Standard G

I think that assessment in art is as important as assessment in any other subject. Assessments in art provide motivation for students to learn the content and execute what they are taught. Without grading there would be no reason for them to follow the directions or even participate in class. At my elementary school they do assessment for learning. This means that you provide examples and non examples of correct work throughout the process of the project. Students are also ask to give input into what grade they believed they earned based on the criteria given to them. I have used assessment for learning in my fourth grade lesson by providing students with examples of how the project should look and examples of what would not meet the guidelines. I also had them do a self assessment to see if they understood the concepts that were emphasized by the lesson.

Post 4, Standard K

I think that the impact of subject knowledge on the teachers ability to be successful is immense. If you do not have a background knowledge of the subject it is hard to expand on the projects you present and the questions that students ask. I think there is also a link between the interest that a teacher has in their subject material and their ability to teach. If you have a great understanding of your subject knowledge you are better able to make content interesting for students and encourage higher thinking learning.

When I begin to plan a lesson there are a variety of resources that I turn to generate ideas. I first think about my own experiences with art education. This may be when I was in elementary school or possibly even college assignments that I could translate to an elementary/high school setting. Next I look to the lessons that I observed while visiting classrooms throughout my college coursework. The teachers that I spent time working during practicum and student teacher are also excellent in providing lesson ideas. I have also found during my student teaching that all of the elementary art teachers in the district get together and share ideas about what projects their students are doing currently and have done in the past. Finally, there are a number of websites that have excellent resources for lesson planning. Some that I have used are dickblick.com, princetonol.com, kinderart.com and deepspacesparkle.com. Often times I get a basic idea from these sites and build upon it to fit the needs of my students.

Student Teaching Post #4

When creating a positive learning environment it is essentials to have rules to support the teacher’s expectations for students. The most important rule in any classroom is to treat each other with respect and listen to others, including the teacher, when they are speaking. Other rules that I think are important are that students respect classroom materials and complete their projects to their fullest capability. I plan to create a positive environment by first setting rules and routines for the students to follow. I think that establishing standards is a good way for students to become comfortable in the class and focus on the work that they are making. I also think that a positive learning environment stems from the teachers attitude towards the students and content. By modeling a positive attitude and being excited about the lesson, teachers can influence how students perform on projects. Other ways of creating a positive atmosphere is by allowing a free exchange of ideas and allowing students to listen to music while they work. All of these things build rapport with the students and cut down on the need to enforce classroom rules.

Student Teaching Post 3

When approaching planning and teaching diverse learners I first think about the strengths that the students posses. This guides me in picking lessons that I think that they can not only complete but excel at. I think that a lot of the lessons in the art room can be modified to meet the needs of diverse learners. This could mean providing modified tools or changing the standards for completion. Thus far in my student teaching experience the accommodations I have made for diverse learners is providing them extra assistance with projects. I want these students to know that they can accomplish just as much as every other student. The lessons that I create also allow for plenty student input so that variation is championed not discouraged. As I approach diverse learners in the future I will look for ways for them to actively and equally participate in class projects.