First, I'd just like to welcome you all to our blog! (I say "our" because much of the information posted on this blog will come directly from our students - their ideas, works of art, etc). I'm Ms. Mellissa, the atelierista (studio art teacher) and it is my job to provide provocations, guide lessons, and encourage creative thinking that occurs within the walls of the atelier (the art studio).
Our school is Reggio Emilia-Inspired, which means that there is a large focus on project-based learning. Although we do follow set standards, curricula, and complete both formal and informal assessments, we also wanted to add another dimension to our teaching. Being Reggio-inspired has allowed us to open our minds about the way children learn. We believe that our students can do anything and learn anything. Of course as educators, we are always pressed to "teach to the standards" (making sure our test scores remain high)- but what many do not realize is that if we change our approach and allow for children to discover on their own, and create authentic, meaningful lessons, our students will always gain deeper knowledge. We do not tell children the information that they need to know - it is not drilled in their brains repetitively - they are not given worksheets and copies to color in. We always try to look at our children as producers rather than consumers - to allow them time to discover and make their own meaning of a particular topic.
Our students are researchers. Oftentimes, they come up with the ideas that guide our lessons. The teachers plug in the math, literacy, history, and science connections (although the students begin to do this all on their own without knowing so). From their ideas, teachers gather materials that spark more interest and students are enabled to continue to dig deeper and create works based on their developing knowledge. In the atelier, students bring their ideas and knowledge and will create detailed diagrams, paintings and sculptures - discussing what they have learned.
There are also times when the teachers place materials out to serve as a provocation (to "provoke" thinking, learning and discovery). We want our students to wonder - we want them to never stop yearning for new knowledge.
Everything we do is documented. Conversations are recorded and photos are taken of each process. Documentation panels are created. Parents can view the documentation panels as evidence of the learning that occurs - students and teachers use the documentation panels as a reference or a guide to further teach an idea.
This might sound foreign now- but soon it will all fall into place...
Perhaps I should provide an example: Last year, prekindergarten students were amazed by water and its wonderful properties. We found that many students loved visiting the water table inside the classroom, would stay in the bathroom playing with the sinks, or become engaged when faced with the rain puddles outdoors. The instructors took this idea of water and allowed students to expand their knowledge - what did they want to know? Students literally became experts about water - understanding the water cycle, discovering how pipe systems work, even creating diagrams and sculptures of the water molecules when they are a solid, liquid or gas. Inside the art studio, students learned about how water bonds when frozen and used clay and wire to form delicate ice mobiles (with the two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom for each molecule). These were four-year olds discussing atoms and molecules and understanding them! Each step of the way, their questions, ideas and words were documented along with their explorations. Parents were able to see the knowledge their students held...
And this brings me back to the art studio, ahem, the atelier! I will tell you all what I tell my students: Art is a way of showing others what is inside your brain. Sometimes we can only use our words to describe what we know so much - but when we show someone what we mean visually - they can develop a better understanding of our thoughts. There are over 100 different "languages" (over 100 ways to say what we mean) -- It is my goal to provide all the wonderful ways to show what they know, whether it be through a painting or a clay sculpture.
I cannot do this alone! I will always be looking out for your support and will always welcome you into my room to work with me as a partner in this process!
Please know that all of my blogs will NOT be this long :) - that every student will not be showcased every day (as we have over 150 students!) - There will be some blogs about what we are learning in the atelier - how students are demonstrating their knowledge- and I will also try to provide blogs for parents that include resources and helpful materials!
This is a work in progress! Welcome to our journey!
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