Follow Me
  Janine Campbell
  • Home
  • Blended Learning
  • Assessment
  • Thematic Units
  • Publications
  • Lights, Camera, Learning
  • Get Your Grant On

options matter

12/17/2012

2 Comments

 
Today was the announcement of the West Central Michigan Regional Scholastic Art and Writing winners. I have been fortunate to teach art for the past 9 years and have been participating in this competition for the last 6. Each year, I pour over student work and try to think like the jury will before selecting the best 20 to be judged in a variety of categories. 

This year, I was a little worried about how we would do. We received 19/20 last year and I thought there was little to no chance of topping it. And of course, I am probably the only one who even cares about doing that. For my students, they don't care about what the art program has done in the past (nor should they), they only care about what is happening now and what I am doing to help them learn, grow, and achieve. 

And although we did not get 19 awards like last year (I am not sure we will ever do that well again), I was more excited about what was earned than any previous year. It might be because we achieved the first American Vision Award for our middle school, or the fact that there were a couple students who won multiple awards, but I am probably most excited because the work that won was truly unique pieces created by my students and not handed down from me. 

In each case, the work is purely the point of view of the student who created it. I may have showed them a technique, or introduced an influencing artist or movement along the way, but ultimately the students are the ones making the choices for how and what they want to say with their work. This is what I have found the most exciting take away from this year's competition. 

I don't want to knock what other art teachers do (because I do this, too), but I hope to push myself beyond a one size fits all product at the end and allow more choice and student voice in the process. I am trying to do that more and more with each lesson and not to the expense of Art History or technique. 

Just see for yourself by checking out our 2013 winners below: 
Picture
Tommy Sadler, My Many Faces, Gold Key and American Vision
Picture
Gold Keys: Jazmine Hamm, Krista Bartholomy, Kennedy VanLierop (2), Thomas Lake
Picture
Silver Keys: Jazmine Hamm, Carol Zarate, Maria Cotts, Reed Jelinski
Picture
Honorable Mention: Lauren Elliott
How do you handle choice in your classroom? Do you participate in the Art and Writing Awards? Post any links to student winners or lessons that relate. 
2 Comments
Tim Bogatz link
12/19/2012 04:14:38 am

First off, I'm really impressed by the work you have here--great, great stuff by your students, and obviously a lot of credit to the teacher. My Many Faces is an absolute show-stopper, and it's very deserving of the American Visions Medal.

I've always been a big believer in giving students choices, and when it comes time for judging with contests and competitions, I think that can only help the students. Judges are looking for original, creative work, and when students provide that type of work, they are rewarded (I wrote a little bit about that here: http://eastartroom.wordpress.com/tag/saying-no/)

I'm also impressed that you have gotten 19 awards out of 20 entries before - how mad were you at that one kid who didn't win? :) - but you said kids shouldn't care about that. I disagree completely. Part of having a great art program is being able to continue success. If kids know it's been done before, it gives them knowledge that a) they can do it, too, and b) they are being held to a pretty high standard. I absolutely play up the fact that kids have done well before, and I'm always showing pictures and discussing/critiquing previous years' work. It's a great motivator.

We have Scholastic coming up in January, after break. I'll let the kids choose the work they enter, and guide them if they need it. They've made the necessary choices when they created the art, and they will choose what they want to exhibit. Probably don't have any American Visions winners this year, or 19 winners out of 20 entries, but we'll do what we can.

Long story short, some great work, great thoughts, and great teaching. A lot of respect coming to you for what you are doing. Congrats.

Reply
Mrs. C
12/19/2012 05:15:35 am

Thanks, Tim, for always taking the time to put together a thoughtful comment. I appreciate your point of view and what you have to offer to the conversation. I guess when I said that the kids shouldn't or don't care what has been done in the past, I meant that they are focused on what I am going to teach them now and how I am going to help them grow and learn in the future. I always share past accomplishments through our class blog, but I try to be forward-looking when I do. Past accomplishments are nice and are great to bask in, but if I only do that (or even focus on it too much) then I am probably missing out on the needs of the students I am currently trying to reach. I think my students have an idea that our program is special and that they are in a special place. You can read that in comments like this one from a 7th grade student who reflects on her work: http://www.artsonia.com/museum/art.asp?id=21338554&exhibit=582819&gallery=y
Tradition and creating a reputation of excellence is helpful when building a program (especially in the face of budget cuts), but you can only look back for a short time because there are too many students waiting to be lead forward. Thanks again for the comment and I am excited to see the pieces your students have made for Scholastic, too.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Janine Campbell

    Visual Arts Teacher at Byron Center West Middle School. Check out their classroom blog.

    Archives

    August 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    August 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012

    Categories

    All
    Assessment
    Awards
    Blog
    Chicago
    Choice
    Classroom
    Conference
    Connections
    Display
    Drawing
    Ecet2
    Education
    Exhibit
    Flint Institute Of Arts
    Fraggle Rock
    Grades
    Home
    Inspiration
    Keynote
    Labels
    Learning
    Macul
    #macul16
    MAEA
    Materials
    Moodle
    Movies
    NAEA
    #NAEA15
    #NAEA16
    Paris
    PBS LearningMedia
    Reflection
    Sub Plans
    Teaching
    Technology
    Travel
    Turtleman
    Twitter
    WGVU

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.