My philosophy of teaching Art is project based, to include differentiation through oral, verbal, visual, and hands on (tactile) learning. I believe in a building block and collaboration approach. As an Art teacher I am passionate about teaching my students to create with different mediums.
My Classroom Vision
There will be examples of projects hung in the classroom such as: paintings, ceramics, printmaking, oil pastels, pointillism, zentangle, storybook art, op art, 3-D, sharpie, pencil, colored pencil, highlighter, and holiday art etc. These will rotate and morph into other interesting, engaging, and inspiring projects as they are discovered and created.
My classroom will include a written component when appropriate. I also believe that a student can write well if they can read well. Which is visual, and why I will incorporate the illustration of books in reading and read-a-loud sessions.
I run a neat classroom so all the supplies for projects will be neatly organized. Students will help with cleanup and organization (which are good skills to learn). The tables and desks in my classroom will be washed at the end of each day and in between classes if necessary
I will have a large whiteboard, a large TV/monitor, and a large bulletin board in my classroom to teach and display with. I will show youtube videos to introduce Artists and their mediums. These Artists will link to the project of the week/month.
There will be Music in my classroom (on days that it is appropriate). Soft music, topic-based music, fun Friday music and music designed with creation in mind. For instance, we will learn about the famous Artist Wassily Kandinsky and how he was fascinated by music’s emotional power and how he used music as an inspirational tool. This website explains music’s influence on Art and Design. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141027113421-77923162-music-s-influence-on-design
It is possible that I may use a platform like https://www.artsonia.com/ or develop a similar class platform that shares the students work for parents and loved ones to view. Students will use their iPads to take a picture of their Art after each piece is completed (K-2 iPad pictures are taken by the teacher). Then they will add their photo to their “artsonia file”, “iPad Art file” or “iportfolio” (as a class we will decide on what to call the file). Artsonia includes a giftshop that takes orders from family and loved ones. These giftshop orders start with a selected piece of the student’s artwork. Loved ones may choose to buy their child’s Art on a: t-shirt, mug, coaster, jewelry, magnet, notecard, quilt block, keychain, ornament, tote bag, bookmark, post card, luggage tag, ceramic tile, mask, keepsake tin, etc. Using Artsonia.com is also a way for an Art classroom to make money for their class supplies, as 20% of each sale goes back to the classroom.
I will either assess each student’s artwork (Check Tech) through the technology of the iPad digital art folder or in person (depending on the project). Art is not graded the same way as academics. There is not just one answer. It is subjective. Components (elements to meet) will be outlined for each project.
We will have a large world map displayed on a wall that we will pin a small printed picture & bio of each artist to. These will be pinned in the area of the country where the Artist was born or lives.
There will be a carpeted area in my classroom. This is where instruction, reading books, Artist introductions, or read-a loud stories will happen before we start Art projects. I will use “Carpet Spots” (color paper sticker circles or stars) to streamline seating for elementary students.
Projects may stem from science, social studies, Art, or writing and will connect with a book or video that pertains to the subject.
Carpet time in my classroom will be an area to provide a forum for education, history, culture, science, psychology (feelings) and critical thinking that nourish artistic creation. I will incorporate reading, writing, and technology into my classroom. Below are three examples:
Elementary-A Science and Writing Collaboration:
Monarch Butterflies By: Gail Gibbons
The Monarch Butterflies book contributes to a science and writing collaboration lesson. By collaborating with the homeroom teacher, the Art project part of the unit will be completed during Art class, as well as a small writing piece to go with it.
Middle School/High School- An Art History and Writing Collaboration:
Virtual Gallery Walk & Essay:
Another example of technology in my classroom (that will also incorporate a writing component) is a virtual gallery walk, such as this lesson in a presentation I put together:
There will be a written essay component after the student visits each of six virtual galleries from around the world. Students choose their favorite Art Gallery to write their essay about.
K-12- An Art and Writing Collaboration (with differentiation):
Color Poems:
This website shows how to create a “color poem”, including examples. I would add an art lesson as a component to this. K-3 students will draw and color items that are mentioned in their poem. 4th-12th grade students will use the computer lab to cut and paste objects that pertain to items or feelings mentioned in their color poems. Grades 4-12 have the option to draw or use computer designs for the art in the background of their poems. This project is a collaboration with the computer lab teacher.
Instruction Method:
My instruction method is visual and tactile (mostly), but also some verbal instruction and kinesthetic movement. I am a very hands-on with mediums art teacher. The more the students can use mediums with color, and objects with shapes the better. I want students to be seeing, touching, and feeling what they are creating. Technology adds visual content to the art classroom. There will be times when I use slideshows, youtube read-a-louds, museum tours, Ipads, and videos to introduce artists and mediums.
MISSION STATEMENT
In Art class, my mission is to foster artistic creation through observation, curiosity, technology, visual and tactile learning, and artistic growth. To open up student’s worlds to the beauty and creativity of art making that leads them to find joy and confidence in their art work. To instill an admiration of many different art forms and styles (as well as the history of Art) in a respectful, responsible, safe and kind setting, enriching the lives of all our students.
