Hello! Thank you for visiting the Flint Hill Art Studio web page. We are changing the way we make art at Flint Hill. Every student is an artist and this is their studio, so of course, students should come to art to learn, experiment, and have choice in what they want to create. TAB or Teaching for Artistic Behavior (also called Choice Based Arts) is a different theory of teaching art. I have been researching this new method of teaching for 9 years. I have attended workshops, visited TAB classrooms, read articles, books, and have had many conversations with TAB teachers locally and across the United States. This method of teaching art gives choice to students and allows them to be creative. They no longer copy a teacher example or create multiples of the same art. Their ideas are valued and they are able to express themselves without needing to compare their art to others. They only need to compare their work to their own. Students who learn with TAB are motivated, engaged, confident, and excited about art. They think about making art outside of the studio. Students will have choice in subject matter and materials, but they also will be taught grade level objectives that align with district, state, and national standards.
The TAB behaviors that we work towards achieving are:
STRETCH AND EXPLORE- When you STRETCH, you are trying things that might be difficult. When you EXPLORE, you are discovering new ideas and ways of working.
ENVISION-When you ENVISION, you are picturing your ideas in your head and planning next steps in your mind as you work. What will my art be about? What materials will I use? How big? Color or black and white? How long will it take? Should I work alone or with someone?
OBSERVE- When you OBSERVE, you are taking time to learn about your environment. Artistic observations can be made using all of the 5 senses: Touch, Taste, Smell, Sight, and Sound
DEVELOP CRAFT- Improve your art skills through practice. Learn more about your art ideas. See connections between your work and others' work. Learn to organize and care for your art materials, tools, and art making space.
EXPRESS-When you EXPRESS yourself artistically, you are communicating your ideas, beliefs, and feelings through VISUAL LANGUAGE. Artistic EXPRESSION changes with your choice of: IDEAS ART MEDIA TECHNIQUES
ENGAGE AND PERSIST-When you ENGAGE, you are focused on your work. When you PERSIST, you stick with it, even if the work gets hard.
UNDERSTAND ART WORLDS-Learn about the history of art. See how artists today make their art. Envision yourself as part of the global artist community. Understand the roles of artists, galleries, and museums.