Monday, September 24, 2018
Just pushing through
I have finally had the opportunity to teach a few of the Art After School classes. I must say that I love my group of students. They are very intelligent and make for great class discussion. I was a little afraid starting out that I would not be able to create programming that works for various age groups as the students are all between the ages of six and ten, but no issues have emerged so far. Thankfully, the younger and older students seem to be able to communicate with each other well and understand the topics discussed. I am still conscious of the fact that there is such a significant age gap between the students and I try to always have an advanced activity for the older students just in case they become bored by the activity I give to the younger students.
On another note, I found that this internship has really forced me to pay attention to how I speak. I have noticed that students are more likely to answer questions in class and do the things I ask if I phrase it in a particular way. When I try to connect the class discussion to their personal experiences, they are more likely to participate. My phrasing has also been especially important when it comes to getting one of the students to do the things she is suppose to do each class like pay attention or clean up her work space. She is six and extremely opinionated for her age. Which I admit is great. It is always wonderful when she contributes because she is very well spoken and feels very strongly about things. To give an example she spent a good portion of one day convincing the entire class that unicorn foxes are not a myth, but very much real. We all had to admit that they are real. She is that determined. All that determination, however, has its down sides. She will not clean up if I just ask her. I have to phrase it in a particular way. If I want her to clean, I have to impart how much of a help to me it will be if she cleaned because she is so organized or fast at cleaning up. I feel each class is a lesson in just psychology and speaking to children for me.
Besides this constant awareness and rephrasing of what I say, the first part of class which consists of the students looking at and discussing art goes very well. My main goal each day is for the students to express their ideas and learn the importance of objects to various cultures. Since this part of class is just about discussing art, I am comfortable. In contrast, the second part of class is really difficult, because it consists of the students making art and I am very much not an artist. I have a very poor grasp about how to teach students about making things. I am an art history person through and through. Luckily, elementary art teachers post plenty of how to videos on YouTube. These have been great and I end up watching every week so I can try to explain to do things. I have probably watched too many making pinch pots with first graders for a twently-one year old graduate student, but I now know how to make a simple pinch pot. Hopefully, I improve over the course of the semester and the students can leave the next class with some nice ceramics.
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Hooray! I am so glad you love your students! Having a good group of students is the biggest determinant to success, in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI was excited to read what you wrote about language! When you take Museum Ed 2 (which focuses on teaching pedagogy) you will be able to put a theory to these issues you are writing about. Like, how you have found that you need to connect the class discussion to personal experiences... that is constructivism at work! :)
Unicorn foxes, eh?! I laughed when I read about your determined student. She's got some moxie! I definitely think that working with kids is part psychology!
Very cool - congratulations! And don't worry, feeling insecure with artmaking is really part of the process and very common for artists as well. They also watch those videos :)
ReplyDeleteI wonder though, have you received limitations or directions from the staff what processes and mediums to use? Perhaps due to budget or available supplies or something else. How do you choose what process to employ with students for their artmaking? I am wondering because I've noticed that some approaches commonly used are due to tradition, but others are perhaps due to aggressive art supplies marketing that certain vendors do and I wonder how much of what we teach is due to this kind of pressure.
(Also, just a suggestion about a medium - you may have heard of #inktober - a worldwide movement that promotes drawing for everyone and specifically suggests making a drawing a day for the month of October. There are some prompts to follow for them, or not.)
I am given considerable amount of freedom choosing which mediums to use. My boss will buy more art supplies if I ask. Although I typically try to use what is already on hand, because there is a strict budget.
DeleteI usually choose a medium or process that I feel best relates to what we discussed in class, because I treat the art making activity as a way for students to gain a better understanding of the objects we look at each day. For example, when we looked at Japanese prints in class, I had the students make prints so they could experience what the printmaking process is like.
There are safety concerns as well. If a specific art making process can lead to injuries or exposure to harsh chemicals I tend to avoid it, because these are very young kids accidents can easily happen. I also keep in mind skill level. While a middle school student can easily carve a linoleum block, a six-year-old can not comfortably. It takes some strength and the dexterity to handle a sharp metal tool, which are things that six-year-old might not have. To circumvent these issues, I have students use a material that is easier to work such as foam.
The last issue I usually consider when choosing a medium is if a student spills this on themselves can it be easily washed from their clothes, hair, and skin with water and soap. I recognize that their parents are busy do not want to spend two weeks cleaning dye from their shorts.
P.S. I have not heard of #inktober. That sounds really interesting. I do not know how I could implement it, because I only see my students once a week.