With these funds I will be able to purchase visual diaries for all of my Art students.  We will be using these sketch books everyday to record ideas and thoughts prompted by words, social issues, and works of art.  Students use their sketch books to plan, brainstorm and reflect.  Sketch books are excellent tools for personal reflection, exploration and the development of organizational skills.   

In my Art room students are taught to look within and to look at the world outside their "bubble."  I plan to spend a lot of time teaching students visual expression of ideas like gratitude, optimism, curiosity and grit, which are a few of our values we hold in high regard at KIPP.  Sketch books are an excellent way for students to approach their artwork in a meaningful and methodical manner.   In the past students have lost track of amazing sketch ideas simply because they did not have a bound sketch book or they had to use a spiral lined notebook, which simply does not have the same effect as smooth white paper.  In 2014, my students received 14 medals for excellent works of art during the Junior Visual Art Scholastic Event (JVASE)!  Luckily most students held on to their thumbnails and sketches, but others simply lost them.  If they had had a sketch book I know they would have felt even more confident and prepared for this event.  These books will become an excellent resource for students who will be preparing for various Art competitions throughout this upcoming school year.    

I will be purchasing our sketch books from Dick Blick, an excellent resource for classroom art supplies.  I would like to give each artist (150 artists) a $4.19 50 Sheet 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 Pen Sketcher's Pad so that students can use a variety of media within their sketch books.  

Here is a link to the style I intend to get our artists: http://www.dickblick.com/items/12444-1185/

Please help my students to keep an amazing record of their journey as an artist!

Back Up Plan