Teaching for Artistic Behavior
What is TAB? (Teaching for Artistic Behavior)
The idea is simple: Students are artists and the classroom is their studio. Children are offered real choices for responding to their own ideas and interests through the making of art. When given the chance to explore their own ideas, passions and interests, children often find greater meaning and relevance in their work.
How is TAB different?
In many typical art rooms, it is the teacher who develops an idea, choosing both materials and subject matter. The student follows step-by-step instructions to complete the “project”. This leaves very little room for independence, creative thinking, problem solving and exploring. As a result, students may become bored, frustrated, or even develop a lack of confidence in their own abilities, believing that they are “just no good at art”!
In a TAB Studio, there is no prescribed “project”. Instead, the teacher offers guidance, suggestions, resources and demonstrations for supplies, tools and techniques. The students are regarded as artists and are free to make their own choices concerning subject matter and materials. Independence and responsibility are encouraged, and students are taught and expected to : Set up their own work space; Explore, experiment and create original works based on their own ideas and interests; Take care of the space and supplies available to them.
The TAB studio is arranged into carefully organized “Centers” to promote student responsibility, self-reliance and creative experiences. These Centers are divided by subject matter and are opened one at a time throughout the year. Basic, age-appropriate supplies and techniques are introduced first. Over time, as students’ abilities, confidence and independence grow, new techniques are demonstrated and more complex materials may become available for students to discover.