TAB Classroom Tools and Systems
The Artistic Cycle
The purpose of the artistic cycle is to keep students on a task. Students could work through the cycle independently or ask if they were ready to move on.
The Artistic Cycle: Idea
The first step in the artistic cycle is idea. Idea is when students come up with a new idea. Many times I asked the student to look around the room or think of something they like to come up with a new idea. Students would use the tool books to store ideas and make thumbnails.
The Artistic Cycle: Draft
The second step in the artistic cycle is draft. The picture is of the students' tool books. This step includes all practice and planning needed to begin a new artwork.
The Artistic Cycle: Final
The third step in the artistic cycle is Final. This step includes any material the students made artworks with including clay, drawing, painting, construction, and collage.
The Artistic Cycle: Reflect
The final step in the artistic cycle is reflect. Students 3rd,4th,and 5th all used technology to submit a google form to the teacher. The form included prompts like: "Describe your work. Describe how you made the work. What was the big idea? What are your goals for your work? Overall Thoughts?" The younger grades would verbally do this with a teacher. I asked 5 questions to every student for this. "What is it? Are there any people? Where is this scene? How did you make it? Why did you make it?"
Class Health Points
I adapted an idea from a peer about using HP or health points in a classroom (Jones 2018). It was used to reward good behaviors like proper set up, productive work time, good clean up, respecting each other in the share square. These actions “healed” the class and additional hearts were drawn.
Set Up System
The set up system was get a clip, take it to a table, check the basket, and get your tool book. The system ensured each student would have something they were working on in front of them at all times.
Visual Supports
All of the artistic cycle, set up system and these materials used visual supports to help ELLs. These materials indicated what centers were open to students to use.
Number Clip Flip Chart
Each child is assigned a class number and clip. This aids in line up, clean up, random calling out, and seating.
Vinyl Floor Number Stickers
Aids in line up.
Seating Chart Spectrum
A common consequence for improper set up or disruptions was seating charts. This spectrum helped the teacher keep track of whether the class had been warned or if thestudents were still independently seating.
Anchor Charts
Most lessons had these anchor charts. They were utilized by the teacher to keep track of where the lesson went. Many charts used visual supports to clue in the students to what the lesson was about.
Work Baskets
Students would check these baskets for their in progress work. There was one basket for each class. Students were required to put their name and class code on each work in the basket.
Tool Books
Tool books are an essential part of a TAB classroom and the artistic cycle. They include any sketches or notes the student may have from class time. Many of the pages are made by the teacher to be filled out by the students like worksheets.
Displays of Student work
Student work is displayed in the hallway. This particular display was community art. Shapes were cut out and decorated by multiple students.
Digital Student Work
Artsonia is a website that allows teachers to put whole classes work up on the internet and allows parents to buy products with thier students' work on it.
https://www.artsonia.com/museum/gallery.asp?school=85465