Art Goals are a Win-Win

Since our lighthouse meeting at Jim's house, I've been more consistent in posting my art class goals on the white board for each art class. Instead of just telling my students what I want them to accomplish each class, I discuss it as the art goal and write it on my white board for the entire class to see. I really liked the way we posted all our ideas on the walls of Jim's house, and I remember discussing with Brian that's its a really good idea to post our student's class goals. Before our meeting I was writing the class goals on the board, but not consistently because of time constraints. Now, instead of worrying about the time constraints of getting each new goal on the board as classes switch, I approach it as a discusson in the beginning of class and write the goal as part of my intro. to the lesson. The students are really attentive as I write the class goal on the board, as if it was a mystery unfolding. I let them know that the goal is what I expect them to accomplish in class for that day. If they meet their goal they know that they've worked hard in class and were successful in the art task. At the end of class I ask all students who reached their goal to raise their hands and I applaud them for a job well done in accomplishing their goal. I inform all students that if they didn't reach their goal, maybe they were talking or fooling around too much when they should have been more focused on their artwork. Posting the goal in class is a great way for students to gauge themselves on how well they're working in class. If they reached their goal they know they've been successful in the art room that day. If they did not reach their goal, they can internalize what they need to improve upon so they can be successful the next time. It's a win-win for both student and teacher that class goals and expectations are clear and simply stated so that every student can succeed in the art classroom.

Service Learning in the Art Room

This year Art Club will be involved in a Service Learning project. I decided to start Art Club later in the year due to my last sememster at Buffalo State that ends next week (Yea!). Since September, I've been reminding the 6th grade students that only serious, dedicated, hard working artists should sign up for art club this year. Happily I had 22 students sign up, and they are the most diligent workers and best behaved students in the sixth grade. We started the first meeting with a brief slide show about the kids that need our help at Women and Children's Hospital. I explained to our students that as a Lighthouse School we need to reach out to the community and give back by serving others. This year our school chose to serve the community by helping other kids, and raise money for Women and Children's Hospital. I went on to explain how Variety Club works, and that the hospital can't survive without donations from the community. Kyle immediately spoke up to tell the story of how Children's Hospital saved his life. After listening to Kyle's story, the students really began to understand how vital this hospital is to our community. Then I posed the question, "What can an art club do to help the community?" Many students shared their ideas until we all agreed to make something we can sell. I reminded them that we had no budget, so whatever we made would come from the supplies we have in the art room. We decided to make a two column chart on the Promethean asking, What can we make, and How do we sell it. The students were very enthusiastic and we filled both sides of the chart with ideas through sharing and discussion. I told the students from the beginning that I had my own idea in mind, but I wanted to see what they thought we should do first. Funny thing is, my ideas ended up right in front of me on the Promethean board. On their list under the "To Make" column was paper mache sculpture, and under the "How to Sell" column was Chinese Auction. They came up with the same ideas I had, all on their own. We reviewed all the choices and as a group decided to make large Chihuly inspired bowls out of paper mache that we can sell by silent auction on Fine Arts Night. Even though I had this idea already planned, I needed the students to come up with their own ideas so they could take ownership of the entire process. I plan on having the students not only create the vessels, but also promote, display, sell and distribute the vessels after the auction. This should be an awesome year in art club, and I'm anxious to see how it all works out.