Sturgis Middle School Spring Art Show 2011

The Importance of Art in Education

I came across this video at Teacher Tube and it is really great.  I just want to share it.
 http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=112187&title=The_Importance_of_Art_in_Education

Create a Poster for Your Art Room

During the past school year I took a classroom management class. At one point I created a simple list for my students to follow and I posted it in my room. I have had lists before for rules and they were usually ignored. However, this list showed my students exactly what they needed to do to get a good grade in my class. I went over the list with them and I discovered that I didn't have to explain things as often. If a student was acting out, I could usually just look at the list at then at the student and they'd improve their behavior. I decided for this school year to put my list on a real poster. So, why am I sharing this simple idea? After over twenty years of teaching this has been the single most effective management tool I have ever used. I use the words "Successful Art Students" because most students really do want to succeed! That has been the key for this management procedure. I ended up putting this altogether at Vistaprint.
I ordered two and will laminate them when I get them in. At the beginning of each class this year, I will go over the poster several times so students understand why I created it. In my opinion if you want your students to be successful you just can't make success look like some big mystery. Here is a picture of my poster!

Integrating technology with Art Class

Integrating technology into art class

View more presentations from Katherine Svoboda

New Beginnings

This is the beginning of a new blog for me that is just about art education.  I’m a middle school art teacher from Michigan.  I’ve been teaching for many years and I believe that creativity can save the world.  I feel my job as an art educator is a noble one.  I have an opportunity to work with young people and help them be the change for the future.   Contrary to all the hoopla over test scores, I view today’s youth far more optimistically than the constant testing suggests.  Most adults past the age of thirty have no idea what’s really going on in education today, unless they are an educator.  These adults make assumptions based on politicians’ blathering about how much our children have fallen and how inadequate the teachers of today have become.  I just want to point out that when the economy isn’t good, neither is much of anything else for the working class!  However, I have been working with young people for many years.  I find them enthusiastic, creative, and ready to work with me in the art room.  I have students that stay after school because they want to work with art materials, just hang out, play on the computers, or just do their homework.  I work with teachers that are dedicated and caring professionals.  Over this next school year I’m going to bring my classroom into Katie’s Corner for Art Education and share it with the world.  School doesn’t really get started until after Labor Day but I will begin my posts this summer.  This year I will be infusing more technology into my art curriculum.  I will share what I’m doing in that regard as well.