Philosophy of Assessment
Art Education (K-12)
In my art classroom,
differences will be celebrated and nurtured. This will be supported through
differentiated teaching strategies which include modeling of specific skills,
verbal and visual representations, peer group and one on one discussions,
and encouragement of student ownership.
Assessment of student growth and achievement will involve a variety of
evaluation approaches, including observation, portfolios, written work
in the form of reflection, analysis, and self-evaluation, performance-based
tasks, and bi-weekly student/teacher conferences.
Assessment criteria will be established before instruction to ensure
that both teacher and students remain focused on important criteria. This criteria will be presented verbally, visually, and in
the written form of rubrics and checklists to guide student progress.
Assessment will also act as an informational tool to modify and improve teacher
instruction.
Art
based lessons will adhere to the NY State Visual Arts Standards
and topics concerning multi-culturism and social
justices will frequently be investigated and addressed through artistic
expression. Electronic portfolios, digital design projects which incorporate
authentic learning, and art history research-based projects will utilize the
technology available within the art room. Lessons will be created to engage
students and tap into the higher-order thinking skills of Bloom’s Taxonomy. In
the development of lessons, consideration will always be given to individual
student needs, interests, and abilities.
The art
room is a combination of social interaction and individual reflection, where
the teacher acts as a facilitator, challenging students to achieve personal
excellence, while simultaneously providing support and guidance. Upon entering
the art room, you will witness students working on a variety of projects and
processes, sometimes in groups and other times independently. Hands on
experimentation is the focus of the art room, so please be advised...It could
get MESSY!