Kids are still looking forward to the art period when they can produce something non-written and physical with their hands and minds. Kids still don't want to listen to teachers - they'd rather be doing. Kids still want to experiment with materials and come up with their own ideas. Kids still want to have fun with art. So do I!
I never remember seeing Mrs. Harkless buried under piles of artwork and papers, assessing the work according to pre-established criteria and looking carefully for conceptual and skill benchmarks. She'd simply mark a back corner of the artwork with a 1,2 or 3. 3 being better, I think? Still not sure. That was the extent of non-verbal feedback we received in art class back then, and it was enough. Instead of producing copious notes about progress (or lack of therin), Mrs. Harkless would sit at her green steel desk, often covered with projects in process and papers, and she would stitch. Yes, Mrs. Harkless loved fiber art.
It was the late 70's/early 80's, and the room had evidence of her love of craft media. Macrame things hung around the room, and she stole time at her desk stitching when we would work on our own. I remember that she clearly enjoyed what she was doing. Maybe that, in addition to learning about sewing in Mrs. Putney's class, inspired me to go towards textile art. I remember teaching myself how to needlepoint and also working on a piece in class during our free time art block. 8th grade was truly the summer when my needlework addiction began. I wonder -- while I try really hard to present interesting, challenging, well planned, and well supported lessons to my students, am I missing out on an opportunity to simply share my love of art by working a bit in class on something that I love to do? Instead of taking the (unusual) five free minutes when kids are working and running to my grading pile, what if I modeled my love of artistic creating by keeping stitching handy? It might be as contagious to some students as it was for me in 1980. And it certainly would make my day less stressful!
What will you make today?