I teach grades 9-12. This is my 28th year. I teach Art I, II, III-IV
currently. Have also taught Crafts and AP Artand Honors Art IV.
Our descriptions are in a county-wide catalogue and are very
general. Art I is "a basic introduction to principles, materaials, and
history of art. Provides experiences in drawing, design, color, painting,
graphics, sculpture, ceramics, textiles, crafts, and art appreciation." Art
II-"Presents a variety of art media emphasizing extensive study of media and
technical problems. Form drawing, composition and one and two point
perspective as a basis for painting, sculpture and crafts along with use of
color theory will be addressed."Art III says "designed to meet individual
nees of students pursuing an art related career. Emphasis on composition,
drawing and painting skills; continued study of crafts and sculpture.
Students will begin portfolio development." Art IV-"Offers an opportunity
for the student to pursue individual interests, strengths and weaknesses
that have been discovered in previous art study. Independent study will
become the focus of instruction and students will help determine the project
areas of the curriculum." I won't go into crafts and honors etc. now unless
you specifically want them. As you can see, the descriptions are quite
general. What I really go by is our NC Course of Study.
My school is on what is known as a modified block. We teach a 55
minute first period that meets every day. On A day, I meet with periods 1,
2, 3, 4(planning); then on B day I meet with periods 1, 5, 6, 7 (planning).
These classes meet all year. Periods 2,3,4,5,6,7 are 100 minutes long.
Pros-kids get lots of opportunities for electives; you only have to
see a "bad" class every other day.
Cons-kids-especially ninth graders-have a hard time getting
organized to plan ahead for alternating days; kids who go to a 4x4 block
school or a 6 period day school who then get transferred here are "dumped"
in classes like mine when they need an extra class. I have even had kids
placed in two of my classes with the instruction to "catch them up on what
they missed for the year." (HA!) Our system under the old superintendent was
going to have all high schools on the same schedule. Then we got a new one
and he said he didn't care and told each principal to decide, so we still
have this mess.
I have very little time to create my own art outside of class,
though I dream about it often. Sometimes I take classes just to discipline
myself to make art. I try to do it in the summer, too, but even that is
sometimes hard when trying to catch up on household maintenance, etc. When I
do make art, I prefer colored pencils, watercolor, and mixed media. I am
trying to learn and experiment with collage. My "best thing" is probably pen
and ink and colored pencil drawing with watercolor second, though I go back
and forth and like to try many new things and materials. I have often
wondered whether I like to do lots of things because I am an art teacher, or
whether I am an art teacher because I get bored with one and like to do lots
of things. I'd be interested to hear others' thoughts on this. Linda in NC
