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My name is Melody M. Nuñez, and I’m an artist and a writer. Please look around my website and make yourself at home. I post new blog entries weekly, and hope you’ll subscribe to my blog and come back often! To learn more about me, please view the “About” page…SUBSCRIBE
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Tag Archives: art journaling class for kids
My Recent Art Journaling Classes for At-Risk Kids!
As you know, I gather art supplies, gift cards, and monetary donations in order to provide at-risk public school children with art instruction and supplies. This year’s donation drive went well, and I was thrilled to have enough supplies to teach three classrooms of students for the first time ever – this is one more classroom than last year/ever before. Woo hoo! Three cheers for all my donors!
I taught all three of my classrooms over the past two weeks, two in Ontario and one in Santa Ana, and it all went incredibly well. The kids are always SO excited to get to learn about art and to actually do it, and they take to the art and writing involved in art journaling like little baby duckies to water! They’re super excited when they each get their art supply kits, and are especially happy when they learn that they get to keep all the supplies and take them home at the end of the year. It was a thrill for me to see all the kids so excited, happy, and engrossed in the activity.
Many of these kids don’t have anything like this in their lives, which makes it that much more important to them. In fact, in one class, two girls sitting next to each other were overheard saying, “I’ve never had this many art supplies!” and “I think I might cry!” (Happy tears, mind you.) All the teachers I talked to were very thankful, too, saying they’d never be able to provide/buy the supplies they received. In addition to the three classes I teach in, at least five more teachers received boxes of assorted supplies to share with their classes.
FUN STATS
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Here are some numbers for you, so you can get an idea of what all went on, and how many supplies were passed on to schools that desperately need them:
Number of people that donated supplies, gift cards, or funds between June 2012 and December 2012: 31
Number of boxes and bags of assorted supplies that went to the two schools: 20
Number of art supply kits provided, so each child would have their own set of supplies: 125
Number of individual pieces/items in each art supply kit: 60+
Total number of 4th grade classes I taught: 3
Number of children who’ve received the gift of art via my program this year: over 85
Awesome, right? I’m so thankful that so many of you lent a hand and helped me provide for the kids. I can’t do this alone, and am so pleased so many of you got involved! :]
A truck full of supplies – and this was only some of what I was able to take out to the schools!
Here are some photos from the three classrooms I taught. I don’t show the faces of our budding artists for privacy/safety reasons, but I’m sure you’ll agree that the art speaks for itself. These images are of their very first art journal pages and journal covers.
I hope you’re as charmed by their artwork as I am! I’ll be returning to both schools before the school year ends to have art journal shows for the children, and will be sure to share photos from both events here on my blog.
If you’re interested in donating supplies to help bring art, writing and positive self-expression to children in need, please contact me. I accept donations year-round, and appreciate any supplies, gift cards or funds I can get since I have no budget, volunteer my time, and provide some of the supplies. Thank you for your consideration. :]
Warm regards,
Melody
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Posted in art, art journaling, art supplies, helping others, writing
Also tagged art journaling for at-risk kids, creativity, Pay It Forward
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My Santa Ana Art Journaling Students Made the Newspaper!
As I mentioned in a recent post, a reporter and photographer from the Orange County Register attended the Art Journal Show for my Santa Ana students. The resulting article was published last Thursday, and started on the front page of the paper – wow! I thought I’d provide the link to the online version of the article, in case you’d like to read it.
Please note that you can see more photos from the day by clicking on the More Photos button that’s located in the lower right corner of the main photo displayed at the top of the page.
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/nuez-361960-art-kids.html
I’m very thankful that reporter Theresa Walker and photographer Paul Rodriguez were able to visit Wilson Elementary on the day of the art journal show. The story and photos are wonderful!
I’m also thankful to Principal Norris Perez and teacher Stephanie Carey for welcoming me to Wilson Elementary. It was such a pleasure to work with them, and to share art journaling with the children. I’d also like to thank everyone who was interviewed for the article. Thank you for your input and support!
Have you seen the new video for the art journaling program yet? You’re welcome to take a peek – it’s got footage and photos from the Art Journal Show at Wilson, and photos from the Art Journal Show in Ontario. Big thanks to Bad Bunny Studios for producing it!
Warm regards,
Melody
Posted in art, art journaling, life in general
Also tagged newspaper article, Orange County Register, Theresa Walker
8 Comments
Art Journal Shows for My 2011-2012 Students!
I have such exciting things to share, including TWO art journal shows for my 4th grade students, a brand new program video, and an upcoming article about my art journaling program in the Orange County Register! Woo hoo!
First things first – I’m thrilled to report that my 4th grade art journaling students did an excellent job in their journals this year. It was my privilege to attend an Art Jounaling Show in Ontario on May 18th and an Art Journaling Show in Santa Ana on June 8th. The children were super enthusiastic, they created wonderful works of art, and they all thrived in the art journaling “environment”. Please take a peek at our new and improved program video here, which features both photos and video from the school year – including testimonials from participating teachers and one of the school’s principals.
This program allowed the children to develop their creativity, it enriched their academic experience and helped develop language skills, and gave them a positive form of self-expression – one I hope they’ll use in the years to come. Aside from all that, they had a blast! They were excited about working in their journals whether they were working on “free pages” or creating pages related to their school curriculum. And though they all received the same types of supplies, their individuality and distinctive thought processes were clearly visible – each child put their own unique spin on the assignments and used the materials in wonderfully creative ways.
During my recent visits to the schools I spoke to teachers and to one school principal, and I heard similar things from all of them. They confirmed that these students are receiving the benefits I’d hoped for when I taught my first classroom of children back in 2003: art journaling nurtures their creativity and gives them access to art instruction and supplies that aren’t in the schools’ budgets. It gives them a positive way to express their thoughts and feelings, and often provides insight for the school staff to better help nurture a student. It also gives students another way to be successful and to gain confidence at school, since not all students excell academically or athletically. In short, art journaling is making a significant difference in the lives of these young children. Victory!
The students and and school staff were all very enthusiastic and thankful, and I must pass a huge thanks on to all who donated, rooted me on, or both. I can’t do this without your help, and thank each and every person who lent a hand. Whether you spread the word about my Art Supply Drive by re-tweeting, sent me a Michael’s gift card, or sent a box of supplies pulled from your own stash of goodies, you helped provide a wonderful experience to over 65 public school children this school year. Thank you!
By the way, we had some special guests at our Santa Ana Art Journal Show. OC Register reporter Theresa Walker (and photographer Paul) attended the day’s festivities, and they worked diligently to gather facts and photos for an article that’s slated to run in the OC Register on June 30, 2012. Thanks to both Theresa and Paul for their time and effort, and for helping to make the day even more exciting for my Santa Ana students!
I’m already looking forward to the next school year, and hope to return to both Ontario and Santa Ana to teach. I’d love to expand to teach at least three classrooms next year (1 in Ontario, 2 in Santa Ana), and will be crossing my fingers in hopes that future donations will support at least three classrooms. I’ll be launching a new Art Supply Drive in October of this year, but do accept donations year-round, so please contact me now if you’d like to help my 2012 – 2013 students. Thank you for your consideration and support!
Warm regards,
Melody
Posted in art, art journaling, art supplies, life in general
Also tagged art journaling class, art program for at-risk kids
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“Remaining Balance” Gift Card Drive!
Hello, dear readers! As many of you know, I teach art journaling to at-risk elementary school children. I donate all my time and some of the supplies, but rely on donors to provide the bulk of the supplies for the children. Some past donors have sent checks, some have sent art supplies, some have sent gift cards – and it’s ALL been a huge help! My students are SO enthusiastic and appreciative, and I’d love to keep the program’s positive momentum going.
Today I’m launching a “Remaining Balance” Gift Card Drive!
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What’s a Remaining Balance Gift Card? You know, the gift cards that you used some of before you relegated them to the dark corners of your wallet or desk drawer. The Michaels card with a $5.78 balance. The Target gift card with a $4.65 balance. The Office Max gift card with a $2.21 balance. The Big Lots gift card with a $3.01 balance.
Instead of leaving these gift cards to loiter and/or gather dust, won’t you consider donating them? I’ll happily accept gift cards with any (positive) amount of credit on them – even cents! – because every contribution counts. One dollar can provide a child with a pair of scissors, a pack of crayons, an ink pad, or a paper punch. I’m happy to piece together loose change, dollars, and assorted donated supplies if it means getting art materials and instruction to the children that need them.
I’ll be honest: talking about money and asking others for help isn’t high up on my list of favorite thing to do, but I’m not shy when it comes to asking for the kids. They need a helping hand, and I’m glad to lend mine – I hope you’ll lend a hand, too! Here are some stores that I shop at regularly when putting the art supply packets together, but I’m definitely open to other gift cards as well:
- Michaels
- Target
- Smart & Final
- Office Max
- Office Depot
- Big Lots
- Art Supply Warehouse (in Garden Grove, CA)
Please contact me if you have a gift card you’re willing to send for the children – I’ll reply with my mailing address. And whether the card’s balance is $1.25 or $125.00, I thank you!
Warm regards,
Melody
Posted in art, art journaling, art supplies
Also tagged "Remaining Balance Gift Card Drive, gift card drive
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My 2011-2012 Art Journaling Classes for At-Risk Public School Children
Remember the Art Supply Drive I had in October? Where I gathered supplies so I could teach art journaling to at-risk public school children? Well, thanks to many wonderful people (including many of you) it was a big success! In fact, I received enough supplies that I could teach TWO classrooms of children this year, instead of just one. This is something I’d wanted to do for years, and am thrilled I was able to expand to a second school this school year. (The photo above shows just a portion of the art supplies I received!) Thank you!
Some Stats
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I taught one class of 4th graders in Ontario, CA and one class of 4th graders in Santa Ana, CA. I put together a bag full of supplies for each student, and also gave extra supplies to each classroom teacher for them to pull from and use during the school year. In addition, I was able to provide the staff each school with some new and/or gently used office supplies that were donated, including copy paper, binders, wire racks, paper clips, and pencils.
Art journaling kits provided: 90 (45 for each class)
Boxes of assorted supplies: 10
Boxes of office supplies:10
Over 60 students received the gift of art and art journaling instruction, and because the teachers received extra kits for new students that may come into their classes even more children will benefit from this program.
Each kit contained the following (and more!):
- art journal with unlined pages
- decorative & patterned paper
- card stock
- 3 fabric squares
- 1 doily
- aluminum foil
- punchinella (aka sequin waste)
- four types of joss paper
- 1 tag
- mini ink pad
- paper punch
- scissors
- 2 glue sticks
- ribbon
- crayons
- stickers
- playing cards
- glassine envelopes
- cancelled postage stamps
How The Two Classes Went
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I taught in Ontario on December 9, 2011, and in Santa Ana on January 13, 2012. My experience in each class was similar: wonderful! The kids were curious, excited, and engaged. They were intrigued by the examples of art journaling that I shared (I brought my 13 completed art journals with me), and when they received their art journal kits they were over the moon!
They oohed, aahed, and had a great time looking through the supplies in their kits. Soon they were busy creating, and they happily worked to complete the two art journal pages I assigned – a “favorite things” page, and a page of collage. Many also worked on customizing the blank, white front and back covers of their journals.
Similar Materials, Varied & Wonderful Results
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One of my favorite things about teaching, aside from nurturing the children’s creativity, self-esteem, and overall educational experience, is seeing the way each child works through the creative process. Though they all receive the same types of materials, each child has their own style and they invariably use the materials in clever ways that often surprise me.
Art journaling develops their brains and hearts in wonderful ways. They solve design problems as they execute their artistic ideas, and they develop fine motor skills as they cut, glue, draw, wrap, and punch. They don’t realize this, of course. To them it’s just fun!
Up Next? Two Art Journal Shows!
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I’ll be returning to each classroom at the end of the school year to celebrate the work the children have done with an Art Journal Show. Parents, other classes, and school administrators will be invited to come and see the art the kids have created, and I can’t wait to see their work.
THANK YOU
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The teachers, students, and administrators at both schools are so thankful for the instruction and materials, and I certainly couldn’t make this happen on my own. Thank you to all who donated supplies, gift cards, and funds, and to the three wonderful ladies who helped me assemble the art journal packets. I’d also like thank my hubby for helping me wrangle boxes, and for helping in many other ways!
I recently received thank you letters from the class I taught last month. Here are a few excerpts:
“Thank you for all the supplies. I could never afford all of that for our class. Thank you for the art journals and the art journals lesson.”
V.B.
“You helped me to express my feelings. And you helped me to cheer up crying sad times.”
T. M
“That was the best day of my life. Thank you for teaching us how to do collage and art. I loved the stuff you gave us.”
D.S.
Until Next Time…
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I’ll be sure to post about the two Art Journal Shows at the end of the school year. In the meantime I’m accepting donations on a year-round basis, so if you’re inspired to send some art supplies you aren’t using or a gift card, please contact me for my mailing address. I’ll be teaching art journaling each school year, and would love to teach two classrooms of children (or more!) again next year. Thank you for your consideration!
Warm regards,
Melody
Posted in art, art journaling, art supplies
Also tagged art journaling for kids, helping others
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I’m Very Thankful…
I’m thankful for so many things, and always strive to express my thanks. Saying thank you in person, sending thank you notes, and appreciating life’s many gifts – big and small – are ingrained in my spirit and in my being. I believe in expressing love and appreciation as you feel it, partly because there’s no guarantee for tomorrow. There’s no time better for expressing thanks than our here and now.
In that vein, I’d like to thank everyone who gave so generously and helped so much with my Art Supply Drive. The response was so good that I have enough supplies to teach two classrooms of children for the first time since I started my little grassroots art journaling project.
Approximately 80 children will receive the gift of art and positive self-expression this school year. I’m SO excited and happy – my heart is full, brimming with appreciation for all your help. Whether you sent supplies, a gift card, a check, re-tweeted my call for supplies, or simply offered moral support and encouragement, I sincerely thank you.
I’ll post about my teaching experiences after I’ve taught the two classes. In the meantime, thank you for helping me to plant seeds of creativity and kindness. I think we’d all agree that this can be a crazy and disheartening world – it’s a pleasure to be involved with something so positive and helpful, and to receive such support!
Warm regards,
Melody
Art Supply Drive: Thank You & Friendly Reminder
Happy Tuesday! I hope this blog post finds you well and happy. Today’s post is a both a thank you and a friendly reminder.
First up, THANK YOU: I’m sending out a big thanks to all those who have sent donations for my Art Supply Drive for at-risk public school children. You’ve made my heart happy, and I know the kids will be utterly thrilled, too. They get so much out of the donated supplies and the art journaling class – thank you for helping me to help them!
Next, a friendly reminder: If you’re interested in helping, but haven’t yet mailed your donation, there’s still time! Though my “deadline” for the Art Supply Drive is November 6th, I’m happy to accept donations beyond that date. There is such need that I can’t (and won’t) turn donations away, so please email me today and help give the gift of art journaling and positive self-expression to children that desperately need it.
Here’s a link to my initial call for art supplies, in case you missed the first post. It includes a bit about my art journaling program and a wish list of things I gather for the children. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
Again – thank you to all the generous souls who have already donated!
My heart is full of gratitude…
Warm regards,
Melody
Posted in art, art journaling, art supplies, life in general
Also tagged art program for at-risk kids, helping others, Pay It Forward
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Art Supply Drive! Please lend a hand…
The new school year is well under way, and I’m hoping you’ll help me make a difference in the lives of over 35 at-risk public school students by participating in my art supply drive! I’ll be teaching art journaling to these children soon, and though I donate my time and some supplies, I can’t afford to provide all they need on my own. Whether you choose to donate supplies, gift cards, or funds, all donations are both crucial and most appreciated!
Please watch this brief video to learn a bit about my program. Just over a minute long, the video was made at the end of the last school year, and features some of the artwork from last year’s students.
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Why I Do This…
My mission is to provide as many children as I can with art journaling instruction and supplies. Not only does this program nurture their creativity and provide art instruction that would otherwise be missing because of curriculum and budget constraints, art journaling also helps get the children excited about their overall educational experience.
And, perhaps most importantly, art journaling gives the children a constructive way to express themselves and process the world around them. This is particularly important for these at-risk students, who are often facing the effects of poverty, abuse, neglect, exposure to gangs and drugs, and absent parents.
I, too, faced many challenges when I was a child, including abuse and poverty, and know from experience that creative self-expression can be a lifesaver. I know that a trustworthy adult taking a special interest in you can make a big impression, and that a proverbial pat on the back can really boost one’s self-esteem. I also know that art and writing have the power to strengthen, nourish, and heal, and hope to plant a love for art journaling and creative self-expression in the lives of as many children as I can.
Wish List
Though donations aren’t yet tax-deductible, I hope you’ll help provide art journaling supplies for the children. Please consider donating in one of the following ways:
Monetary Donations in any amount
Gift Cards for Michaels, Target, Big Lots, or Office Max in any amount – even “remaining amounts”, like $4.73!
Supplies – I’d love to receive the following in quantities of 45, but will happily accept whatever you’d like to send:
Glue sticks
Children’s scissors
Crayons – Crayola packs of 8
Cardstock – any color assortments welcome (12″ x 12″ or smaller)
Patterned paper – any assortments welcome (12″ x 12″ or smaller)
Tags
Small envelopes
Paper doilies
Playing cards in different designs, shapes and colors
Mini ink pads – assorted colors
Loteria packs (Mexican Bingo)
Pencils – unsharpened
Ballpoint Pens
Stickers
Alphabet stickers
Glassine envelopes
Ribbon – at least ½” wide, please
Die cut shapes
Cancelled postage stamps
Fabric – fat quarters or other smaller pieces, please
You may also send assorted arts and craft supplies, which will be put into a “mush pot” for the classroom teacher and children to pull from!
Donation Deadline
Though I accept donations on an ongoing basis, I’d love to receive donations for this year’s class by November 6, 2011. This will allow me enough time to shop for the remaining items I need and assemble the packs for the students before heading into the classroom.
Please contact me through this site’s contact page if you would like to donate and/or have any questions. Thank you for your consideration!
Warm regards,
Melody
Posted in art, art journaling, art supplies, writing
Also tagged art journaling class, helping others
7 Comments
Art Journal Show for my 2010-2011 Students!
As many of you know, I volunteer-teach art journaling to at-risk elementary school children. And though I’m not a non-profit (yet) and the project is grassroots and on a smaller scale, it makes a big difference in the lives of my students. There is absolutely no money for art supplies (the class didn’t even have scissors to use before my first visit to the classroom) so this supplemental program made a huge difference in the educational and artistic experience of over 32 children.
A Brief Overview
I gather donations and supplies in the fall, and provide each student with a blank journal and a packet of art supplies when I first visit the class. I teach the children art journaling in the early part of their school year, and then return to the class during the last month of school for an art journal show – to see what they’ve created and to celebrate their artistic accomplishments.
A FANTASTIC Art Journal Show!
As with past years, this year’s art journal show was a huge success. The kids were so proud and excited to share, and they’d all done wonderful work in their journals! Parents, other classes, teachers, and school administrators attended the show, and at the end of the day I awarded each student a Certificate of Achievement for their participation in the art journaling program.
I’m including some photos from our May 13th art show in this post, but never share photos that show the children’s faces for their privacy and safety, so please imagine a class full of happy and excited 10 and 11 year-olds!
THANK YOU!
I’d like to send out an enormous thanks to all those who donated supplies and funds for this year’s class. I thank you, the classroom teacher I worked with thanks you, and the children thank you. In fact, I heard dozens and dozens of thank you’s from the children – both in person and in thank you letters. Here are a few excerpts from letters I received from my students:
“Thank you for donating the art journal. I think it is lots of fun. I can spill my feelings into it. I like all the art supplies. I like the art journal because I can be creative and passionate.”
Kianha R.
“Can you tell every person who donated thank you?”
Alyssa M.
“Thanks for showing us how to do real art! I thought art was only drawing but you showed us all another type of art. I have never thought a book can help that much.”
Bryan B.
“I enjoyed the art experience and the art journals and I would like to thank the people that made it happen.”
Kia G.
“I will do art journaling for the rest of my life.”
Trayvon D.
Why I Do This…
My mission is to provide as many children as I can with art journaling instruction and supplies. Not only does this program nurture their creativity and provide art instruction that would otherwise be missing because of curriculum and budget constraints, art journaling also helps get the children excited about their overall educational experience.
And, perhaps most importantly, art journaling gives the children a constructive way to express themselves and process the world around them. This is particularly important to at-risk students, who are often facing the effects of poverty, abuse, neglect, exposure to gangs and drugs, and absent parents.
I, too, faced many challenges when I was a child, including poverty and abuse, and know from experience that creative self-expression can be a lifesaver. I know that a trustworthy adult taking a special interest in you can make a big impression, and that a proverbial pat on the back can really boost one’s self-esteem. I know that art and writing have the power to strengthen, nourish, and heal, and hope to plant a love for art journaling and creative self-expression in the lives of as many children as I can.
What’s Next?
I’m already planning my 2011-2012 class, and would love to expand my program to teach two classrooms full of students: one at my existing school in San Bernardino County, and one closer to home – preferably in Santa Ana, CA. If you’d like to help these at-risk elementary students, please consider donating funds, gift cards, or supplies. Gift cards to places like Michaels, Office Max, and Target are most helpful.
You may also donate physical supplies in quantities of 45 (like scissors, glue sticks, 8-color packs of crayons, etc.) or items from your art supply stash that can go into a “mush pot”. Please email me via this website’s contact page if you have questions and/or would like to donate. Even a $5 donation makes a big difference in the lives of these children, and I thank you for your consideration.
In closing, I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the artistic accomplishments of this year’s students. They did great work, and everyone gets an “A” for effort and enthusiasm!
Warm regards,
Melody
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Posted in art, art journaling, art supplies, crafts, inspiration, life in general
Also tagged art journaling class, art program for at-risk kids, helping others, volunteering with children
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