Taking a Stand by Dominic

Taking a Stand by Alejandro

g

Taking a Stand by Sergio

Prezi coming soon!

Taking a Stand by Harout

Taking a Stand by Elizabeth

Taking a Stand by Nataly

Taking a Stand by Bryan

Taking a Stand by Seven

Prezi coming soon!

Taking a Stand by Victoria

Taking a Stand for Animal Abuse on Prezi

Taking a Stand by Michelle

Taking A Stand on Prezi

Taking a Stand by Melissa

Taking a Stand by Paris

Taking a Stand by Angel

Taking a Stand by Matthew

Pandas have a situation in their nation. on Prezi

Taking a Stand by Tyannie

Prezi coming soon!

Taking a Stand by Riley

Taking a Stand by Imelda

Taking a Stand by Jesse

Taking a Stand by Ariadna

Taking a Stand by Kayla

Taking a Stand by Dominique

Taking a Stand by Kathy

Taking a Stand by Frida

Taking a Stand by Ashley

Prezi coming soon!

Taking a Stand by Brian

Taking a Stand by Chelsea

Prezi coming soon!

Taking a Stand by Aaron

Taking a Stand by Karen

Taking a Stand Littering on Prezi

Taking a Stand by Citlali

Hungry Children on Prezi

Taking a Stand by Trinity

Prezi coming soon!

Taking a Stand by Nicolas A.

Project-Based Learning Video: Melrose Math/ Science/ Technology Magnet

Check out this fabulously directed and produced video by Caren McCaleb featuring some of my colleagues and me from Melrose Elementary Math/ Science/ Technology Magnet.

Thank you for watching!

P.S. Students from the 2010-2011 school year, you are in it!!!

 
Melrose Elementary - Project Based Learning from Melrose Elementary on Vimeo.

I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.  ~Pablo Picasso

Back-to-School Night Prezi Presentation

Here is my Back-to-School Night Prezi Presentation. Learn more about the goings-on of Room 28!

 

A New Year...

Welcome to the Melrose Stars of Room 28 Presents blog! We will be adding new work from our first project, Taking a Stand, in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

If you want to keep up with the class of 2012, please visit golabuenaga.wordpress.com. All of the most recent updates, for now, will be there.

Look forward to sharing the work!

Reflections on My First Exhibition Night

As a fan, at least for a time, of The Apprentice, I always marveled at how people, who had no idea what they doing, could pull together an event [insert event title here]. I marveled, I suppose, because I thought of the stress that would threaten to overwhelm my racing mind in that situation. Because no one likes to fail, including me.

When I first began watching, I always felt like the answers were so obvious. "Of course, you should know how to spell Liza Minnelli's name. And yes, you SHOULD have checked!" "How could he think that those cheap golf sets would appease the ultra-rich attending the golf tournament/ charity event?" Then, along came my very own season finale "charity event".

June 3rd, 2011 was my first exhibition, entitled, Who Am I? Exploring Identity Through Art.The driving questions for my project were:

• What is a museum?
• How can art tell a story?
• How does art define the artist?
• How is art a reflection of the artist?
• How does art bring people together?

On some level, how ambitious it seems to have had so many questions when one was so much to ponder. Perhaps this was my first learning lesson. Allow all the questions stirring in my mind to filter into one or two so that my outcomes can be more knowable for both students and myself. If I were to revise that list, my question would be this: How does art define the artist and what role does, or should, a museum play in facilitating this process?

Questions aside, this exhibition night was perhaps the best on the job training I have ever had. We wrote business letters inviting local community members. We invited superintendents. We planned art talks and food sales and art-making sessions led by student artists. We became docents and curators and artists. All for and because of this night.

First take away of the night: your students will amaze you. There is something unique and intangible that happens to students when they have the authentic audience that project-based learning requires. I watched some of my most struggling and painfully shy students become the most well-spoken docents I have ever seen. They wanted to show the work we had done. They wanted to lead. This came as a beautiful gift to them and to me.

Second big take away of the night: it all cannot be micromanaged. There were technical difficulties, scheduling conflicts, no-shows, and art falling. I learned quickly that deep breaths matter. Allowing the students to take control as much as possible also was helpful in allowing me to greet guests, put out fires, and enjoy moments of the evening that I could. Without question, it allowed them to better experience the night, too.

Third: parents will be supportive. Though the initial response left me worried, I was humbled and blown away by the support that arrived unexpectedly. The event could not have been the success that it was without them. Parent support from outside of classroom was also a sight to be seen. Parents of all grades came out to support our event, and shared how much they valued the evening and the work of my students. They want this kind of learning for their students and we should not be afraid to provide them with these kinds of experiences.

Fourth take away: have an exhibition night sooner. With the way my students blossomed during the event, I can't help but think of the impact it would have had on confidence, morale, and classroom performance. Next year will be different. Though... two a year is a good number to start with me thinks!

Fifth: TAKE PHOTOS! Can't believe that I forgot to assign someone to just capture this event. It would have made the memories that much more precious.

Finally, I learned that exhibition nights are as much a celebration of the work as they are a sharing of the work. The imperfections did not matter anymore. The struggles to plan and prepare were over. It was time to come together around a school and a group of proud learners.

So, this returns me to the driving question. Well, the revised one at least. How does art define the artist and what role does, or should, a museum play in facilitating this process? Art allows the artist to become his or her expressive self, the self that lies beneath the surface shaded by responsibility, obligation, and societal norms. Art allows the artist to become the person they wish to be: brave, confident, open, proud. As for museums? Well, their role is provide the forum in which artists can share this definition, or redefinition, of self, organizing the art in such a way as to draw out the greatest response from the audience. This is the conclusion I came to after watching the beautiful work of the students of Room 28.

Thank you, Room 28! You made me so proud!

There is much to celebrate that is going on in classrooms. Stay tuned to what we do next!

Art Exhibition Found Faces Slideshow

First, thank you to all of your who attended our first ever exhibition night.

"Who Am I? Exploring Identity Through Art" was a complete success! Mrs. Wynne-Davis' class put together a stunning art installation called the Tree of Life. The students of Dr. Olabuenaga's curated their own gallery with David Hockney-inspired art, created by them.

Another successful piece of the exhibition was the student-led art lessons. The 5th grade students designed and planned two separate lessons: Found Faces and Hockney Art. Students, parents, and guests came and made art akin to the work of the very artists in the show.

Below is the slideshow of the Found Faces made at the exhibition. Check it out to see if your art is there!

IT'S OFFICiAL: ART EXHIBITION FRIDAY, JUNE 3RD, 2011

We look forward to your attendance. Please feel free to email this link or download the flyer to spread the word about our special night!!!

Gallery poster sample

View more documents from Gina Olabuenaga.

Hockney-Inspired Practice Art

We have begun our work for our gallery exhibition entitled, "Who Am I? Exploring Identity Through Art".

Room 28 is using David Hockney for inspiration. Take a look at his work, then view our gallery slideshow to see us practice & prepare for our own Hockney-inspired gallery pieces!

Found Faces Art

This is the first piece we created for our art project, "Who Am I? Exploring Identity Through Art". We are calling this "Found Faces". To create this art, we arranged common, everyday objects into faces, practicing our Habit of Mind, flexibility, and training our artist's eye.

Below is a slideshow of our "faces". Enjoy using your artist's eye!

Who Am I? Art Project Keynote Sample

Students, here the is the sample I was referring to in class. This is in no way the final product, but it is the start of what will become your digital art portfolio to share here on our classroom blog.

Happy Arting!!!

Art Keynote Sample

View more presentations from Gina Olabuenaga.

Echo Poem by Mohammad

POEM COMING SOON!!!

A Dream by Mohammad & Monica Hinson from GiOlabee on Vimeo.

Echo Poem by Dima

POEM COMING SOON!!!

A Dream by Dima & Monica Hinson from GiOlabee on Vimeo.

Echo Poem by Viktoria

A dream

A dream is something 


That’s completely you 



Even if its out of the blue

A dream is something 


For you to do 



All day and right a coo ca roo

A dream is something 


To try and strive for 



A dream is something to dive for

A dream is something 


That could be more 



If you want it evermore

A dream is something 


You can do anytime 



anywhere

A dream is something 


That doesn’t have to rhyme

A dream is just like a dime





A dream is something 


That comes from above

And below





A dream is something 


About peace, hope or even love

Or above





A dream is something 


That you don’t have to share 


If you dare




A dream is something 


That you can tell anywhere

anytime





A dream is something 


That is totally true 



… but only if you want it to 



By Monica Hinson & Viktoria

VIDEO COMING SOON!!!

Echo Poem by Daniella

A dream

A dream is something

that is completely you

Just like doves on a warm summer morning

A dream is something

for you to do

And this dream you will always be able to do

A dream is something

to try to strive for

And this dream I will always strive for

A dream is something

you can do anytime

And even anywhere

A dream is something

that dose not have to rhyme

But this dream will always rhyme

A dream is something

that comes from above

Just like flowers with all that love

A dream is something

about peace, hope, or even love

And this dream has all of the above

A dream is something

you don’t have to share

But this dream is shared everywhere

A dream is something

that is totally true

And this dream will show you how to describe true

But only if you want it to…

By: Monica Hinson & Daniella B.

A Dream by Daniella & Monica Hinson from GiOlabee on Vimeo.

Echo Poem by Andrea

A dream

A dream is something 


That’s completely you 



I am who I am

A dream is something 


For you to do 



Big or small it helps me do

A dream is something 


To try and strive for

It helps me go for a goal 



A dream is something 


That could be more

A dream 

 could be a feeling

A dream is something 


You can do anytime 



A dream could do this it can do that

A dream is something 


That doesn’t have to rhyme

A dream could be sad it could do what ever it wants

A dream is something 


That comes from above

Just like the angels that come from above





A dream is something 


About peace, hope or even love

My dreams are hope or some times crushed

A dream is some thing

That you don’t have to share

A dream is some thing 
and some time keep it to yourself




A dream is something 


That you can tell anywhere

A dream wont mind if any one tells





A dream is something 


That is totally true 



A dream is some thing that tells you the true’s

…but only if you want it to 



By Monica Hinson and Andrea G.

A Dream by Andrea & Monica Hinson from GiOlabee on Vimeo.

Echo Poem by Angela F.

A dream

A dream is something 


That’s completely you 


It starts off as a sky

Oh so blue

A dream is something 


For you to do 



Do anything you want

For it’s only made for you

A dream is something 


To try and strive for 



Every day you’re waiting for another

Great dream to come your way

A dream is something 


That could be more 



Be carful because it can

Quickly get away

A dream is something 


You can do anytime 



A dream has no limits

For it’s only mine

A dream is something 


That doesn’t have to rhyme





It doesn’t take minutes

It takes time

A dream is something 


That comes from above




It’s very delicate

Just like a dove

A dream is something 


About peace, hope or even love

It doesn’t come from the left or right

It comes from above





A dream is something 


That you don’t have to share 





A dream is something caring

A dream is something 


That you can tell anywhere

In it

You might even be sharing 



A dream is something 


That is totally true 



So next time you go to sleep

Think DEEP, DEEP, DEEP

…but only if you want it to 



By Monica Hinson /Angela .F

A Dream by Angela F. & Monica Hinson from GiOlabee on Vimeo.