Adolescence...

I remember being a kid, playing those math games in computer lab once I got done with all of my typing assignments. I can't even imagine what an elementary computer lab class would be like now. Surely, they do a lot of the same assignments we did, because typing and word processing is still just as important (at least for now, next they'll be teaching on iPads). But, all of the other technologies available to kids now is....kinda ridiculous. In a lot of ways it all creates a whole new level of distraction from school. I had a hard enough time paying attention in classes with my phone that didn't even have email or internet. Now almost every kid I see in high school is constantly on facebook from their phone. It's gotta be even more frustrating for teachers. At the same time, we as teachers have more possibilities to enrich our students learning by figuring out all of these gadgets and using them to our advantage. It's easier to engage a student into something they're familiar with; something fresh and digital (no old school, falling apart, smelly textbooks). My point is, go with it not against it (like in finding nemo). If we embrace the whole technological revolution and use it to help us enrich our classrooms, then the students will be more engaged. And although, it may be impossible to keep them off of their cell phones during class...they are becoming better and better at multi-tasking right?

As far as Speak goes, I think that art is an excellent emotional outlet (as I said in my last post). Personally, my art teachers weren't too concerned about emotion and concepts in art pieces. They figured that the students that were good at art would put in emotion and those that weren't would just keep practicing techniques until they were good. At still lives that is. Which is why I couldn't draw a realistic apple to save my life. They weren't interested in ideas, just reality. It was bogus. So, in my classroom, students will be first encouraged to express ideas and then once they get comfortable with that, they can refine their technical skills. Or even better, do it at the same time.

My favorite book of all time: The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chybosky 
Somewhat similar to Speak, being that this freshman in high school feels out of place. But, it's a lot less predictable.

This I believe...

Art education could be the most important as all areas of education believe that they are the most important....But, I really think that in order to synthesize the information you are learning you have to create something from it. I think that is why art teachers most easily link themselves to history classes. It's easy to have  your students recreate something in order to learn about it even more than they have in their history classroom. However, we need to be building on the ideas, thinking deeper into the ideas behind the history instead of simply scratching the surface. Art can be used for so many things including synthesizing information, as I've been saying. But even more than that, it can be the basis for NEW ideas and concepts, it can be an emotional and physical outlet for students. Art class is a break for your brain, but at the same time you are learning more than you could imagine. Because it's fun. The most important thing we need to remember as art teachers is that we thought art was fun at some point in time (even if studios have changed your mind since then). And that's why we're here...at least a large part of it. I strive to get my students thinking about deeper things without even knowing that they're using their brains.

Choose your own ground...

My art ed metaphor: Who will I be? Where will I go?

As art educators we are the teachers who will see a lot of soul searching in our classrooms.Not that it doesn't happen in all classrooms, but art is where we ask our students to look deep inside themselves, to ask themselves what is important to them and what they believe. I feel that it's really important for us to take advantage of our positions as teachers and let kids know that it's okay to be confused about who you are and that exploring and asking these kinds of questions can help put you on a path to finding yourself.


P.s. More posts to come after the wedding....    : )

Zo-bear

even though she ate the shoes i was planning on wearing to my sister's wedding...she's still the best dog in the world.