Welcome to Mrs. White's Class

12 September 2025

 

Welcome back families and hello to all our new families! I am very excited to be teaching STEAM for the second year. I have many new ideas and many kids have already asked if it is their turn to do the favorite projects from last year, which has been really cool to hear.  

 

For those that don’t know what STEAM stands for, it is science, technology, engineering, art, and math. In my class, we do a heavy focus on art with robotics/coding and engineering sprinkled in throughout the year. We will occasionally touch on science and math when we are doing projects but my focus is to give them access to things they don’t get to do in their everyday classroom.  

 

Because STEAM covers so many topics, we usually only complete 3-4 art projects for the whole year. The students create a portfolio at the beginning of the year and all their projects are stored in my class until the end of the year. I have found this helps with getting work home and not ending up crumpled in the bottom of a backpack or lost. Creating and maintaining a portfolio is also one of our state’s art standards. I know this can be frustrating for parents so I am trying something new.  

 

This year, I will be trying to digitize most of your students' completed art projects. After some research, I decided to go with a company called Artsonia. Some of you may have already received an email as I loaded your child’s name into our classes. I am hoping you do not get bombarded with emails from them, feel free to unsubscribe or discontinue if you would like.  

 

While Artsonia does offer opportunities to buy your child's work printed on objects- please know YOU DO NOT NEED TO SPEND A DIME!!!  My intention is just allowing you to see and store most of your child’s art digitally. Our class does receive some money back if you do end up purchasing something you like which is a nice benefit, but it is only 15-20%, so please please do not feel obligated. The original pieces will be coming home at the end of the year like always.  

 

Below is what we have been working on so far this year, continue reading if you are interested! 

 

This year kindergarten started by talking about lines and we read a book called Never Let a Unicorn Scribble, then created our first art project based on that. First grade has learned about Kandinsky and we made a mural out of concentric circles. K1 chose to do a project based on Kusama’s work and we are working on pumpkins in her style. Second grade has started an art project based on the work of Cezanne and is learning about value and space. Third grade didn’t get to do a clay project last year because we ran out of time so we chose to jump right into working with form and are learning the techniques to make a clay piece next week. Second and third grade also got to learn about M.C. Escher and created a joint mural based on his work. Fourth grade has been learning about Georgia O’Keeffe and their interpretations of her style are turning out incredible. Lastly, fifth graders have been working extremely hard learning about pixel art and finishing up their personal pieces and we are attempting to make large paper chain murals from some of them.  

 

Thank you so much for all the supplies and the support already this year! Feel free to swing by at open house! 

 

Sincerely, 

Mrs. White

 

 

 

 

12 August 2025

WOW! The school year is coming, I am so excited and have a lot of new lessons planned.  It will definitely be an adjustment to a four day but I think it will be great.  I can't wait to see returning faces and meet new ones.  Though let's be honest, remembering all the names now that you are all in new classes is going to take me just as long! We will be starting with some collaborative art projects looking into artists like Kandinsky and pixel art. Can't wait to see you all at open house in a short few weeks.