Reading+Reviews

Caitlin Kubera Weekly Review 1 9/4/08    __ Children and Their Art __, by Al Hurwitz and Michael Day __ Experience & Art: Teaching Children to Paint __, Nancy R. Smith __ Summary  __ The early crafts people discovered that art could be used not only as functional, but when used the proper aesthetic, a great response was created. The fine arts were developed such as drawing, painting, sculpture, and later, printmaking. Art Education had many early influences in Philosophy and Psychology. John Dewey was a pioneer in understanding the relationship between students and their environment along with the society they live in. Other contemporaries such as E.L. Thorndike and Gestalt developed theories about education still used today. Findings in brain research support the idea that a child’s early years are crucial for development a positive learning experience involves many factors. Children’s art work develops as they grow up. When they are young, shapes are created that most adults find fascinating and difficult to understand. As their brain develops, they are able to make connections to the world around them and in turn, create more recognizable symbols. Children use primitive symbols to draw what they know and what they see. Children create art to engage all of their senses for expression. It heightens their sensitivity to the world and their surroundings. __ Class Connections  __ In class, we discussed that a positive learning environment is crucial in the development process. Repetition of material is necessary for one’s brain to comprehend and retain the material. With the classroom set up, the teacher must be able to connect to all students. A child’s first teacher is their parents. Parents are the one’s who should allow creative freedom, scribbling leads to making shapes and symbols, increasing the learning process. __ Realizations  __ As a teacher, it is crucial to understand the past and education patterns. Philosophers and educators have been working for centuries to develop the best learning techniques. Although some ideas are constant, it is also important to research and experiment with more contemporary thoughts. Society is constantly changing and keeping a classroom updated is important for the students. Allowing for freedom within the structure of a classroom is a balance that needs to be understood. Students must be able to feel comfortable with themselves and their own ideas and be willing to share them.

Reading Review #2 __ Children and Their Art __ : Ch 7Painting by Al Hurwitz and Michael Day __ Experience & Art: teaching children to paint __ : Ch2 & 3 by Nancy R Smith __ Summary  __ One of the most valuable teaching skills is being able to encourage students to form and carry out the students own ideas. One must allow the students to draw their own conclusions and critique their own work. Although positive reinforcement is imperative for the development of children, simply saying “Wow! That looks great!” does not help the student. One must praise ask questions about how the artist arrived at their work. Class rooms tend to be small, so the classroom must be set up efficiently. There must be areas set up for storing supplies, finished work, unfinished work, cleaning supplies, overhead, and an area for the students to work. Lighting is a way to change the feel of the classroom. Large lights and a black sheet can be placed carefully to create shadows on still life. There also must be space to display all the students work. It is aesthetically pleasing and gives the students great satisfaction to see their work. At a young age, children explore color with paints. They love the feeling of the brush on the page. As they mature, they being to understand shapes and use them to further explore color mixing. __ Class Connection  __ As an art teacher, it is important to keep the children engaged in the lesson of the day. Voice inflection is a tool teachers use to keep the students quiet and paying attention. The teacher must determine the vibe of the room and from there, decide if they can be a little silly or firm. Despite any budget, one must be resourceful with the materials and containers. Having a clean, organized workspace will help the day be less stressful. In some cases, the materials can be already laid out for the students so when they enter, they are ready to work. Or, depending on the age, they can retrieve the materials themselves. __ Realizations  __ I previously thought any positive affirmation of a child’s work was necessary. However, I learned that it will only end up making them think they should create work for the pleasure of others. In order to fully engage their imagination, questions about their work will help them think deeper about what they create. Teachers must be able to work with what they are given. In most schools, the art program is pushed aside and not given proper funds. Developing unique projects with found objects can be a way for the students to use their imagination and use something different besides the conventional materials. Organizing the layout of the classroom is vital for keeping everything organized.





October 16 Reading Review

