TEACHER RESOURCES
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On this page I share some of my favorite art lessons, philosophies, classroom procedures, and management strategies.
In 2014 I returned to JMU to complete a masters degree in art education as the program's first full time time graduate assistant. It was a time of great growth for me as a teacher and also as a student. The teaching philosophy and thesis were part of my coursework.
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My Teaching Philosophy
A lifelong participation in the arts is part of a life fully lived. Studying art provides personal fulfillment and allows students to feel connected to the world around them.
A curriculum that is solely about the art will bore the students, but by recognizing the power of images, students can address major themes that are pertinent in their contemporary culture. Studying the outside world via the art classroom will allow students to have the awareness needed to make informed choices in their lives. Visual culture can be the link that brings the art to life for students and allows them to see the relevance of art in their own lives. I like to portray the big picture and connect art in the classroom to a theme that the students feel they can relate to.
Keeping lessons based on theory will only make students suffer the consequences of never actually being able to experience art on a personal level. Art lessons should revolve around the lives of the students. One effective way I keep lessons relevant is to develop ideas that relate to another area of their study. Connecting art to core SOLs will ensure that students will connect with the art lesson.
Like science and math, art is taught because it is essential for an educated understanding of the world. There should be an emphasis on the creative and expressive facets of the human personality. I think that it is important to connect with regular classroom teachers for collaborative lessons in order to reinforce what students are learning.
Art students should not only be making art, but they should be experiencing roles of the curator, instillation designer, and publicist. Simply focusing on art making in the classroom is only allowing students to know part of the artistic venues that they are capable of. Allowing students to have a hands-on role when exhibiting their work, will give them more pride and experience. Writing about art, talking about each others’ art and designing their own exhibits are all activities that will enhance students’ overall art experiences.
There is no doubt it takes talent, dedication, and hard work to teach something as complex as art. However, with the right attitude and lively enthusiasm, teaching becomes sharing a passion rather than fulfilling state requirements.
A lifelong participation in the arts is part of a life fully lived. Studying art provides personal fulfillment and allows students to feel connected to the world around them.
A curriculum that is solely about the art will bore the students, but by recognizing the power of images, students can address major themes that are pertinent in their contemporary culture. Studying the outside world via the art classroom will allow students to have the awareness needed to make informed choices in their lives. Visual culture can be the link that brings the art to life for students and allows them to see the relevance of art in their own lives. I like to portray the big picture and connect art in the classroom to a theme that the students feel they can relate to.
Keeping lessons based on theory will only make students suffer the consequences of never actually being able to experience art on a personal level. Art lessons should revolve around the lives of the students. One effective way I keep lessons relevant is to develop ideas that relate to another area of their study. Connecting art to core SOLs will ensure that students will connect with the art lesson.
Like science and math, art is taught because it is essential for an educated understanding of the world. There should be an emphasis on the creative and expressive facets of the human personality. I think that it is important to connect with regular classroom teachers for collaborative lessons in order to reinforce what students are learning.
Art students should not only be making art, but they should be experiencing roles of the curator, instillation designer, and publicist. Simply focusing on art making in the classroom is only allowing students to know part of the artistic venues that they are capable of. Allowing students to have a hands-on role when exhibiting their work, will give them more pride and experience. Writing about art, talking about each others’ art and designing their own exhibits are all activities that will enhance students’ overall art experiences.
There is no doubt it takes talent, dedication, and hard work to teach something as complex as art. However, with the right attitude and lively enthusiasm, teaching becomes sharing a passion rather than fulfilling state requirements.
A peek into our creative classroomMy rule of thumb about creating art lessons: If I am excited about the lesson, my kids will be excited to complete the project too. I find that setting up a safe environment means students feel free to be themselves, take risks when they create art, and are open to share their lives. This creates a rich and meaningful experience in art class. Make sure you have your own artwork somewhere in your classroom. The parents, administrators, and students love to see that you are a working artist. Do your best to be a life long learner. There's always something new to learn and it keeps us on our toes as teachers. Attend meaningful professional conferences and professional development opportunities, it will keep you motivated and excited about teaching. |
One of my favorite art lessons is about animal transformations. We have a discussion about spirit animals and then each grade level completes a separate project based on our class discussions. Below I have included the presentation and some useful verbs to use in your questioning strategies.
Getting outside of the classroom: I developed the worksheet below to help design a curriculum for a gallery trip.
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see more on my personal site |
For a more extensive view of my teaching portfolio and resources I have a personal website. Click below to see more.
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