Making Choice Matter

Stephanie Shaffer North Garland High School

Tour Guide

Tip

Choice- Based art is the ideal situations for student-lead differentiated learning..

Selling itI used the Choice- Based model when I taught 450 Pre-K and Kinder in a charter school in South Dallas, on a cart.

Currently I am a learning partner at a magnet school for Math, Science, and all things Googley.

How can Choice be modified for the high school art room?

My Stats

Keep your learning objectives precisely measurable and vague.

#1 Student will develop skills in these three areas:• Media – Students will use a broad range of traditional 2-D, 3-D, and electronic media and technology to express ideas

and to create artistic content.• Creativity– Students will develop and use characteristic traits of creativity (and artistic habits of mind) to express

unique, personal, and different ideas in artistic content.  Students will explore the options and alternatives inherent in art experiences.

• Self-expression – Students will develop skills and confidence as artistic thinkers by transforming ideas- as responses to art projects, art assignments, and art problems -into unique, personal works of art. 

#2 Students will develop skills in these three areas:• Historical/ cultural heritage – Students will describe the connection and relationship between the artist and the

creation of art within and across a broad range of western and non-western societies and cultures.• Response/ evaluation – Students will respond to their own art, the work of others (classmates), and art related

subject matter by applying the techniques and principles of art criticism, art aesthetics, reflective and/or persuasive writing.

• Principles and Elements – Students will apply the Principles of Design and Elements of Art in the creation of their artwork, in critical dialog, and in applied writing activities in art criticism, art aesthetics, and art history.

 #3 Students will develop skills in these three areas:

• Vocabulary – Students will use an appropriate art-related vocabulary in the use of critical dialog and in applied writing activities in art criticism, art history, and art aesthetics

• Principles and Elements – Students will apply the Principles of Design and Elements of Art in the creation of their artwork, in critical dialog, and in applied writing activities in art criticism, art aesthetics, and art history.

• Writing – Students will use writing in art as a meaningful opportunity to express ideas and understandings about art through various writing activities including, art criticism, art aesthetics, and art history.

1. IntroFirst things first

➔ Learn their names, yes, all of themBefore the syllabus, art fees, rules and procedures, get to know who they are.

➔ What’s in the box challengeThe objective of this first activity is get access their skill, identify leadership roles, and explore where things are around the room

➔ SimpleBe clear that the objectives are not how it looks, but how you used the objects.

What’s in the box challenge:

Working in your group, you have 45 minutes to create a face using everything in the box and anything else you can find.

Art 1B

2. ExamplesAt the beginning of the year students pick a theme. Their chosen theme is woven in their projects throughout the year.

➔ Artist ChallengeThese are teacher lead problems for the learner to solve. This is a way to introduce new material, artists, or concepts.“

➔ Choose Your Own AdventureStudents gather points depending on the level of difficulty of their project.

Sample Assignment:

Deconstruction in ArtWhat would you fight for?Using only visual metaphor sketch

5 ideas about what you lose sleep

over

What other artists have explored this issue?

Demonstrate: ● Thin out pages● Windows cutout● Pockets● Framing● Colage

Include a metal element

Artist Statement● What is it?● Why did you make it?● How did you make it?● How good is it?● What did I learn?

Artists Challenge:

Artist Challenge: Forced connection: Noun, verb, shape, or feeling

Tip

Remember. If you are not having fun, do something else

Sculpture II

Tip

Choice- Based art is the ideal situations for student-lead differentiated learning..

What does “Choose our own adventure” look like?

Tip

Don’t wait till the end of the presentation to give the bottom line.

Reveal your product or idea (in this case a translation app) up front.

➔ Label EVERYTHINGIt’s November, and you get a new student, how do they know where things are?

➔ Provide visual reminders

Use visual cues to show how you want things to look

Organization

Tip

Compartmentalize supplies to make it easier for kids to find things and return them to their proper spot.

Tip

Provide LOTS of visual Reminders!!

The artist statement is the golden egg of the Choice- Based classroom. It counts as a Quiz grade.

What? WHAT IS IT? Explain your work of art.Examples: This is a metaphor for something that bothers me....This is an experimentation with found objects.... This is a collection of visual research about…This is some information I gathered about…This is an interpretation of a painting by…This is a brainstorm that I put together to....

Why? WHY DID YOU MAKE IT? Explain how this piece helps you in your projectExamples: ...to get ideas about...to get me thinking about...To show what I have learned about...To explore the idea of...To examine the shape/ form/ texture/pattern of...To analyze the style of...To try out the technique

How? HOW DID I MAKE IT? Explain how you created the piece of work.Examples: I torn the pages and....I constructed it from...I built it up by collaging..I gathered the images from the internet (must site sources using ...)I photocopied the image from a book called (must site source and include the image)I found the information on a site called (must site the source using...)

Quality? HOW GOOD IS IT? What are you pleased with? What could you improve?Examples: I am pleased with the way I...One good element of this work is...The best feature of this work is...A section of this work that is particularly successful is....I’m not happy with...One area that I could improve is....The least successful part of the work is...I wish that I had...

Learning WHAT DID I LEARN? What have you found out?What are your next steps?Examples: I improved on my skills in...I.I have a better idea of...I have a deeper understanding of...I feel more confident about...Next I will try...To follow this up, I will ...To build on this piece of work I hope to...

Gradebook- I put a grade for everything

3. Areas for opportunity➔ Shared space

Space is used by another teacher for 1 class period, every day.

➔ Full ChoiceGotta follow T.E.K.S. Students expect to do Ceramics in Ceramics class, and Sculpture in Sculpture class.

What people are saying

Good luck!We hope you’ll use these tips to go out and create life changing experiences for your learners!

For more about Choice- Based art, check out this book!

Tip

“And for the love of pizza, don’t forget their names”

-Joanna