Technique Tuesday

I'm back, to let you know, I'm ready to dive into techniques!  After a well rested spring vacation, Easter holiday, and a planning day, the kids were eager to dive back into our illustration study.  If you are interested in reading the previous post, you can catch up with our first few samples here!

This past few weeks we took picture walks through a few remarkable books in which showed examples of two sides of a physical space.  Katie Wood Rays, author of In Pictures and In Words describes this technique as showing inside and outside or above and below.  

Here are a few book recommendations...

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Click Image to Purchase

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While exploring the books, I guided the kids to understand why the illustrator shows both sides of physical space. It's always entertaining listening to the kids answers!  As for our class illustrations, we used Sophie's Window.  The kids identified which lines were added to the illustration to give the perspective of being indoors or outdoor.  

Technique 4: Showing Two Sides of a Physical Space

For understanding Passage of Time, the observed pictures of how illustrators sequenced events over time.  A few books used during this technique were...

Click Image to Purchase

Click Image to Purchase

Click Image to Purchase

During this technique, I had the kids observe a sequence of illustrations, usually arranged from left to right or top to bottom.  The order of events fit perfectly with our seed life cycle study!  

Technique 6: Passage of Time

I'm over-the-moon with my students growth and eager to share their portfolio pages in which be began in August.  As a mid year peek, I had the kids take a glance at the beginning of the year illustrations.  We've grown leaps and bounds!

6 Phases of Teaching

I came with the intention of writing a new post entitled Technique Tuesday.  I was going to discuss in more detail a book study I'm currently hosting in school.  I hope a summary will do...

Last year Deedee Wills introduced me to Katie Wood Rays' In Pictures and In Words.  Best book!!  It's changed the way my students craft their writing and illustrations.  In combination with guided drawing once a week and a guided drawing center, students have taken the time and care needed for a strong illustration.  They share their work with pride.  

This year, a few teachers in K-2 decided to get together for professional development and read this book again.  We share our reflections and most recently began diving into the techniques. I'm a bit ahead of the game because I started day one of school.  Here are a few samples from my class...

This was a combination of techniques: Crafting with Distance Perspective (up close and in the distance) AND Crafting with Positioning Perspective (in front , back, side).

This was a combination of techniques: Crafting with Positioning Perspective (in front , back, side) AND Crafting a Background (a lot, little, hardly any).  

As you may be aware, our school theme this year is SUPERHEROES.  We started the year off with a book of the month to align with the theme entitled SuperHero ABC by Bob McLeod...

Oh.my.word, the kids were so excited when he came to our school.  Bob McLeod shared the process that took place to create his book.  If you are not familiar, you probably know his work.  He become a top inker at Marvel and DC on many series, including The Incredible Hulk, Conan the Barbarian, The Legion of Super Heroes, Detective Comics, Wonder Woman, and The New Titans, as well as penciling Star Wars and several Spider-Man fill-ins for Marvel.  Cool right?!?  

Not only did he share the process of creating illustrations, he guided the kids through a session making Charlie Brown and Snoopy. Last nine weeks the kids were invited to watch Superman for their 9 week reading reward.  This 9 weeks, they learned to draw with a "REAL" illustrator!  Doesn't get any better...

Each week I teach my students a technique.  On Fridays, we have a guided drawing sessions.  The growth in their work is astonishing!  I have a guided drawing pinterest board that I display on the white board.  Before we start drawing, we discuss the shapes recognized within the picture.  To link, click image below...

So are you interested why I titled the post 6 Phases of Teaching?  Watch the video below.  On difficult days like today, I need a little laugh...  I found this video three years ago and it always reminds me things will turn around after a summers break.  ;-)

What stage are you currently?