Soul Searching
Art & Professional Development
Some
weeks ago, my administrator asked me if I would share my expertise and create a
face-to face, hands-on visual arts session for the upcoming PA day. I was
honoured and excited but at the same time terrified.
Planning
Knowing art is not everybody’s passion and
being conscious of the PA day being the last day before March Break, I knew it
had to be something everybody was able to do, enjoy, engage in, and would feel
successful, as well as being able to reconnect it to their classrooms. As you can imagine there were many challenges
during the planning stage; two of them I thought were worth sharing because
they relate to what to consider when planning daily learning experiences.Challenge number one was to know the learners
enough to plan the experience in a way that everybody in the room, regardless
if they were a skilled artist and excited or somebody who stopped drawing or
painting as a child and was now possibly anxious and maybe reluctant to even
try, had an entry point into this creative experience.Challenge number two included creating a
meaningful and authentic experience for participants but at the same time it
had to be arranged so the idea could be utilized in a variety of applications
within a K – 8 context.
The Experience
To
create a communal feel, the session started by reflecting on several paintings
and quotes. Participants were asked to share professional and personal thoughts
about art and being an artist.The
warm-up required some switching from the analytical part of the brain to the
visual, perceptual part. This was supported by visuals and a number of drawing
activities.The
final experience was a mix of two techniques; wax resist & watercolour in
combination with blind contour drawing.
During
these experiences, group members were able to reflect on how the arts can help all
learners succeed,how the arts can open up and differentiate learning, and how
it can honour more than one way of showing students thinking and learning. Moreover,
how students than can transfer those skills like problem solving, reflection,
engaging and persisting, observing and expressing to other areas of the
curriculum.
The Set Up
To
share back to staff from what I learned so far in my AQ Kindergarten course
part one and two, and from discussions with my amazing teaching partner Jocelyn, the decision was made to set up working spaces and add invitations for
learning in separate areas in the room to explore. The intention was to show how curriculum
expectations across grades can be introduced in a non-traditional way and lead
to inquiry-based learning.
At
this point I want to thank my amazing teaching partner Jocelyn Schmidt to help
me think through those difficult planning stages, the set up, and facilitating
the session. Thank you for everything you do!
From
my perspective, the P.A. session was full of exploration, talk, reflection, developing
creative thinking skills through art, engagement, slowing down, being in the
moment, taking the risk of trying something new, fun and laughter, and most
importantly building a community. By sharing experiences, we build
relationships amongst us and between our students, linking us to the big idea
of community.
Enjoy the Masterpieces
Voices
Comments before the session:
“Feel to ridged, its hard to take time and dive into
something new.”
“I feel that I haven’t accessed any artistic side of me in years..”
“I feel self conscious about my ability in art.”
“As I got older I shut off the creative artistic side in me.”
“I was not good in
art as a child, makes me anxious to have to perform.”
“I struggle and feel like I am not good at this.”
“I liked art as a child, but realized I wasn’t good at it at
all, so I never continued with it because of how it felt.”
“I feel nervous to be judged by others about what I create.”
Comments after the session:
“ I had so much fun.”
“It rejuvenate my inner child!”
“It increased my confidence in trying something new.”
“I liked to try something different, and it was a different experience.
I looked at it from a different angle.”
“It felt great to work out of my comfort zone in such a safe
environment.”
“I feel more open and
I even enjoyed the process.”
“I feel I was able to create something beautiful with no art
background.”
“ I am capable of different forms of art !”
“I feel free, calm, relaxed..happy! Like I could do this again!
“What a wonderful exploration for us this afternoon. You
have made us think, smile and brought the artist out in all of us .Bravo!”
“Fantastic! An amazing way to end the day. My students would
remember this for years to come!”
“I feel happy! Blind drawing helped me realize that maybe I can
draw or be creative!”
“I feel calmer, a bit emotional too, and happy with what I
created.”
Food
for Thoughts
Reflecting upon our experiences during the session ,we discussed the fact that not only in the arts, but in almost all
subjects we lose children’s engagement over the years in school. Why is this
happening? During the session we did some soul searching around that question........what are your thoughts?
Credits
I
want to thank all participants for being open to reflect and share. You were
able to slow down and you took the time to engage with your inner artist and connected with others.
A Special Thank You to Mavis for letting us change the library in an art space.
Thanks Mel and Vanessa, Mavis, Jocelyn, and Erica for your help setting up, and all of you for your outstanding support. And Greg, thank you for the challenge and giving me this amazing opportunity!
Thanks Mel and Vanessa, Mavis, Jocelyn, and Erica for your help setting up, and all of you for your outstanding support. And Greg, thank you for the challenge and giving me this amazing opportunity!
You
made my day!
Thanks!
.