Art lesson in Jessica’s Classroom Part 1 and 2

While watching this classroom, I was instantly made aware of how different the dynamics seem to be in an Art classroom than in the other two class videos. For example, while she was introducing the new project, the students were still working on other Art. At first I thought this would not be something I would allow in my classroom but it seemed it did not affect student engagement, as the students were still able to answer her questions with thoughtful responses and add on to things the teacher or their classmates said. The teacher also gave the students background information on the project regarding the American History it was inspired by, a few social, economical, and political tie ins, as well as encouragement in relating this American Flag project to their personal lives and extended heritage. She even encouraged them further to explore their heritage by assuring them that “America is often referred to as a Cultural Mosaic”. I also appreciated how she had a democratic approach in her classroom because she asked for suggestions from the students on other ways to think about and attempt the project she presented. This facilitates a dialogue with the students about their assignment because it feels more collaborative which is important as it helps the students to see how their ideas have value. One thing I did not feel was a good teaching technique was when she was introducing the project, she stood behind her desk instead of among the class. Another thing she could have done to make the lesson introduction more dynamic is to use the promethean board to show examples to her students on a larger scale instead of on printer paper. When she was modeling the Art demonstration, the teacher did not wait for all the students to come to her. I think this would be something I would reflect on because there could be a possibility that those students will ask me to repeat the directions which is something I could have easily avoided if I had waited a minute for them to make their way over to me. That way I would not be taking time away from those students looking for further assistance and feedback in the preliminary stages of the project and beyond. Another excellent strategy the teacher used was to play American patriotic music while the students worked. This really tied in what I liked about her lesson overall: Art can bring various subjects together to make harmony and beauty and connect to the inner being of the Art student, as well as build confidence in students so they can share their authentic selves with the world.