FHS learning environment

Below are images documenting the classroom environment I created at Freeport High School. FHS has a dress code, the students were diverse, and my classroom was a generous space built in the newer wing of the school. Students often chose where they sat, they could listen to music on earbuds during studio time, and behavior was usually only ever a problem in the occasional freshmen Design 1 class.

This student had an IEP for his learning disability and was usually accompanied by a paraprofessional. Later on he was in my class without assistance and got along splendidly with the other students. I made sure to differentiate lessons when he needed it, which was rarely if ever. He is seen here working on a quick worksheet I had modified for him illustrating the examples I used in the lecture next to each concept he needed to demonstrate before beginning his color theory project. This is a simple adjustment that other students actually enjoyed so I started to use it with students who did not need the extra help but appreciated the examples illustrating each concept.

This is early in a portrait drawing unit so students are working on the proportions of the face. They are seated, quiet, and working. The student looking at me, and the student sitting next to him are ribbing me. Taking a picture is hard, high school students are okay with it but I had students that I developed a more jovial relationship with, and this was always a good thing. I got to know them and in turn I got to know their work and decision making process better.

This is the classroom devoid of students. Lots of visual aids. Everything is organized and clean. Students are responsible for maintaining this environment.

All of my drawers are numbered to allow for ease of access and use by students. If a student asked where a supply was I just said a number and they went straight there. Supplies were also easier to return to marked drawers.

Each class had individual space to put their work. Drying racks were easy to see and access, and handing in work was also straight forward. Very few students, "lost" work because it remained in the classroom and somewhere in the vicinity of the room.

Every assignment was posted at the front of class, along with the criteria for a successful completion of the prompt, examples of the work, and professional artists' examples. These lessons were also available online.

This is a supply drawer for drawing, students were often responsible for maintaining these drawers, but I have since abandoned that practice in favor of simply doing it myself to get things going faster. Some of the shelves were made by a student aid that assisted with my class prep.

The supply closet is very organized for efficiency and ease of use, the most commonly used supplies are front and center. This also allowed us to know what to purchase and stock up on. We usually had budget left over for larger investments in more permanent equipment, projectors, scanners, and digital cameras.

The classroom is clearly marked along with each class that takes place there. This was also a place to advertise extra curricular happenings, sporting events, and other activities.

We tried to rotate out the display cabinets once we had good work to show.

Empty Bowls is a charity event where artists make ceramic bowls that the public purchases, they have a small and humble soup meal, and the proceeds are donated to food banks or homeless shelters in the area. Chalkwalk was more a fun end of the year art event. Students created design which were pre-approved by myself and the co-teacher, they usually centered on a theme. And for a whole day students would draw chalk murals on the sidewalk. It got the students out in the community, making art, and it got them to think large scale and be ambitious with their imagery. A very successful event each year. Both of these events were used as incentive for the students to take their work seriously, participation was only awarded to those in good standing with the program, good grades, decent work, and no behavior issues.