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reading and writing in art
[ Thread ][ Subject ][ Author ][ Date ]Julie Brady
Wed, 8 Sep 1999 12:26:02 -0500 (EST)
I teach elementary art (grades 1-5) in a school with a large ESL
population. We not only produce art, but we talk and write about art every
day. My students have a quick sketchbook assignment for the first 5-10
minutes of each class. These assignments can consist of purely drawing,
writing or a mixture of both. We also have vocabulary words with each unit
that the students put into their sketchbooks with definitions and pictures.
I stress the process of all projects in writing, verbally and by
demonstration. Not all students are visual learners. If I only
demonstrated and then expected them to produce art, I would leave many
students in the dark. We need to provide our students with as many
opportunities to learn and experience as possible at every level of school.
I find my ESL students picking up art vocabulary words more and more as we
write them, say them and do them. I, as an ongoing learner, try to
practice drawing without distraction on a daily basis. But, if that was
all I did I feel that my scope of learning would be very narrow. I learn
just as much, if not more, from reading about art in books and journals,
talking to other artists, and reflecting in writing on my own work. These
experiences are valuable to all artists, and should be provided to our
students learning about art as often as possible.