TEACHING FOR ARTISTIC BEHAVIOR
Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) is a PreK-12 learner-directed approach that meets the diverse needs of all learners through choice, agency, flexibility, and emergent curriculum. The core values of the Steele art program are based on the 3 tenants of the TAB philosophy:
In a learner-directed art room, each child determines their own artistic choice- and decision-making. While the teacher offers short demonstrations or discussions to inspire new ideas, students engage in centers, techniques, and content that is of personal interest. Engagement and enthusiasm in TAB art rooms is infectious!
Making art is just one aspect of being an artist. Developing an understanding of the studio regarding proper care of materials and tools, maintaining a clean, safe working environment, and respecting other artists within the communal space of the art room are of equal importance.
In order for a child to fully understand the role that artists play in our world, we ask the question, 'What do artists do?' Children continually postulate answers to this question throughout their art education by discovering why and how artists make art, and by reflecting on the influence and importance of the global art community.
STUDIO HABITS OF MIND
The Studio Thinking Framework was developed through the insightful research of Harvard University's Project Zero. The analyses resulted in The Studio Thinking Framework, which includes Studio Habits of Mind and Studio Structures. Both aspects are documented in the books Studio Thinking 2: The Real Benefits of Art Education (Hetland et al., 2013) and Studio Thinking from the Start (Hogan et al., 2018). The art-making experience at Steele focuses on developing these eight Studio Habits of Mind (SHoM), the eight broad thinking dispositions that artists utilize as they work in the studio.
Click here for a Studio Habits of Mind Video (resource created by Jen Ferrarri, Pedford PS) & on all the individual pictures for a more detailed video on each Studio Habit!