Ideas/ translations for the classroom

My two translations from this class that I feel I can use in my classroom:

1. Everything Book-

I was amazed how much I filled up in this book in such a short time. I never thought of my sketchbook to do EVERYTHING in. I always just did sketches or a few notes here and there for ideas. In my classroom I require my kids to get a sketchbook. Sadly, only about half of my students get one. I would have the other kids make one if I had enough supplies to make them. Anyways, I make my students do project sketches , bell work, notes, and their own art in their sketchbooks. Sadly, none ever fill any pages or turn it in. They simply have 10 pages filled up by the end of the semester and thats it. Most of the time because they don't even do the things I require in it. I teach at a very "hard" school. My students are mostly 85% Hispanic and about 60% have limited English vocabulary. I feel this is not the issue though. I feel it is many come into art thinking it will be easy and that too, they have been brought up in bad homes and have no respect for their teachers or education. It really makes me angry alot but I am fighting to get these kids to change their ways. I think possibly doing the Everything book could do that. It can give them a sense of Achievement by knowing at the end of the semester they can see they filled an entire sketchbook and have something to show for it along with the projects they do. I want them to realize that this book too doesn't have to be the PERFECT book. It is an exploration book. I want them to know its ok to be messy, mess up , and try new things, and thats what this book is for. I also will tell them to decorate the front of it too. Last year, I had many students do this on their own when I didn't even tell them too. They ended up liking acrylic paint ( my beginning level kids) and went all out on their cover and changed the surface. I feel that they will like to personalize this book to take ownership of it too.

2. Blindfold drawings-

I really thought this was a fun activity and really helped me as an artist not by being blindfolded, but by guided someone who is in a drawing. I feel this would be a good icebreaker for the beginning of the year and to get kids to know each other and to see that we are all equal when our site is taken away. We all aren't PERFECT. IT will teach them too how to break a drawing apart in order to tell the person how to draw it who is blindfolded. I feel this could help them when we start doing pieces with alot of information in it. Instead of being so overwhelmed, they can break it down into pieces. Last, I think the kids will get a good laugh at each other when they see what each other has drawn.