How will you integrate critical literacy instruction in your discipline?
One of the reasons I love art is for its almost innate ability to get people to think critically. On top of this inherent quality I think there are some great ways that you can enhance critical literacy in the art room and integrate it with your instruction. For starters you can seek out artists who challenge norms that many of your students take for granted. While discussing these artist's work you can talk about how they are conveying their ideas, how the students would convey similar or opposite ideas, and the merits and disadvantages of both sides of the issue. Another great way I plan on working critical literacy into my classroom is through the students own works. I feel like art is a great way to express an idea from many different points of view. By having students tap into ideas and issues that are intrinsically important, I can help them explore and express these ideas through a critical lens.
How will you choose and teach vocabulary words?
Vocabulary instruction wasn't really something I put a lot of thought into before I took this class. I'm really glad I took this class because it's given me a lot of good ideas about how I can approach this important aspect of education. One of the main things I want to do for my classroom is have the elements of design terms displayed around my room with example artworks to go with each. I also plan on empasizing students use those terms while they discuss each others artworks. Besides those overarching things I look forward to creating some fun vocabulary games, I want to create hands on tools to teach vocabulary (like cropping frames, texture pallets,etc.), and on some of the students works I will have them write artist statement that include specific vocabulary words. Over all I just want to work at making art vocabulary an every day part of my classroom.
How will you structure opportunities for students to use oral language?
One of the big things I think a lot of students miss out on in high school are the skills to
talk about art in a meaningful and correct way. You see it a lot in beginning art classes in collage. Students will just say "this is good, I like this," or, "I don't like that." But they don't know how to express why they like something or what about the work was effective or lacking. I plan to really focus on this in my classroom. I am going to, as much as possible, have group critiques so students get an opportunity to talk about art. I will model the meaningful ways to do so and help students to do the same. Hopefully when a student leaves my class they will have a firm handle on why they like something, and what exactly it is that the artist did that draws them in.
How will you support your students in writing texts and producing other representations in your discipline?
Well, producing representations is the name of the game in art. I plan to support them in that by being in the school. As far as writing texts go, that's a little harder. Like vocabulary it's something I didn't really think about much before this class, but I've gotten some great ideas. I said I wanted to do spoken critiques as much as possible, but that won't always be possible. The nice thing is this seeming downside actually sets up for some very relevant writing activities. I plan on having students write critique notes to me as well as critiques to each other. In some respect, like for a final portfolio, some of these written critiques could even be taken to a level 2 or 3 writing assignment. On top of these writing activities I plan on having students journal about their thinking processes, incorporate text into their actual art works, and write about the ideas and interests that are important to them in order to pull out inspiration for works of art. Beyond that I am looking forward to finding ways to incorporate literacy education into my art room in a variety of meaningful ways.
