Using Resources in the Classroom

Throughout the semester we have been talking about a variety of resources that we could use in the classroom along with teaching students empathy. All the resources and themes that we have discussed can all be intertwined to do what works best for your students. This semester we have specifically spent time talking about journals, blogs, zines, imovie, and comics in the classroom to improve literacy in the classroom.

How can you use these resources in the art room to improve literacy? Well, that is easy what do all these resources have in common, they are all reading materials. Having students write and reflect in a journal or blog will help develop a deeper sense of meaning. Students will learn how to reflect on the projects they are working on and be able to work thoughts out by writing or blogging. While students are working on their blogs/journals they are practicing their writing and communication skills. As teachers we can talk about blog etiquette and writing styles when introducing the blog assignment. So much of today's world is on the internet it is important for students to learn how to write on a blog in a professional way, not in shorthand. Creating projects around this idea of using a blog/journal in the classroom can be beneficial for the students because it will require students to gather their thoughts. This assignment would also help students to all have an equal voice in the classroom.

Comics and zines are very prevalent in our society today. There are comics/zines about almost anything that you could like to read about. There are also graphic novels that connect reading and art together as well. Having students create their own comic and zine is a good way to incorporate literacy into the art room because students have to find a way to write and convey their message then also depict their message. Having students create projects that advocate for something they support in their lives will help the students to convey deeper meanings in their artwork. Comics and zines are a great way for students to discuss topics that interest them.

When looking at my classroom the resource that I will most likely use the most is the use of the blog. I feel that this is a great way to incorporate writing into art and also create a virtual classroom. Students will be able to all have a voice and their own opinions that will be heard. When I was in school I did not like to share during class, but if I would have had the option to blog I would have been more likely to share my thoughts and ideas. I want all my students to be heard. When looking at the resource that I will struggle with more than others it would be comics. This semester is the most time I have ever worked with comics. I need to familiarize myself with more comics so I feel more confident to introduce them in my classroom. I believe most students would appreciate learning about comics and creating their own. Students can create comics about any topic that they are interested in. Learning about new resources to use in the classroom will help engage student interest.  

I have attached a link to a good resource I found will looking at blogging in the classroom. http://www.lsa.umich.edu/UMICH/sweetland/Home/Instructors/Teaching%20Resources/UsingBlogsintheClassroom.pdf.

Chapter 24: “Art Education that is “For Something”

As future teachers it is important for us to realize that we will not get everything correct the first time and we may face obstacles in the classroom. Instead of these obstacles stopping us and wearing us down we should use these obstacles as learning experiences to help us become better teachers. As teachers we like to think that we know more than our students and that we have the best way to do every task, but in reality we do not. We need to learn from our students. create a classroom community where we are all learners, and have a classroom that allows our students to express themselves.

I consider myself lucky that I am becoming a teacher right now in the world because of all the resources that are available. There are so few limitations when it comes to integrating technology into the classroom, developing a service learning project, and using multigenerational learning in the classroom. When it comes to reflecting in the classroom we all need to promote this because it allows students to sort out their thoughts, think deeper, and to have their own opinion. But when I think of reflecting in art I automatically think about the traditional route, to journal in a notebook/sketchbook. In my last field experience I had my students journal in their sketchbooks about their project ideas and how they felt about drawing people, but it was not successful. I will be the first to admit it. The students were bored about writing it in their sketchbook and a lot of the students thought it was a joke. They knew their sketchbooks were private and that only the instructors would read them. Their responses were not sincere and were quickly written. Instead of journaling in a sketchbook I want my students to have a classroom blog. Sorta like what we have now. I want my students to have their own opinions and ideas, but have their post be seen by others in the class. This way the students will have more accountability. This way the students can interact with one another and everyone has a chance to have a voice.

For my social justice issues in the community I choose to talk about discrimination, hunger, poverty, equal education, and children rights. These are all common social justice topics that can happen in any community. I choose to do multiple topics because students are all different. Discrimination is a topic that has always interested me because when I was a student I related this term to only race not everything else that it can be about. Hunger and poverty are issues that are relevant in any community. Equal education and children rights are important because this allows all children to receive an education and also what rights students have.

Being a teacher makes us role models to all our students. I want my students to know how to advocate or show support for a cause they believe in. I do not believe that students necessarily have to be interested in the same social justices as I do, but my students should know how to advocate for what they believe in. In my classroom we will talk and learn about social justices. Students need to know how be involved in something that they are interested in. Students need to know that they can be the change in their community and that one simple step in the right direction may be all it takes. Students should learn how to create projects that have a meaning and how to use those projects to advocate for their social justice. Students will learn through projects, reflecting, and engaging in topics that they are interested in how to be the change in their community.

Chapter 14 Catching Time: Documentary Photography and Social Reflection

Empathy is something that we have talked about almost every week related to every lesson. Creating empathy is an important concept that helps children relate to one another and make art work with deeper meanings. So how can we use photography in the classroom as a tool to help students relate and reflect with one another? When thinking of a lesson to incorporate this idea I think of a lesson that allows students to learn about photography first. Have students learn why photos have an impact. I mean we have all heard the saying a picture is worth a thousand words. After teaching the students techniques and how to take photos have them go out and take a series of photos that tells a story about themselves. These photos can be ambiguous or more straight forward. But this allows students to express themselves in a story told by pictures. Once mounted and displayed for a critique I would have students individually go around and write their own reactions and thoughts about each piece then come together as a whole and talk about each person's work. This allows students to develop empathy and learn about one another through a series of pictures and then learn more when the piece is discussed as a whole. 

Literacy Through Photography (LPT) "is a teaching philosophy and methodology that encourages children to explore their world as they photograph scenes through their own lives an to use their images as catalysts fro verbal and written expression." This is a great way to integrate other disciplinary subjects into the curriculum. Art is not always just about making, but also the process, displaying, connecting, and reflecting about a piece. When looking at the National Core Art Standards Connecting is one of the Anchor Standards. Specifically, look at Anchor Standard #10 that states, "Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to create art." This is important because students want to create art that is about them and has a connection to them. This makes reflecting back at the work have meaning to the student. In Wendy Ewald's LPT project the students are taking photos of themselves, their communities, and their families and then the students can write and express themselves on the photos. The students are reflecting on their photos when taking them, writing on them, and then also reflecting when they are finished. 

Zana Briski and "Born into Brothels" is a very powerful documentary! The stories that are told through photos is unreal. As I talked about before in the first paragraph of this post I would have students create a series about their own life. Students could take photos from their phones or cameras using unique lighting or perspectives (the options are endless). Each student would create a series about who they are or how they became who they are. Through these photographs the student must tell a story. Once the photos are taken the students will have a chance to write or express themselves on the photos themselves just like Literacy Through Photographs did. Students will then display their photographs to be seen so their classmates will have a chance to observe and reflect on one another's work. Through this the students will be able to develop empathy, improve their communication skills, and learn about photography.