Updates on my learning process... I remembered to have the kids at S. Beaver make name tags for themselves-- it helped me to be more comfortable with the kids. I had a really frustrating time with getting the kids to sit still and pay attention this time (3-4 graders). Once they started the activity, they were amazingly chill, but before that, yeeesh. I need to learn some serious discipline skills and maybe take an assertiveness course!!! :)

I feel like I'm on the verge of a lightbulb going off-- Pam's definition of "the best questions to ask" on the first quiz post really helped me. It seems almost too easy, but I get it. Focus on the meaning of the work of art. You can talk about how materials, subject matter, elements and principles, etc. all contribute to the meaning. Then have the production activity be something where the kids are supposed to express a similar meaning or intent. I feel like this concept is helping me to make the leap from production and technique-based art lessons to something bigger and cooler that could help the kids to actually understand the reason people make art, and to learn the language that art communicates in!

I feel frustrated by the fact that it is difficult to get my hands on large-scale reproductions of the works of art I would like to use in the classroom.