Reply to Jess: Best arts experience

Hi Jess

I really loved your paintings – you are obviously very talented.

It is interesting that your favourite paintings are the ones that have the strongest emotional impact for you, rather than the ones you do now that are more technically correct. Does this indicate the challenge in balancing correctness with creativity for artists and students engaged in the arts?

I really enjoyed the ideas expressed by Powell (1997) describing teachers as artists. When we step into the classroom we will be running a one woman show of drama, music, visual arts, media and dance. Powell recommended that teachers need to build their confidence and to take risks in expressing ourselves along with our students. If we are prepared to take creative risks alongside students, they are more likely to engage without fear in activities. Powell suggested that “as we come to believe more in ourselves and our perceptions we become less afraid – of offending, of sharing ourselves, of criticism” (p. 451) and that this serves us well for every teaching situation.

What do you think Jess? Does your confidence in the visual arts and music make you more confident about incorporating these and other arts into your classrooms?

Merian - School Portrait

Arts certainly took a peripheral place in the curriculum when I was at school from 1969 to 1980. There was a focus on the arts in kindergarten but a radical reduction in time spent on creative activities from grade one onwards. Our exposure to music was through the weekly ABC radio program “Lets Have Music” designed for grade three and four level students.  We did folk dancing as a PE activity and drama was limited to the end of year concert where we created short scripted dramas and dressed up to play characters from songs. There was little room for individual expression or creativity in any of these activities.

I certainly experienced the impact of the hierarchy of curriculum areas described by Sir Ken Robinson (2006). Students at our school who were intelligent were influenced to focus on maths and science subjects. By year 12, my only creative subject was English. My only arts outlet was playing the guitar. This seems like a long outdated paradigm ignoring students strengths or the value of the arts as part of the learning experience.

Jess- Blog Introduction and Best Arts Experiences

Hi Merian,

Before I begin my post, I want to state that:

I agree to contribute 50% to this blog and accept that my blog-partner Merian and I will receive the same mark against the criteria indicated in the Unit Outline for EMT694.

I love the broad beans! I’m hopeless at gardening but I would certainly agree that it can be art. It’s wonderful to hear about your family, you must be very busy.

I was born in South Africa and moved to Launceston when I was about 14. I now live in Sydney and I work at a preschool three days a week. I tutor primary and secondary ESL students three times a week.  I am hoping to complete my MTeach (primary) at the end of this year!

I have a lot of personal experience with the arts: painting and music. I began painting in grade 10. I took a visual art production pre-tertiary subject in year 12, but mostly taught myself to paint.

These are my two favourite paintings. Even though they're not as good technically as my current paintings, I love them more than other paintings I have done because of the way they really capture the way I ‘see’ my siblings. The first is of my youngest brother and the second is of my sister and me.

I also taught myself to play the piano. I have a digital piano that I play every day.

I’m excited to take ‘Introduction to Arts Education’ because I love the creative side of myself and would love to share it with my students but I do have trouble applying my creativity in educational settings.  

Blog Layout – I will use Trebuchet font in a different colour so that our posts are easily distinguishable.

I am looking forward to sharing our reflections on this blog and learning about your experiences with arts!

Jess

Best arts experience (so far) - Haiku at Hebel State School

My best arts experience in terms of teaching was in my last prac at Hebel State School where we worked together over two weeks to produce illustrated Haiku poems. The students presented their finished poems to their school mates and then hung them on the wall for all to see.

First post from Merian

Hello Jess

I am looking forward to learning about your experiences and reflections about the arts. 

I am a part time M.Teach (Primary) student, and work three days a week at UTAS as a Media and Communications Officer. 

The other things in my life that keep me busy are my seven year old daughter Bo, my dog Zak my husband David.

I will use Verdana font in this blog.

I also need to state that:

I agree to contribute 50% to this blog and accept that my blog-partner Tess and I will receive the same mark against the criteria indicated in the Unit Outline for EMT694.

Merian

PS This is me with some broad beans that I grew. Gardening is my favourite artform!