Happy First Day!

Hello and welcome new students and families! I am excited to begin my second year here at OMS teaching Creative Arts and Invention & Innovation. Creative Arts is near and dear to my heart because I thoroughly enjoy all art forms, and it is a class where students explore visual arts, dance, music, and theatre in relation to world culture.

I was born and raised in Maryland, graduating from TJ High School in 2011 and earning my Bachelor's in Art & Archaeology from Hood College in 2015. I will also be graduating this spring with a Master's in Curriculum Instruction from Hood College. This is my fifth year teaching; I began my career as a part-time art teacher at Frederick Classical Charter School. This is a busy and exciting year because not only am I teaching at OMS, but I also co-instruct the Oakdale High Color Guard and I will be the OMS yearbook adviser! More information will be released soon about the ability for students to join the yearbook committee.

My favorite art media is charcoal, but I also really enjoy book arts and creating my own journals! In my spare time I like to take walks in Baker Park and around my neighborhood. I really enjoy theatre and always do my best to fit in each high school musical in the spring so I can #SupportTheArts and see former students on the stage. I encourage students and families to follow me on social media because I like to post frequent snapshots of happenings in the art room. My Instagram is @msstrasserart_fcps and my Twitter is @StrasserArt_OMS. I use this blog as a weekly contact with families to write about what students are currently working on in class. I like to post pictures in the blog posts, too, and at the end of each unit, I will post a select artwork to the Virtual Art Show. Head on over to that tab to see some artwork from last year's 7th graders to get a taste of some of the projects students might be working on this year.

I am looking forward to getting to know each of you!

One Project Down!

Semester II creative arts students completed their their first project on Friday! I am updating the Virtual Art Show now to display some of their kaleidoscopes. I can't wait to decorate my classroom with their artwork when we finally return to school after all this snow and ice. On Friday students wrote an artist statement on their artwork. This was many students' first time writing an artist statement, and we're going to spend some time in the next few weeks perfecting the art of artist statements.

For our next project, students are going to learn about the Elements of Art. I've set up a digital scavenger hunt for them to complete to practice finding the different elements in artwork and photographs. After the scavenger hunt, students are going to create a choice-based artwork using dry media that displays the seven elements. I'll continue to post photos on social media of the students and their artwork. If you're not following me already, add me!

Twitter: @StrasserArt_OMS / Instagram: @MsStrasserArt_FCPS

Stay warm out there!

Welcome to Second Semester!

Welcome new students to Creative Arts! It was a pleasure getting to meet all of my new students yesterday. Due to the shortened school day, we briefly discussed what students could look forward to throughout the semester and I gave them a tour of the classroom. When we return to school, we're going to dive right in to our first project. Students will also be completing an "All About Me" activity and a creativity exercise so I can get to know a bit more about them and see them express their creativity. I will be sending home a syllabus (via email) this week to explain classroom procedures and what to expect in Creative Arts. This blog is a resource for both parents and students to use throughout the semester. The Creative Arts tab is where I post slideshows and necessary links (which are also accessible to students in Schoology). The Contests tab lists out information for art contests in the area. Stay tuned for a few additions to that page! If you would like a preview of the projects students will complete in this class, the Virtual Art Show is where I display some of the unit's best work. I also use this blog as a resource for parents to learn more about what is happening in the classroom. I am working on making sure I update the blog on a weekly basis, so check back every once in a while for a new post. I tend to post more frequently on Twitter (@StrasserArt_OMS) and Instagram (@MsStrasserArt_FCPS) throughout the week, so follow me on social media for frequent classroom updates.


Welcome to my returning Red class to Invention & Innovation! This is my first time teaching I&I and I am excited to learn more about various technologies alongside the students. This course allows students to learn about technology and invention in a hands-on experience. Each unit consists of a challenge for students to prepare for and complete, involving building and crafting. I am excited for this course because it is very much a creative outlet, just through a different platform than visual art. I will be sending home a syllabus this week for you to look over. I will also be sending home early next week a paper copy of the I&I safety pledge that needs to be signed by both the student and a parent/guardian to ensure that everyone is aware of the rules and potential hazards in this course. Class will meet daily in the art room, but some projects require us to use equipment in the technology education lab. I will occasionally posts updates on my blog of what students are working on in class, but social media is definitely going to be the better place to check for I&I updates.


Stay warm on this windy snow day!

Term II Update

Hello 5-8 Art families!

The start of Term II brings great things for all artists, especially the beginning of new projects.

5th grade artists are working on a cuneiform mini-project before heading into Ancient Greece, where artists will focus on learning about Greek gods and goddesses with an emphasis on face proportions and figure drawing.
6th grade artists are finishing up a project titled Islamic Tiles, where they created a mixed media project to simulate radially balanced Islamic artwork. Once this project is complete, students will start looking at textiles and the the influence that trading goods had on the art world. Artists will work on a dynamic weaving project for the remainder of Term II.
7th/8th grade artists just began looking at Lorenzo Ghiberti’s famous artwork Gates of Paradise and are using it as inspiration to create a metal embossed artwork of their choosing that demonstrates the use of space: foreground, middle ground, and background.

 A few reminders for the Art Room: 

• I want to bring to your attention that as every project comes to an end, I upload pictures to the Virtual Art Shows that are located on my website. These slideshows are comprised of exemplary artwork that meets all of the objectives of the project. It is a great tool for students to share their artwork with their family and friends at home since all artwork remains at school until the end of the school year. 
•  There is also a contest page on my website that students can reference to find out information about art contests around the community. We do not always have time in class to create artwork for these contests, which is why I encourage you to work with your child(ren) to make art at home to submit to these contests. They are great opportunities to get artwork shown in the community, and students could also win prizes for their school and/or themselves! I am available to assist with ideas for entries, so if your child is interested, please do not hesitate to send me an email. 
• A sketchbook is a required material for Art! It must come to class with students every time they attend Art. It may be left in the classroom, but must go home on days students have sketchbook homework. Failure to bring their sketchbook to class is failed classroom preparedness, which will result in disciplinary actions for repeat offenders. 
•  I update my Twitter and Instagram more frequently of happenings in the Art Room, including in-progress student artwork, finished artwork, and resources for students. Both you and your child(ren) can follow my accounts to get a digital look into the Art Room. 
• Toward the end of Term I I sent an email home as well as a handout about each Remind class. Please be sure to download the app and enter the class to receive reminder messages about homework - This is a great resource for those students who often forget Art homework assignments, so students are welcomed to join the class as well. 

I look forward to working with your child(ren) throughout Term II on the great art projects ahead of us!

Ms. Strasser