Reflection #4

What? In class we learned about the elements and principles of drama. We also learned why drama is important for kids and we learned some theater games and activities that we can use in the classroom to get kids comfortable with drama.

So What? I think the activities we learned would be really helpful and I will use them in the classroom. I will use the interview method where the students pretend they are a character that you are learning about and then another student pretends to be the interviewer and asks them questions about what happened. I will also use the Character-as-One and Mantle of the Expert activities to get my students active and involved in learning.

Now What? I think creative drama is really good for kids because it gets them out of their comfort zone in a safe environment. It helps them learn to work with other students and talk to students they might not get to talk to normally. I found that when we did these activities in class, even as a college student, they helped me feel more comfortable with my classmates and get out of my comfort zone more that I normally would. I think that using drama is a good way to get students motivated and engaged in learning. For example, you could use creative drama in social studies. You could have the students pick a person that you are learning about and answer questions as if they are that person. It gets the students thinking more deeply, not just about facts and dates, but about how the character would really think and the things they believe in. It would help the students feel more involved in learning and understand about the person you are learning about so much more and in a fun way.

Reflection #3:

What? Teaching about childrens illustrators is a good way to get kids interested in art. They are already interested in the book and if you start talking about the books in a way that will teach the children about line, shape, value, color, etc. they will be ready and interested to learn it. If you pick artists and pictures they aren't familiar with, they might not be as interested to learn. Children's book illustrators apply directly to them.

So What? I can use the virtual handouts that other students did in class to have a starting point for teaching about illustrators to my students. I can also find other popular children's books that my students will recognize and learn about those illustrators. I can teach my students about the different art elements and principles that these illustrators have used in their artwork and help them to use them in their own artwork as well.

Now What? I think if I teach art by starting with familiar illustrators that it will access my students background knowledge since they are familiar with it and they will be able to understand more quickly the art principles and elements that I am trying to help them learn. Once I have accessed their background knowledge and got them interested we can move on to other popular artists that the students may not know anything about and they won't be so intimidated to learn about those art pieces because they have a firm background knowledge to go by.

Reflection #2

What? In class and from the text book we learned about the different elements and principals of art (line, shape, color, value, texture, space. Balance, rhythm, dominance, proportion, emphasis, and unity). We also learned about the color wheel as well as the difference between a shade, tint, and tone.

So What? It's important to know what the different elements and principles of art are and how to apply them because it will help while making an art piece but it would also help me on other things that I would create for an assignment or a classroom. For example, knowing how color schemes work together would help me to design an aesthetically pleasing bulletin board, or welcome letter.

Now What? It's important to know the correct terminology for words related to art so that when I teach my future students I'll be able to teach them correctly. If I don't understand the words myself I won't be able to effectively teach my students and to help them realize how it applies to them. It's important to help students understand art so that they can progress in their own artistic abilities. Also, when you teach students art it helps them in other academic areas as well. It helps them to think outside of the box and use their creativity different ways.

Reflection #1

What: I don't remember learning how to do a whole lot with art in Elementary School. We did some art projects and the teachers integrated them a little bit but I never remember doing much. I've always thought I was terrible at art as far as drawing goes. My teachers didn't teach me very much about drawing techniques to help me get better at it.

So What: I still feel like I'm really bad at drawing and painting and art in general. I think if my teachers would've spent more time teaching techniques and showing me how to do things I would feel more confident about it. I did have one teacher in 6th grade who taught us how to draw detailed eyes. I felt really proud of myself for being able to actually draw eyes that looked realistic. I think if more of my teachers would've been like that I would've been more confident and tried more things with art.

Now What: I think I need to spend some time practicing art and learning the techniques so that I can better teach my students and help them find confidence in their artistic abilities. I think it will be important to learn effective ways to integrate art into other aspects of teaching. I know that a lot of students learn better when they can be creative and visualize what they are learning. If they can create something about the topic we are learning about in class I think they will remember it better and it will also help them gain confidence in their artistic abilities.