Our young artists here at Ann Arbor Open School will soon be be working hard to explore and challenge the breadth of their creative potential. Photos of special moments in our classroom will be shared here. While in class, learners will be encouraged to focus on developing a deeper understanding of artistic materials, the value of curious and creative exploration, how to communicate through visual means, how to translate visual language into spoken / written word, and how ART relates to EVERYTHING. Achieving artistic goals helps to facilitate the development of an internalized sense of self-confidence that is transferable into any of life's many endeavors.

Art can get messy! Please avoid wearing swan costumes, wedding dresses, and basically anything else that is white, light, brand new, and/or crazy expensive. This year our most of our K-6 kiddos have art for 45 - 50 minutes one time per week. Our first/second grade classes come twice! (7th/8th graders have the option to sign up for art as a 2-day, 3-day, or 5-day 9-week elective. I will regularly be encouraging all Ann Arbor Open students to be experimenting, practicing skills, and creating art wherever they are and wherever they go . Practicing skills outside of our limited class time builds courage and confidence faster than anything else. I encourage you to practice art together. Ask what they can teach you and share with them what you notice, know, like, remember, think, and feel.

While sharing, please be mindful in regards to how you speak about yourself and about your art.
Instead of saying "I can't draw" or "My drawing looks bad,"
  model having a "growth mindset" by saying affirmations like
"This makes me feel nervous but I will try my best,"
"If I choose to practice [drawing/coloring/painting] then my art can start to look more like I imagine it in my head,"
"It is ok that my art does not look like real life. My art has value because it is something I created," and
"I will be better at learning if I am nice to myself and practice working on my goals."

Set your kid(s) up to have a fun year by encouraging them to keep an [Ann Arbor O]pen mind 🐼ྀི🧠✨

Looking Forward to a Wonderful Year,

Deb Ennis