MANAGING THE ART ROOM

Vicki Bailey

Brynn G., By Flaming Result, grade seven.

Throughout my career, I have asked myself, as I think most art teachers have, how can I enable students to create personally relevant artwork? Each teacher will have a unique answer to this question. I want my students to create work that they are both proud of technically and connect with personally. The best place for students to start is with themselves. I encourage students to mine their memories and experiences in order to tell their story through art.

Prompt Cards
Prompts offer a starting point for students and encourage them to explore personal themes using their own stories as a source of inspiration. Students write short stories based on prompts relating to memories from various points in their lives. These stories can range from significant life events to mundane moments. Students are encouraged to explore and play with a variety of experiences as the basis of their investigations. They start out by following Linda Barry’s X-page method of visualization and relation to a specific prompt like “shoes.” As students get more comfortable with the idea of writing in art class, I incorporate prompt cards that are more open-ended and concept-based.

By creating a classroom culture where students’ voices and experiences are valued, we can provide an avenue for them to explore the world on their own terms.

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