Choice-based Art

Venturing into Choice!!!

I really need to record the massive process this has been.  As an art teacher, I have seen creativity slipping away from the classroom, replaced with cookie-cutter projects that can become so teacher directed that students lose all the wonderful learning that happens in the process.   I believe we can facilitate deep learning by guiding the student through the process, without dictating every move.

Bring on Choice-Based Art!

I remember the moment I heard the term, and all that was rattling around in my head about art education just clicked! I have spent the last couple of years establishing TAB (teaching artistic behaviors) in my classroom environment and teaching the students to "work their studio." Finding that happy balance between independence and conforming has been a challenge, a rewarding challenge, but one we still struggle with.

This year, I have decided to take the leap and go Modified-Choice with my 3-5s, with free creating stations that they can explore and let their creativity explode.  My K-2s are limited-choice while we are building foundations.  The research and planning took years. I wanted to do it right.  Every new station brings new challenges, but they are met with determination and excitement!  Students are still responsible for meeting learning objectives (targets), as am I.  A lot of this is done through our sketchbooks (journals).  So many procedures! procedure, procedure, procedure! Lol!

I plan to share more of this amazing process as we move along :)


                                                                                                                   

Artfully Yours,

Mrs. Bayless

Back to Blogging

I haven't kept up with my blogs.  I was posting everything to Facebook, and felt that did the job. But, you can't share all the great lesson plans and go into real detail in a FB post.  I need to keep up with my blog. Lots of really cool things are happening every week in my Art room, and you just never know, whom it may inspire.  My students are really awesome and their processes and art are even more amazing! Do I want to deprive the world of that?!

Here's some artwork from this year:

Artwork entered into the Senate Show at the Capitol.

Every year artwork is submitted for Senators to choose work to be a part of the exhibit held in the Capitol. We have not had work chosen, yet ;)

I have many "Art Station" manipulative the kids can create with once they are finished with their projects. I try to rotate the activities. Books and Free Draw are always options (but rarely picked). 

Working on Kandinsky Dots for celebration of DOT Day.

This will need to be its own blog post. We went crazy celebrating our collaboration with DOTS!

This is one of my Artist Trading Cards (ATC) that I created with the kids. We traded amongst ourselves, and the 5th grade traded theirs with Australia, and 4th traded theirs with Florida. It was Very cool!!!  

(Another blog post on its own)

STELLA!!!

Inspired by Frank Stella's paintings and sculptures.

What a fun, energetic project to start the year with my 2n grade!!

I presented this lesson at the Fall MAEA (Art teacher) Conference. These look so great on display!

Well, that's it for now.  I will try my hardest to keep up with blogging.  I believe in collaboration.  It's what we need for our students. I know great things are happening in classrooms all over the world, and I want to hear all about it, so I know someone would love to hear what's going on in my mine too.

Artfully Yours,

Mrs. Bayless