So, we are officially one month into the new year and there have been a few new changes taking place in Ms. Holloway's art room. Over the winter break, I began researching alternative methods for classroom instruction. With class sizes as large as mine (50-60 kids per period), it's often very challenging to get every single student on the same page, and even more challenging to get to KNOW every single student (and their artistic interests, strengths, and struggles) on an individual level.
A dear art- teacherin' friend of mine has been implementing CBAE (Choice Based Art Education) and TAB (Teaching to Artistic Abilities) in her art room for a while now, and I am excited to say we have been experimenting and enjoying the freedom of choice that CBAE allows for about a month now!
In a nutshell ....
All people learn in different ways.
Artists are inspired by different experiences.
That's it.
Okay, YES, I have standards to teach. YES, there is a state mandated art curriculum. YES, we must achieve a certain level of excellence since we are a top notch grade A school. BUT .... That does NOT mean that I have to instruct my classroom with cookie cutter lesson plans where each students' art work turns out looking just like the student across the room from them.
Now, I LOVE teaching lessons! I love incorporating history, and artists, and cultures from around the world into every project we create. I love weaving messages of social justice and kindness and peace and an overall 'bettering' of humanity into the education I give to my students. I do!
And if we are having real talk here folks, it ain't easy!
This quarter, I am trying on this alternative teaching style as a means of getting to better understand each student on a more personal level. Every student should feel confident that they are able to create to their fullest extent and take pride in their work. This is important to me. Middle school is a hard enough age to navigate, and the art room 'oughta be an outlet for expression and freedom for these kids. Now, if it doesn't work out, it doesn't work out. But I have to at least give it a healthy shot! :)
So, here's how it works:
We learn about the elements of art and the principles of design in DEPTH. We look at, dissect, and discuss works of art made by other artists from all walks of life and all periods of time.
I have a supply closet full of materials. (And I'm always accepting all kinds of donations, hint, hint!)
With the knowledge the students have learned about the elements and principles, what medium would they like to explore? How can they incorporate their newly digested art info into their own individual and unique creation? If I have the supplies, they can use them! BOOM! Simple as that!
No restrictions, just pure raw experimentation. It's a process for sure, and I am delving into it right alongside my students. The clean up has been the biggest hurdle thus far ... Yikes!
I'd love to hear y'all's thoughts or suggestions on this approach if you feel like sharing an opinion :)
It's not ALL fun and games though (but it mostly is!) We are still practicing daily exercises in our sketchbooks to strengthen our hand/ eye connections. One of my favorite classics (that the students usually hate, heehee!) is contour line drawings. And in this case, contour line PORTRAITS!
Using one long continuous line, the artists created a portrait with their pencil never leaving the paper. This is such a great skill to master because it seriously DOES establish a stronger bond between what the eyes see, and what the hand puts down on paper. Try it for yourself some time!