Art Integration in My Classroom
I am committed to weaving the arts and standard curricula together to create a richer and more lasting learning experience for my students.
Why Art is a huge part of my classroom Art = Drawing with a pencil ..... Right?
Wrong! Art is not just drawing... This is how I start my year. Art is critical thinking, problem solving, creative outlet, collaboration, effort displaying, etc. I can continue this list, but it is evident that Fine Arts are in heartbeat of my classroom. I love Art in all its shapes and forms. I see art in everything my students do and everything they can potentially do. I think that some aspect of art can be integrated in any subject. We focus on how that may look in our projects, presentations, etc. The fear of ART !!My very first teaching assignment was Junior High and High school Art at St. Mary's Sexsmith. I was happy, I was nervous but most of all I was so excited to have the opportunity to share my passion for Art. I didn't know what to expect, I thought that was my favourite subject in school, surely everyone likes art. I was wrong. The first thing I heard was, " Hmm I can't draw" or " I can only draw stick figures". I was hit with A LOT of negative mindset around Art. I made it my goal to change that. I started with exposing them to all sorts of art from Warhol, Pollock to Picasso, Van Gogh, Lichtenstein, Botticelli, Monet etc. I emphasized that art is in everything and anything can be art.
I remember discussing the works of Mark Rothko and my students kept saying - Thats not art, I can do that! This is when I realized that they were afraid to create. They were afraid because they thought they can't, that what they create is "ugly". The process of changing their mindsets started. After a year, I felt that I was able to influence some students... not all but some. The following year I had a full class in my Options. |
Artful Thinking from
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