Question: advertising and giveaways

How many of you fellow blogging teachers have been approached to endorse a product or provide advertising for a company through a giveaway on your blog?
I am curious as to how this works. The target audience for my blog is the families of my students, but the majority of my blog visitors are art educators, so it seems like it could be a good thing to do, provided the company and/or product is relevant and appropriate for my blog focus and my audience. Of course, it would also have to be a product I was experienced with and proud to promote. That being said, I am sure that any kind of compensation may be in violation of my teaching contract with the county, as my blog is not anonymous, but it could possibly help fund classroom expenses. I certainly wouldn't want to do anything to put my career at risk, so I would investigate thoroughly with my administrators before attempting anything along these lines.
I would be most appreciative if any of you have any experience in this area - good or bad - through comments or by email.

Starry Night in dominoes...wow!!!

Will you be our Valentines, ATC style?

A little early, I know, but I'm a planner. We really enjoyed our international ATC swap last year, and I thought that we might plan our swap this year around Valentine's Day - there are SO many ways to be inspired for a Valentine's day theme, and who doesn't love getting a Valentine in the mail?
If you would like to participate in a swap with my 4th and 5th graders next year, let me know with a comment or an email to knighth@fultonschools.org.



There will be more specifics in the fall, but here's what I'm hoping for:

• I need about 10 different participating teachers who can submit 25 or 50 cards from your school - trying to keep it in sets of 25 this year, I went a little nuts last year organizing random numbers :P
•  We would like to trade with a variety of grade levels.
• We are hoping to trade with as many different states and countries as possible - would love to trade again with last year's friends!
• Cards need to be complete and in the mail by the end of January to ensure all students get one on Valentine's Day.
• If you haven't done a trade before, the cards are handmade on 2.5 x 3.5" paper, and are labeled on the back with student name, school name, age/grade, city, state, country, date and title of art.

Hope to hear from you!

a few ATC's I made for friends last year... so fun!

International sharing: Punto Y Raya festival

Guess what, 3rd graders? Our "Gees Bend paper quilts" lesson is being used as an example during the
Punto Y Raya festival  - The Festival of the Dot and the Line - in Barcelona, Spain! You can see our link in their blog right here - http://www.puntoyrayafestival.com/blog/?m=201203&lang=en.

This is an art festival for students that will take place in November of this year. It showcases art that is NONOBJECTIVE - remember that word, kids? It has to do with design using the elements of art, instead of a realistic object, person, or place.  Specifically, it highlights the beauty of the dot and the line - reminding me of our readings of The Dot and Ish by Peter H. Reynolds. Some of my very favorite art masterpieces were done in this style.
I am very excited to know that our work is understood and enjoyed by students in other countries, and I am sure that you are proud.  If you would like to make something over the summer to submit by email, you can send it to me at knighth@fultonschools.org.  The deadline is right around the first day of school, so we won't be able to do anything to submit in class - maybe next year!