

Right now, the school is planning to renovate the BARN Building (where my art classroom was), and create a new school building which will house a new library and the early childhood program. I am currently in the process of moving to a modular/temporary classroom which I will share with the LIBRARY. The room is a little bit smaller but I believe I am being smarter about the use of space, less furniture, less clutter, more space, and best of all, the room has more windows and natural light! NO more basement. I will post more soon when the art room is complete.