In the Art Studio

The Art Studio at Gates is an exciting place! The core values of the Gates art program are based on Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB):

The child is an artist.

The classroom is the child's art studio.

What do artists do?

The Gates art studio is a place where artists work. I teach students how to be artists through practice of the 8 Studio Habits of Mind: Develop Craft, Stretch & Explore, Observe, Envision, Express, Engage & Persist, Reflect, & Understand Art Worlds.

Students explore of a variety of studio art centers (drawing, painting, collage, 3D construction, fiber, printmaking, etc) through skill building activities that deepen their understanding of materials, techniques, and concepts. Students also plan and work on individualized art-making at chosen studio centers on self-identified ideas that peak their interest. I function as a facilitator, mentor, instructor, and motivator depending on the observed need, circumstance, and interest of the students.

Students in grades K-6 have a choice based visual art class for 45 minutes per week. In addition, students have art class another time per week for a third of the year. In this class students work in a variety of 2D and 3D media in thematic units that are more teacher directed, but still offer lots of choice and focus on the developing the Studio Habits of Mind.