Posted by:
Diane Jaquith
K-12 Classroom teacher
Newton, MA

Topic:
Child-centered Art Studios Fit New Thinking

Message:
Many teachers, parents, and administrators have a vision of art education similar to their own experiences, in which the teacher leads children in a lesson with predetermined artistic outcomes. With more schools adapting to centers and hands-on learning, the concept of child-centered art studios is becoming easier to visualize. If your school has always known traditional art programs, your first task will be to persuade administrators to support a transition into choice-based art education.

Talk with your principal and art supervisor, if you have one. To prepare, do some research. Many districts are adapting curricula to allow for differentiated learning and advocating constructivist teaching strategies. Can you find examples within your school or district? This will help to show administrators that choice-based art education is grounded in existing practices. Tell them about this Knowledge Loom website and encourage them to read some of the stories about choice-based programs and the research summaries that underlie each best practice.

Let classroom teachers know about your program changes, either in person or in a letter. They may express disappointment that you will no longer be supporting their social studies or science units, but remember that your job is to first teach art! It is important to keep everyone informed; remain open and honest about your direction. Don't expect to win all the teachers over immediately. Eventually, they will recognize the value in choice-based art education.

Parents may also have some expectations about art education and may question this program.Once the centers are up and running, write a newsletter that describes the centers and various areas covered in each grade. Encourage parent involvement: visits, donations of materials, presentations. As students talk more and more about their artwork at home, parents will realize how connected they are to their artmaking.

The most compelling evidence of learning can be found in art exhibits. When students write artist statements explaining their process, ideas and feelings about their work, everyone begins to understand why choice-based art education works. Hang an exhibit as soon as you have a body of work, and encourage everyone to see it! If you put together a school art show, invite administrators, teachers, students, and parents to a special opening night. They will be amazed at the unique quality of the artwork, the individual artistic voices and range of style and media.

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