My school is in a very poor neighborhood. My kids are growing up in less than ideal circumstances with very little parental encouragement. When the majority of the 5-7 year old kindergarten students say, "I can't. I don't know how." before I even hand out materials, I have to dig in and remind myself that I may be the only person today to tell them that they can!
I spent my Sunday checking out many art teacher blogs and felt queazy after seeing the things others have to use to help in their instructional process as well as what they are able to get their students to do; white boards, smart boards, projectors, ipads, digital cameras, brushes that are not 80 years old, etc. I am jealous, yet impressed and know that someday I will see process and product that is as amazing as what I see from so many other teachers.
I spent much of last Friday teaching fifth graders how to hold the scissors so they can cut with some precision. What they produced is not "good" by visual standards. They should have been able to complete the project in the 90 minute period we had, yet many in the class hardly started for fear of messing up and doing it wrong. Through all the negatives I initially see, I stop and realize that the process was progressive in their development. I am content with the knowledge that the next time they may worry less about how to cut and more about what they are cutting. Here are some images of what was to be a patterned picnic rug with a camouflaged bug:
Congrats on your first blog post! Welcome to our wonderful community.
ReplyDeleteThanks
Deletebrilliant :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Emmett and congrats on the official naming tomorrow!
DeleteI know you may say that you're jealous of what others have, but I must say that I'm jealous that you get 90 minutes with your students at one time! A big class isn't always bad...sometimes I struggle with my small 12:1:1 class that comes to art. It's 8 students that come with two aides.
ReplyDeleteAdd some widgets to your blog! Add a "follow me" button and links to the other blogs you follow...it will help get your blog out there more! I started blogging about teaching art in July, welcome to blogging!
Thanks...I am working on figuring out the widgets, which ones to use and where to place them.
DeleteHi! I'm also an urban (Chicago) art teacher- would love to hear more about your experiences! I've also got 30+ per class, no sink, and students with little art experience (but I do have a white board and a smart board)!
ReplyDeleteHi Colleen, I am also in Chicago (North Lawndale). It is nice to connect with others who know/understand our situations.
DeleteOh wow I'm close to you - Austin!
DeleteHi Tracy! You have a challenging situation. I can't wait to read more about how you are reaching your students. Marcia Beckett
ReplyDeleteHi Marcia, Miss you, and I get many ideas from you at artsonia and on your blog!
DeleteAmazing work with your first blog post! You also have plenty of readers, which is obvious with your comments! I did not see where you teach, but if you're in Illinois, sign up for IAEA's sister school exchange. Many schools are giving others in need slightly used materials to help ease the burden of lack of budgets. When it comes to technology, I received a grant a few years back to get the projector and laptop. Before I had to rely on small 8 x 10 poorly printed pages to share with my students. Now, I actually use my phone to take pictures of student work. I hide it in my sweater and snap pictures of student work to upload into my own blog. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteTracy, you are important to every one of those children who walk through your door- you offer them skills, abilities and possibilities. All this digital stuff is fluff:) You meet your children where they are artistically and bring them further along. That's the gift! Congratulations on your new blog!
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