The 7 Habits for the Art Studio

Students are Synergizing daily in the art studio.  From sharing studio supplies to collaborating on ideas, working together as a team happens each day.  Students are enjoying helping one another to come up with creative solutions to problems.  Students will Synergize using their art talent and leadership skills to  host our community outreach project the 4th Annual  World Culture Bazaar. 

Students discussed the importance of Seeking First to Understand, Then to Be Understood in the art studio.  Students recognized that listening to instruction with "eyes, ears, and heart" is essential to obtaining knowledge necessary to be successful in art.  Knowledge obtained through listening is used when creating artistic masterpieces.  

Students are Thinking Win-Win in art class by working together to solve problems.  We are coming up with solutions where everybody wins and nobody loses.  Specifically, students have realized that if everyone at their table does not do their jobs, the table does not win points.  Also, students have been required to share some materials and formulate plans for working together and resolving conflicts that may arise.  Students decided that it is important to share, take turns, work nicely with one another, be kind, and think about others, not just themselves when working on projects.  Students will Think Win-Win by hosting our annual Rakai Used Book Sale.   They will bring in their old books and buy books  to help our school friends at the Rakai School in central Uganda. Students will read new book and help children in need

Students are, Putting First Things First in the art studio.  We brainstormed ways to put first things first at home (do your chores/ homework before you play) and in the classroom (work first, then have fun at recess).  Students decided that in the art room, it is important to listen and let Ms. Work model first, then work on work on their own projects.  They also stated that we should get materials ready first, then use them or learn about a famous artist first, then try to be like him or her. 

Beginning with the End in Mind in Art:  Students learned the importance of having a plan and thinking about the end result in relation to artwork.  As a class, goals were set for the first finished art project.  Students then created personal goals and a corresponding plan.  Goals were compiled into a class mission statement.  Students created a practice drawing and wrote down vocabulary terms that they need to use to be successful on their artwork.  Students will Begin with the End in Mind by doing their best work in their art journal that will be on display at our end of the year Celebration of the Arts

Being Proactive in Art:  Their first week in the art studio, students learned about being responsible for their own learning by following classroom procedures and reading the objectives as soon as they sit down.  Each student signed up for a job that they would complete for their team every time they come to art class.  Additional students were assigned jobs from the "Leader Board" as well.  We predicted what would happen if someone forgot their job or was absent and discussed solutions.  Students will continue to take on additional responsibilities such as distributing and caring for materials as the year progresses.