I teach Art to 250 middle school students in grade 6th, 7th and 8th. They come from all types of backgrounds; wealthy, impoverished, homeless, immigrant, refugee, and middle class. Art is a great way to help them find something in common while allowing them to share their uniqueness and creativity.
"There are no mistakes in Art." That's what I remind my art students of every day.
Because of this, one of my classroom rules is to take pride in their work. In doing so, they strive to always do their best. It's a safe place for them to challenge themselves and think outside the box.
My Project
All of my students want to explore and create art. My classes have a limited supply of formal drawing utensils. My goal is help them take pride in their work by making their drawings permanent. Sharpies allow them to have control over their final art pieces when readying them for display.
It's an important process in developing self-trust and pride.
The progress they will be able to make in their independent work to build upon their creativity will also help them become more comfortable in their ability to share their work with the rest of the school.
The smocks will allow the students to really immerse themselves into their art while protecting their, sometimes limited, clothing. This will encourage the students to explore and create without worrying about ruining their personal things. It gives all students a chance to take pride in their creations. They can see that the process is just as important as the final product.
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As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mrs. Wells and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.
