What do you think of when you think of Art class?
Coloring sheets. Free draw. Step-by-step worksheets.
I am here to tell you that it is a new day and age in the Art Education world. Art teachers around the world are sharing new ideas, new curriculum, and new ways to incorporate what your child is learning in their general education classroom into the art classroom. We are creating new projects that inspire students to think outside the box, to use math skills, writing skills, reading skills, but most of all, problem solving skills. In my art class, and many more, students are challenged to find their way out of a problem. They are communicating with peers in a socially acceptable way. They are practicing their fine motor skills by simply cutting, gluing, and holding a pencil. They are inspired to be original because who wants to be a copy cat? They are learning that art is all around them, they just have to look up from their electronic device long enough to notice it.
My mom says that from the time I could hold a pencil I was drawing. I was a very "shy" child...as an adult I just like to call it thinking before I speak. Some things are just better left unsaid. However, I had A LOT going on in my head. I was constantly noticing little details in nature and even in people. Art was my outlet. Art was how I expressed myself and zoned everyone else out. In kindergarten we all read the story of Granny Greenteeth and then had to draw a picture that would be submitted into a contest. I won first place out of the whole kindergarten and got to go up on stage and get my book signed by the Author. My mom kept that picture. I don't remember much more about elementary art class, but I do remember drawing. ALL. THE. TIME. I drew on place mats at Town and Country (local restaurant), took my sketchbook on the plane to pass time flying to Indiana, and most of my mini-masterpieces took place in the margins of my school notebooks. I wanted to be an artist when I grew up.
It wasn't until high school that I finally decided I wanted to be an art teacher. I had an incredible art teacher myself, Mr. Thad Cox (who is now the art teacher at Poplar Springs Elementary!) and he inspired me to follow my dreams. I did an internship at King Elementary my senior year when I was trying to decide my major and absolutely fell in love with teaching. What could be better than getting paid to share my passion with kids? I saw how art helped them to solve simple problems between themselves and others. Over the years I have seen art become an outlet for students with oppositional defiant disorder, autism, downs syndrome, and many other special needs. I have seen art be a place where students can be themselves and not have to worry about being judged. I have seen students make connections with what we are learning in art and what they are learning in their classroom. I have seen art become a passion and not just a hobby. We have to keep the arts in our schools or else we will hinder students from being able to realize their calling. The arts help all across the curriculum and as an art teacher I firmly believe students are much better off having been exposed to all forms of art at some point in their life.
Help us out by encouraging your child just like my mom and dad did. They never once told me I couldn't pursue my dream even though they knew I wouldn't make a lot of money. Ask your child questions about what they are learning because I bet they would be so excited to tell you! Most of all, SUPPORT THE ARTS!!!
I am here to tell you that it is a new day and age in the Art Education world. Art teachers around the world are sharing new ideas, new curriculum, and new ways to incorporate what your child is learning in their general education classroom into the art classroom. We are creating new projects that inspire students to think outside the box, to use math skills, writing skills, reading skills, but most of all, problem solving skills. In my art class, and many more, students are challenged to find their way out of a problem. They are communicating with peers in a socially acceptable way. They are practicing their fine motor skills by simply cutting, gluing, and holding a pencil. They are inspired to be original because who wants to be a copy cat? They are learning that art is all around them, they just have to look up from their electronic device long enough to notice it.
My mom says that from the time I could hold a pencil I was drawing. I was a very "shy" child...as an adult I just like to call it thinking before I speak. Some things are just better left unsaid. However, I had A LOT going on in my head. I was constantly noticing little details in nature and even in people. Art was my outlet. Art was how I expressed myself and zoned everyone else out. In kindergarten we all read the story of Granny Greenteeth and then had to draw a picture that would be submitted into a contest. I won first place out of the whole kindergarten and got to go up on stage and get my book signed by the Author. My mom kept that picture. I don't remember much more about elementary art class, but I do remember drawing. ALL. THE. TIME. I drew on place mats at Town and Country (local restaurant), took my sketchbook on the plane to pass time flying to Indiana, and most of my mini-masterpieces took place in the margins of my school notebooks. I wanted to be an artist when I grew up.
It wasn't until high school that I finally decided I wanted to be an art teacher. I had an incredible art teacher myself, Mr. Thad Cox (who is now the art teacher at Poplar Springs Elementary!) and he inspired me to follow my dreams. I did an internship at King Elementary my senior year when I was trying to decide my major and absolutely fell in love with teaching. What could be better than getting paid to share my passion with kids? I saw how art helped them to solve simple problems between themselves and others. Over the years I have seen art become an outlet for students with oppositional defiant disorder, autism, downs syndrome, and many other special needs. I have seen art be a place where students can be themselves and not have to worry about being judged. I have seen students make connections with what we are learning in art and what they are learning in their classroom. I have seen art become a passion and not just a hobby. We have to keep the arts in our schools or else we will hinder students from being able to realize their calling. The arts help all across the curriculum and as an art teacher I firmly believe students are much better off having been exposed to all forms of art at some point in their life.
Help us out by encouraging your child just like my mom and dad did. They never once told me I couldn't pursue my dream even though they knew I wouldn't make a lot of money. Ask your child questions about what they are learning because I bet they would be so excited to tell you! Most of all, SUPPORT THE ARTS!!!