The week started with "Back to School Night" on Monday. This is a big change for our school to have the open house before school starts. I loved the energy in the air, although I only got to meet a few parents. What needs to be different so that I can meet more parents?
Tuesday! Our first day back we make sketchbooks, talked my students through the syllabus and the Teaching for Artistic Behavior (Choice-based Art/TAB) format of the Drawing & Painting class. I wonder if they realize the amazing experience they are in for?? In 3rd period, Advanced and AP, we started on our first project - Art Re-do. This art piece starts with a piece of work left on the drying rack from last school year. Recycle, Reuse, Re-do! We will use these pieces to practice our first class critique next week.
2nd day of school (Wednesday) means TAAASSSKKK PAAARRRTTTYYY!!!!! Wow! What a success! Everyone was engaged! So many laughs and smiles! So many waffles! So much spontaneous art created! Right in line with the spirit of TAB.
Thursday was "Input Day." This is almost like the NFL draft when the kids give input on what they want to work on and accomplish this first semester. I collected some long lists of ideas from all classes, so now we are in business. By Thursday, lots of schedules were still being changed, but everyone so far was set with storage folder, storage drawer, grade sheets, and many turned in parent syllabi.
Friday we watched a video on Oliver Herring, the artist that created Task Party, followed by a short debrief of our Task Party focusing on what we did well and what we need to change. Should we have another Task Party? YES, of course! Friday we got arting on our first round of observational sketches. Sketch for practice. Sketch for ideas. Sketch for fun.
Was I tired by the end of the week? No way! I am pumped for all the fun that will happen next week!
