First off, I would like to start by saying WOW! This past year has been a challenge for me emotionally and physically but arts academy has been the thing that brought me through the school year. Every time we met was like a renewal for me. I felt energized and ready to go back to the classroom.

During our first meeting we learned a lot from George Nelson about teaching in the Nexus and different personality/learning styles, according to a color code. Starting off with this discussion and learning experience was crucial for me. I was able to apply it into my classroom by looking at my students through different eyes. I looked at them according to who they are as a person and what they preferred. I tried to ensure that I taught in the Nexus. That way I made sure I was reaching all my students and not just a select few.

The art form that impacted my teaching and therefore my classroom the most was drama. I loved teaching the general curriculum using dramatic elements. The students were able to understand the subject matter more clearly and make it their own. It also just made teaching more fun. I enjoyed what I was doing much more and because I enjoyed it much more so did the students. Two traits the best teachers have are that they are absolutely in love with their students and are absolutely passionate about the subject they teach. Teaching using dramatic elements in my classroom has increased those traits in me and helped me be a better teacher.

Incorporating visual arts was also very effective and changed my teaching. My students enjoyed expressing themselves using the visual aspect. The arts enrich the classroom and teaching in general. Parents have mentioned some of the activities at parent teacher conferences. Their students told them about what we have done. I look forward to keep incorporating the arts in my classroom. This experience has set me up to do it on my own in the future.

I really enjoyed reading in this book.  One thing that I found very interesting were the mini-lessons.  I decided to try out one of the mini-lessons.  I tried an artistic thinking lesson.  I made a poster about artist intent and viewer interpretation.  There are famous art works on the poster with a few thought provoking questions.  We went through the pictures and talked about what they saw and what they thought when they saw the picture.  Then I asked them if they think the artist wanted them to think and feel that way.  Then we did a short activity.

I had postcard size pictures of famous art work.  The students work in partners and discuss the picture, feelings, what they see in the picture, thoughts, and so on.  After tehy had a chance to see all pictures we meet as a group and share the things they discussed.  I then tell them the title of the picture, whcih explains a lot of what the artist intended.  at the very end the students drew a picture and shared it with a partner.  The partner told them what they thought and felt while looking at their picture.  The artist then tells his partner what his intention was.

We focused a lot on accepting others’ opinions and making sure that they understand that you don’t always have to think and feel what the artist intended.  Sometimes we have our own thoughts and opinions.  The students enjoyed the activity and were very engaged.  It was a lot of fun!

PS:  Just for those who are interested.  I have been researching power teaching.  If you go to teachertube you can watch it in action.  It is a teaching style the is very engaging.  I saw a lot of dramatic elements in this teaching style adn I have done it in my class as well.  The students love it and I feel like the students are doing the teaching and learning rather than me doing everything.  It’s great!

Well, ladies and gents.  It’s been a while and I have tried so many different things in my classroom.  One thing I tried out from Arts Academy was the brain dance.  I tried it out several times and the students loved it.  We do it every so often.  I need to be more consistent in doing it.  I truly enjoy it.

I implemented something I came up with while at Arts Academy.  This is not something that was shared with us but it was inspired by the experiences gathered there.  During our Park City meeting I was sketching in my sketch journal.  I was just doodling, drawing random lines across my page.  Then I used the colored pencils and colored in the spaces between the lines with all the different colors.  I was very entertained and it helped me focus.  During a break I told Janet, who was sitting next to me, I much I enjoyed doing this.  Then I said that I would try this out with my students.  That thought led to the next thing, namely incorporate music with it.  I have my students do composer presentations.  Every week one student tells about a composer they researched.  Then we listen to some of the music the composer wrote.  I decided to have them do the scribble art, while listening to the music.  The lines should represent what they hear in the music.  I showed my students the one I made and they thought it was the coolest thing.  They write on the back of their paper their name and date, the composer, and the title of the song.  I am keeping the completed work and we will make composer books at the end of the year out of them.  The students love it.  We are doing music and art at the same time.  Janet told me she did this in her class as well but then had them write what they saw in their pictures.  I decided I would try that out the next time.  It is a wonderful idea.  In our district Joann is holding Art meetings once a month.  This last month was visual art, drawing.  We received a lot of ideas concerning teaching the students about line.  I incorporated this with the music and scribble art (does anyone know if there is a name for this?).  Once I did this, their pictures have a wider variety of lines.

I also want to show my students my sketch journal.  I want to spend some time with them outside and sketch something we see outside.  I have not yet done this but I plan on doing it this week.  I can’t wait to meet again this next week and learn new things I can incorporate in my classroom.  I have always enjoyed all the arts but now I am able to share that enjoyment more with my class.