Fieldwork III....is complete!

I’ve finished my field work for this semester!  I had an awesome placement this semester at a local high school.  I worked with a teacher that taught ceramics, which was beneficial for me because my concentration is in ceramics.  I was able to observe an advanced ceramics class, three beginning ceramics classes, and a portfolio class.  The students really seemed to like their art teacher, only a few students acted out in class.  It was interesting for me to go to a high school other than the one I attended to watch the students’ behavior.  In general the students were really interested in their projects.  The beginning ceramics class was working on a whimsical fish lesson.   This project was really fun and I for a moment wished that I was a student in the class, because I would love to make a whimsical fish!  I feel like the school that I was in this semester had a lot of supplies in the room for the students to use.  There was a wide variety of tools for working with clay, nicely organized and clean too.  I graduated from high school three years ago, and I can say that the school I attended definitely did not have nearly as many tools, nor were they organized.  Also, this classroom had an assortment of glazes and under glazes.  The teacher made test tiles and hung them up on a chart for the students to look at and feel before they applied them to their project.  I think that this was important especially for the students that never worked with glaze before.  For the whimsical fish project, a lot of the beginning students chose a turquoise glaze that was matte.  They looked at the test tile, but did not notice that it was matte and not glossy.  In general, the students that used this glaze were not satisfied because it looked very uneven and it was not shiny.  During the final critique, their teacher pointed this out to the class and told them to get up close and actually feel the tests so they know exactly how it will be on their piece, she also stressed how important the application of the glaze is. 

I think that I will take some of the techniques that I learned from my mentor teacher this semester and use them in my classroom.   I liked that she had the students work with clay on a canvas covered board.   This way, the clay did not stick to the table and it was easy to clean up.   I really admire her level of organization in the classroom, I feel like this is an essential aspect of teaching.  She had all of her lesson plans neatly typed in binders and everything was available for viewing at any time.  She also had her lesson objectives posted in the classroom along with the due dates.  She put her due dates up for her lessons so that the students had no excuses for not having their work turned in on time.  She also went over how she grades using either a four point rubric or a six point rubric (for her advanced portfolio class).  I feel like I really learned a lot from my fieldwork placement this semester, and I am one step closer to student teaching!    

Critique Approach

In my Theory and Practice class, we discussed ways of approaching a critique for middle/high school students.   When I was in my first and second year of college, I had a professor that used this method of group critique and I thought it was really successful.  I’m adopting his methodology for my personal teaching practices.  I hope this is helpful!

A critique approach for a secondary art class:

Have students hang up their work, or if it is something three dimensional have the students place their work on one table.

·         Introduce the critique and talk about what you will be specifically looking for in their art works.  These specific things may be part of the lesson objectives. 

·         After you discuss this briefly with the class, have the students break up into groups of four based on where they are sitting.  You (as the teacher) will then pick four pieces of art work for each group to discuss.  Pick works that are more successful and some that are less successful so the students have a variety of work to talk about.  Have the students get out of their seats and get close to the work so they can examine what they will be discussing.

·         When the students are sitting in their groups you will give them four typed slips of paper.  The papers will have about three questions for the groups to answer.  These questions will be a reflection of the lesson objectives, for example – how did the artist complete his/her composition? 

·         Depending on how much time you have in class, allow the students to work together in groups and fill out a critique paper for each work (approximately 10 minutes).

·         When the students are done discussing the work, have everyone come back together as a class.  Pick one or two works from each group to discuss with the entire class.  Picking these works randomly will make sure that the students are prepared to talk about all of the works that they wrote about.

·          The works that weren’t discussed in class as well as the ones that were discussed will have a slip of paper with their classmates’ feedback on it, from the group critique.  Since class time is limited I think that is important that everyone gets feedback about their work.

I would use this approach and make a routine out of it, so students know what to expect on critique day.

    

The Elements and Principles Book Take Two

Here is my book and lesson plan, new and improved, enjoy!!

Values, Morals and Beliefs - The Elements and Principles Book Take Two

To make an accordion fold book:

Materials:

• Colored construction paper
• Covers 6 1/4 x 4 5/8"
• Strips to make pages, at least 2 per book, more if you want to make a longer book.  The strips should measure 6 x 18".

Fold long strips in half; fold each half to the middle, making a 'W' shape.  Glue one page at the end of the strip to another.  Press accordion folded pages into a stack.  Center covers on top and bottom and glue on.  Paste endpapers into book.  Endpapers cover the inside page where the regular pages are glued to the cover. 

Values, Morals and Beliefs

Start by making a list of your values; name at least 15 things that you value.  Put a star next to the three things that you value most.  What makes these things so important to you?

Think about morals that you have for yourself and perhaps how they relate to your values.  Also think about your personal beliefs.  What do you believe in?

Once you've done some exploring and figured out what your values are, you will work in your accordion book using a combination of words and images to illustrate your values, morals and beliefs.  You may use any available materials to complete this task.  You are encouraged to find quotes as well as words that inspire you and use them in your book.  Your book is to not only to explore your values, but also to include Olivia Guide’s post modern principles of art.  While working on your book, think about the elements and principles of design.  Try to work on your composition as a whole to create unity.  Pay close attention to the colors and shapes that you use and how they correlate with the words you chose.

After you've completed your book, write a few words of wisdom and tuck them inside the small envelope.  This envelope should be part of your book in some way, shape or form.  You may choose to seal your words of wisdom in the envelope or leave it open for the viewer to read.   

Principles and Elements Abstract Art Book

Principles and Elements Abstract Art Book

Materials:

• Colored construction paper
• Scraps of colored paper
• Glue sticks
• Scissors
• Colored pencils, crayons, or markers
• Water color paints
• Anything else you can think of

To make an accordion fold book:

Materials:

• Colored construction paper
• Covers 6 1/4 x 4 5/8"
• Strips to make pages, at least 2 per book, more if you wan to make a longer book.  The strips should measure 6 x 18".

Fold long strips in half, fold each half to the middle, making a 'W' shape.  Glue one page at the end of the strip to another.  Press accordion folded pages into a stack.  Center covers on top and bottom and glue on.  Paste endpapers into book.  Endpapers cover the inside page where the regular pages are glued to the cover. 

Principles and Elements Abstract Art Book

While making this art book,  keep in mind Olivia Gude's Post Modern Principles of art, specifically layering.

Choose a single shape.  This will bring unity to the piece.  Make several of these shapes, using colored pencils, markers, crayons, paints or cut paper.  Unity is created because the same basic shape is repeated throughout the composition; unity is often created by repetition of art elements. 

Make more of your chosen shape.  Make these with variations of size or form.  Vary the proportions of the sides of the shapes.  Make some of the variations as dramatic as possible.  Create contrast.  Variety and interest are attained by making variations of the basic shape. 

Discuss how the arrangement of shapes can create a feeling of movement and rhythm in a composition.  Talk about what times of shapes and lines relate to a certain action or movement.  Demonstrate possible combinations using cut out paper shapes on an overhead projector.  Have students come up to the projector to try out their own combinations.  Have the students experiment with layering, pushing some shapes further into space while others appear closer.    

After experimenting with possible combinations, paste shapes into place.

Create emphasis and contrast by adding a new kind of shape in the same or a different color.  Add texture by using different types of paper as well as other materials such as foam or string.    

Using cut paper or markers, add lines which will enhance the sense of movement in your book.  Think about how these lines relate to the rest of the composition.  

Consider the entire composition.  Is it balanced?  If so what type of balance symmetrical or asymmetrical?  Do the pages seem to reflect Gude's post modern principle of layering?  Add shapes, lines or words to create the composition.  

Finish book by making an "About the Author" page and a cover with the decoration of your choice.  Also, add a small envelope that has one secret about your book.