Day 3

look at this little beauty

Paper folding techniques

Finding the balance of slowing down the pace while keeping the process moving along. Keeping students engaged but not hurried....this is one overarching goal I have as I work on the craft of teaching.

Today we spent time in three large groups dissecting a lesson plan and putting it back together. Our aim is to begin with the end in mind, then work backward from there to determine what skills, experience and knowledge need to go into the mix for a successful project. I love this approach, it's how I've been strategizing my lessons all along (some with more success than others!). We discussed the Masks with Mood and Attitude as our template (p. 44) and from there used Lesson Design Chart for Teachers to bring out the nuts and bolts of the lesson, making sure we covered a Baseline/Progress check, Idea Development/ Basic Skills/Engaging Project/Reflection, Assessment & Critique.

Questions for students: what do you feel successful about today? what are you struggling with?

We then learned some paper folding techniques, taught by Larry. I wish we had twice as much time for this activity! After that we moved into our big colored paper project, using prompts, we worked in small groups to create a large work. This culminated with a group show of our big, colorful works!

Our group had to create something to wear to a party....we used the BDDC plan: brainstorm all of our ideas, decide what to do, divide up the tasks, then create!

I found this method incredibly simple, direct and easy. Even the concerns and fears were put down on the brainstorming section. We took a break for lunch and upon returning we all agreed on a theme for our 'costume': the life cycle of a cherry from a sprout, to a tree, to the fruit, to a pie (the hat).

other groups working on their prompts

another costume prompt

this prompt was about a 21 yr old going off to work on an archeological dig and her mother wanted her to have a quilt or wall hanging of her favorite things, the artefacts used were from Jen's daughter

This weekend I need to paint more chips for my color wheel. I brought home sulfite drawing paper, and will use the goache paint I bought in Florence. The supplies of tempera paint ran a bit low as we were all heading out the door. I think we are all a little stressed out about this project and the time involved (we still have to do the neutral too). Helps us relate to our students, I'm sure. There is also a reading assignment, pp 67-77 in a handout...oh, and come with ideas for building my art lesson, we will work on curriculum. And work on the Journal.  Good thing my family is busy tonight and I don't need to fix them dinner as I do all my work on the kitchen table. Here's a photo of my space for this.

my charming studio space is my kitchen table