Thank you for giving us an update...I was thinking of you this week, and I
know I'm not the only one! I am rooting for you, and rooting for your
students to turn around so they can have a positive art experience. I
couldn't write sooner because we lost our internet access for a few days.
I'm so glad to be back online today!
I admire the way you are trying to turn things around, even in the most
discouraging of situations. You are wise to seek advice, and it sounds like
you are trying hard to implement the ideas you are recieving. Also, I agree
that writing assignments might not be an effective disciplnary tool with
this bunch.
Keep focusing on whatever successes you experience with your students, no
matter how small. Build on those succeses, and let them energize you to seek
more. I loved hearing about the student who wrote about wanting to have a
party that you could come to.
I have a few more ideas to share with you....
First of all, is there any way to add a visual component to the letters of
apology the students are writing? Perhaps you could use it as an opportunity
to teach them about card or stationery design? Even if they just design a
border, fancy or simple. Having something attractive to write on might help
increase their pride in what they do, and also make it more relevant to the
subject.
I don't know if you'd have any time to get this together, but here is a
simple printmaking activity--so simple I've done it with 1st graders!--that
might be used to create a border:
The students can create a square design using their initials in a creative
way. I'd make it 1-inch square or 2-inches square. Let them practice
different designs on paper. When they have a good design, they can incise it
into a styrofoam square cut from a styrofoan tray (i.e. a clean meat tray or
styrofoam leftovers box cut down into flat squares. Maybe a local restaurant
could donate some clean ones, or else maybe parents can save them and send
them in.) When I did this with 1st graders, I taped or glued a simple handle
to the back so the kids didn't have to handle the edges and get their
fingers inky. Instead of using ink pads, we just used Crayola markers on the
styrofoam, coloring the whole surface, and stamping immediately onto their
paper. It worked great! I also had 4th grade students design their own
origami paper this way, filling an entire square of paper with their initial
design prints. lining them up carefully. Come to think of it, with the first
graders, I had them create animal footprint designs, not designs with their
initials. They were used to border a torn-paper monster project. But all
that is veering off-subject.
You were looking for a line project--can you have them make their own
scratchboard? That process alone is time-consuming and labor-intensive. I've
used that as a way to get 3rd grade classes focused in their work habits.
You can tie the scratchboard project in with Albrecht Durer who used
hatching and cross-hatching in his engravings (and who, coincidently, had a
cool design with his initials that he used to sign his artwork).
Most anything I suggest will probably tie in with elementary lessons I have
done, I'm afraid, for that is where I have the most experience. But from the
sound of things, these students are lacking an elementary art experience, so
perhaps it is entirely approriate to base your lessons on things they should
have experienced in elementary school. They are missing the basics.
Finally, in response to your students lack of respect for art as a subject
of importance to them...are they at all interested in sports? Back when I
taught high school, I started thinking of analogies between the art world
and the sports world. I tried to think of all the similarities between art
and sports, and how they function in society. For example, in sports, there
are players (at the student, college, and professional levels), there are
coaches (i.e. art teachers and professors), there are agents and "reps" (for
artists and for professional players), there are fans (which might be
patrons of the arts). Art museums are like sports halls of fame. Um...what
else...I'm not exactly expressing myself as well as I'd like to, but maybe
this could give you an idea to run with to help your students see that there
are many ways that art influences society, and that knowing about art is not
just for artists. Just like learning about sports is not just for people who
will become professional athletes. Some people enjoy art at home, in books,
magazines, and online (like watching a game on t.v.) while others get out
there and go to galleries and museums (like going to a game). They are not
playing the game (or making the art) but they are enjoying and appreciating
it nonetheless.
I hope this all makes sense.
Well, I'd better sign off--lots to do this weekend!
Rest up--I was very sorry to hear that you got sick. I came down with a cold
my first week at my new job in December--but fortunately, it was right
before the break. And this week, my daughter got sick the night before the
first day back for students. I had to arrange for a sub at the last minute
(that very morning!), and it was so nervewracking! I wasn't prepared to have
someone else teach my lessons--I'm still just getting things organized!
Fortunately, I was able to get the long-term sub who had taught these kids
before they hired me. So she knew the kids, and had no problem filling in.
