Teaching Channel Assignment

          While watching these videos I noticed a common theme, arts and movement provides students with a unique opportunity to express themselves and to explore creatively. I was impressed by the observations and analyses the students were able to make through their artistic creations. I was also extremely excited by the positive attitudes, cooperation, and passion the students demonstrated while creating art, dances and musicals. In each video it was apparent that all students were learning in a way that met their unique needs and gave them the opportunity to make independent choices about what they wanted to create.

            I was especially impressed by the reflections and analyses that the students generated through their arts and movements. While dancing a diverse set of cultural dances the students expressed their deepened understanding of why dancing is important to culture and the importance of taking the time to understand a culture's values and customs. In the video about creating artwork for democratic vocabulary the students' displayed raw emotions of what it means to be a democratic citizen and it was clearly laid out in their drawings. Also, in the video about musicals, the students gained deep understanding of collaboration, teamwork, and that all artists' contributions should be valued. Each of these teaching techniques were extremely beneficial for the students and would be great strategies for implementing in the classroom.

           Although all the videos were fantastic, the one I will take the most from is "Museum Exhibition as a Culminating Event" (2015). I loved this video because it was a school wide project that incorporated art as the core of learning. Each lesson was Common Core aligned and each student was equally presented at the culminating project. For several months, each student created their own unique artistic creation that was later presented at the Getty, a local museum that is well known. The kids described having a great sense of pride and it was clear that they had a sense of ownership and authority as well. The students were extremely excited to present their art and one even described it as a "once in a lifetime" opportunity. Providing our students with opportunities to be proud of their art and to see their peers' creations is an extremely important element to incorporate in our teaching!

References:

Yarnes, L. (2015). Museum Exhibition as a Culminating Event. Los Angeles, CA: Teaching Channel.