Choice in the Art Room
You may be hearing about some of the exciting art making that is happening in the art room as students start to take over the classroom. Both Hagan and Nassau Elementary art students create student designed works of art while developing a number of artistic behaviors and 21st century skills.
In a traditional teacher-directed art class, the teacher assigns content and media based on an explicit curriculum. When teaching with artistic behaviors, the students direct the class, select the content and media, become problem finders and problem solvers, and have full ownership of the process, direction and outcomes of the work. The teacher becomes the facilitator, providing support for research, planning, use of media, and technical skills. The curriculum is more fluid and delivered at the appropriate time and development to be used by the student when it suits the needs of the artistic process.
Each week students will participate in mini lessons about media techniques, subject matter, elements and principles of art, and art history aligned with the Spackenkill Elementary Art Curriculum, the NYS Visual Art Learning Standards, and 21st Century Skills. Lessons will be kept short to maximize studio time. Students will assume the roles of artists, exploring their own interests and passions moving from station to station within the room.
As artists, students will use a variety of studio habits. Students will use skills of observation to better understand the world around them, seek inspiration and answers to questions, experiment and explore materials and ideas, be open to new ideas, play and improvise with media, techniques and tool. Students are encouraged to collaborate with and teach others, learn to be flexible and work through mistakes, express their ideas in innovative ways, and reflect on their work and the work of others. Students will be provided with opportunities to connect to other disciplines through art making, and value the work and ideas of others.
Student work and achievement will be evaluated through observation of student process, writing, discussions and collaborations with others. The student’s body of work (portfolio) and work habits will be holistically assessed. The goal is to support intrinsically motivated learning and growth. The student’s electronic portfolio may be found on our Spackenkill Elementary Schools Gallery at www.artsonia.com.
As you view the work that will be produced in the art room, please keep in mind the developmental sequence that takes place as students begin to design and create their own works . Although the results may not reflect the importance of the learning and the artistic process, the end result is truly authentic work. Please keep in mind that the adult aesthetic and a child’s aesthetic are not the same. The work that will be coming home may look different because the end result is the vision of the student. Please visit "Questions to Ask Your Child About Their Artwork" on my web page for more tips for talking about art.
I look forward to any feedback from both you and your child. This will be an exciting year as we journey together down this path. I hope you will find that a student directed environment provides a rich authentic art experience for learners at all levels and abilities.