Encounters with Understanding - Why Art inThe Classroom

The Crazy Little Bird - Student's work

1st Grade Students

Shapes and Colors

Encounters With Understanding

The labor of a teaching artist is quite amazing, the feeling of 

accomplishment when observing students engaged and living the experience is unforgettable and indescribable.  Those days when pupils rejoice in colors, the extravagance of imagination, and the exercise of creation within the arts, the science of making things for the pleasure of doing it and succeeding are full of un-measurable and accelerating happiness and satisfaction.

The importance and the value here is that schools and their staff are in complete awareness of the gains and the significance of these quality experiences.  Students are in need of this kind of support and understanding. Moreover, the project will bring great outcomes if everyone is part of the moment in our student’s history.

That is why is essential and imperative that the administration, as well as faculty, are educated and exposed to this very revolutionary way of teaching or better yet, the waking up of our student's slumbered minds.

When little information and a poor understanding of this art teaching method is constantly under negative criticisms and misinterpretations; the results will be compromised and possibly not much will come from the art program.

The experience is organized with a number of steps called activities; this will take students to the making of the ‘art’.  Students learn to inquire, ask questions, make connections, research and look closer, recognize of the idea, shape the making or process, understand the materials, and, feel the use of the media.

Every child will be rewarded or graded by; effort, to pursue the dream, conquer his or her fears, and the amount of joy placed into the work. The art should be displayed and a gallery will open.   Because only this can prove that they were able to inquire, ask questions, make connections, and so on.

Students will be exposed to artists, contemporary artists, and no so contemporary. They will be invited to see the world that surrounds each one of them; to appreciate it and better, to understand it.

Now, how is possible to box in this teaching experience and this student experience? You don’t.   The idea is organized carefully and without ties that may suffocate or squash the experience and with it the results.

 

Like this:

                              Selecting an artist – Focus Work of Art

1)      Inquire – They will find out...

2)      Questions – To promote thinking

3)      Research – Information (give the places, books, or webpages,     students shouldn't wander if they get lost easily)

4)      Students will:

 

a.       Notices – Identifying

b.      Experience

c.       Make Connections

d.      Identify

e.      Exhibit Empathy

f.        Question

g.       Create - Understand Implication

h.      Reflect on or Asses work experience and outcome

I was able to learn and experience the rewards of this amazing program when taking part in a workshop presented by The Lincoln Center Institutefor The Arts, and put together by Alianza Academy in 2011 at Salt Lake City; to then add my artistic experience, my teaching history and my love, all of these together makes magic happen!

                      Thank you