Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:18:00 +0000

On Facebook recently, I asked art teachers, “What advice should I give prospective teachers in my preservice methods class? What are the most important things you think they need to learn?” Here are the wonderful responses (each one from a different person):They need to learn:1. How to observe your students carefully as they show you what they know already and what they still need to learn.2. How to differentiate instruction and requirements so that every student can achieve.3. How to make do with tiny or non-existentent budgets and how to get students and families to buy in to sharing found objects for the art class.4. How to create learning experiences with whatever materials show up in your studio classroom.5. How to offer experiences to students without a predetermined result.6. How to appreciate the aesthetics of authentic kid art (and remember that many great artists share that aesthetic preference) this is an astonishingly beautiful reference for thathttp://www.amazon.com/Inno cent-Eye-Jonathan-Fineberg /dp/06910168447. How to have a great time with little kids--they are the best! If they can do this, it is the best job in the world.I know gathering all the things I need for a lesson - visuals, supplies, PowerPoints, etc. - and having them in an easily accessible place before students arrive really helps you to utilize your time well, and keeps students engaged. Maybe this is a no-brainer, but being prepared ahead of time really stops the off-task student behavior that can happen when you're searching for your step by step examples.They should know how to praise kids genuinely so that children do not work to only please the adult but engage in their own potential; and how to let go of an adult perception of what is "good."1. bake cookies for the office secratary and custodians. They cam make your job better or worse and cookies are always a good idea!2. never speak ill of anyone. they may end up being a friend, a resource or realted to someone important!3. plan ahead! students may work faster than you expect. have supplies ready BEFORE class. what will you do with the work when done?4. libarians can be gret sources for books related to topics. I love picture books as a way to introduce a lesson to young ones.Don't be afraid to command the room. Students crave leadership and, if you don't provide it, one of their classmates will.If you aren't confident in your own teaching skills yet, act like your own favorite teacher.Better to be overprepared than underprepared. (For me, that means being prepared for next week's class while I am teaching this week's class + having a selection of "just for fun" challenges that students can try if they finish their work early.)Bottom line advice to all my student teachers - writing objectives - if you don't know why you're teaching something, teach something else - kids of all ages know when you're excited about something- you should be excited about everything you teach... AND ALWAYS be prepared!!! Try to never have a moment that isn't planned - that's self defense - if they follow these rules, they'll be successful!I totally agree with Margaret! Plus...read the Teacher's Edition of the textbook for beginnings and closure ideas...Ditto everything that has already been said. I also think that EVERY art teacher needs to know how to make their program valuable to their school, the parents, obviously the students, and the community. Especially in this financial climate, the art teacher that knows how to promote and market their program in a way that demonstrates how important it is to the life of the school is an art teach[...]

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:11:00 +0000

1. “Act” like a teacher - confident, calm, and in control (of self). If you get angry, try not to show it. (Sarcasm doesn’t work, either.) Treat students with respect.
2. Establish classroom procedures from the beginning: coming in, assigning seats (helps you learn names and your substitutes will thank you), procedures for distributing and taking up materials, procedures for cleanup and leaving the room.
3. Be prepared. Have everything you will need for your classes handy so you don’t waste time looking for things (while students wait). Lay out everything you will need for the next day before you leave for the day. (Keeping the room organized will also help).
4. Keep students busy from the moment they walk in the room. Over prepare. Always have a backup plan if a lesson doesn’t take as long as you thought it would. Be flexible.
5. Constantly move around the room, checking for understanding, and giving assistance as needed, while also being aware of everything else happening in the room (eyes in back of head, radar, etc.).
6. Don’t turn your back to the class to help one student. Move so that you can scan the room as much as possible.
7. Have consequences for both preferred and undesirable behaviors. Try to catch students doing things well and praise them.
8. Use cues to get students’ attention (clapping hands, bells, other kinds of sounds).� I had a cleanup bell and used clackers and other noisemakers.
9. Do not let students leave their seats without permission or direction (helpful with very young students and large classes).
10. Write better lesson plans than you have to. It will impress your administrators and make you a better teacher.