Ms. Cohen’s Classroom Edit display name

About my class

Whiteboards, dry erase markers, scissors, glue bottles: though not the most exciting art supplies, these tools are fundamental. They help the elementary artist meet both state standards and personal goals, and encourage thinking processes that promote artistic growth. The benefits of personal whiteboards are twofold: they provide students with the opportunity to one, practice new drawing skills, and two, sketch out different ideas for final artworks that put those skills to use. Whenever students learn a new drawing skill—whether it’s observational drawing, one-point perspective, or another state standard—it’s crucial that they have ample time to practice. Using whiteboards is fun for students, and as they are reusable, students have unlimited chances to try. Using whiteboards helps instill the focus and determination needed to improve their skills, and the willingness to embrace the challenge in the first place. It is important for students to internalize the idea that practice makes progress, especially those who become discouraged quickly if they feel pressured to be perfect on the first try. Similarly, using a whiteboard to sketch ideas for a final artwork encourages experimenting with different ideas, instead of committing to their first one. Artists envision: they learn how to imagine different outcomes for what an artwork might look like. Using whiteboards encourages students to think both creatively and divergently, like artists. When students have gone through the process of developing great ideas, they deserve the tools they need to bring those ideas to life. Using clogged glue bottles and dull scissors is demotivating, especially for elementary artists, whose patience is limited but excitement unbounded. The tools I am requesting are more akin to what professionals use. Trusting students at an early age with the responsibility of using quality materials results in both greater respect for those materials and greater skill in using them.