Faithful Followers:
Do you remember being a first year teacher? Equal parts excitement and terror! Although I've been in the classroom for more than twenty years, I still experience happy anticipation and a few jitters at the thought of the first day of school! Below is an excerpt from an email I received a couple of days ago. I'm sure you all have helpful advice and suggestions for Debra. Please take a moment and respond to Debra via the comments link.
Hi!
I am a new art teacher and I am looking for some
help and guidance! .....
I will be teaching 6th grade (Art I) and combined classes of 7th & 8th
grade (Art II & III). I am just having a hard time figuring out how
to distinguish between the two classes and making sure they are
not all doing the same thing......
Also, I know the techniques and processes; I am just VERY confused about order and amount of time.
I was told I have to have student work ready to enter our county fair
by the end of September.....
I am hoping some kind soul will take pity on me and
give me some suggestions on order of lessons and amount of time to
expect to spend on each. ..... I have found thousands
of lessons/projects on the internet and I want to do them all – LOL-
but I know there is bound to be a logical scope and sequence I should be
following.....
I am just sitting in my classroom trying not to
panic as time gets closer....
-Debra
Debra,
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new job! I still remember being a new teacher and the only art teacher so there was no one to bounce ideas off of.
My art curriculum is based on the nj state standards but within that there is a lot of freedom to teach what you want. I chose to focus on culture in 6th grade and have my students "visit" different continents. We have done Australia, Africa, South America, Asia and North America. In 7th grade we focus on Art History. We start with the Greeks/Romans, Middle Ages, Renaissance and Impressionism. 8th grade is focused on Modern Art.
We never have enough time to get to everything but I want my students to enjoy the process of art. Project length has always been tricky. My students are always asking when things are due and sometimes with new lessons I have to see where we are at.
Hope some of this helps. Good luck!
Deb,
ReplyDeleteI can remember my first year. It was tough! I think it great to get started with a plan as you are trying to do. I think you will really need to experiment and see what will work, and what doesn't. Just this past week I was doing a "Pop Art" project with my 7th/8th grade class(I have those too, Don't like them, but that is another story) It took me about 15 minutes to make a partially done example. It has taken them 3 class periods and they are still not done. I'm already tired of it:P Hopefully we can get them finished this week?
When I was in my first year of teaching a music teacher gave me this bit of advice, "If it isn't fun to you it definitely won't be fun to them." I know that isn't anything earth shattering, but it is something I think about often. As you mentioned there are lots of ideas on the internet, it is just a matter of picking a plan and seeing how far you get. I would also say that the first year is alot about learning what routines you need the kids to follow, learning discipline or lack of it... They will test you often and throw wrenches into your great plans. They are "Fun Suckers" and have lots of drama. It is important to get those things ironed out and acquire a thick skin too. Don't take things to personal... many of them have very poor social skills. Most importantly PRAY! Maybe you should start a blog to chronicle your progress though the first year:) Have a great year and don't stress too much about it, you will be great!!
Thanks Brenda and Doug for such helpful advice!
ReplyDeleteHi Kari,
ReplyDeleteI just stumbled upon your blog and it's great! I just read the above comment about being a new teacher and I am in the same spot. I was just hired to be a middle school art teacher and I just wanted to know how everyone ran their first day of school? Any tips or activities that you find to go over well on the first day?
Also, does anyone have any information/tips/advice on teaching an adaptive art class at the middle school level?
Thanks and I hope everyone has a great school year!
~Melissa
Hi Melissa,
DeleteCongratulations on your new job! Our first day of school is Tuesday. I'm going to have the kids make visual time lines of their summer showing at least four events or activities. These will be low stress - stick figures are okay and I've put out a variety of drawing tools to choose from. This activity is really just an ice breaker to get the kids talking. We will also do an art room scavenger hunt to get them up out of their seat. The form I use is on my classroom website, if you want to adapt it to your own use. That site URL is mswilsonsartroom.blogspot.com
thanks kari! great ideas!
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