Creative expression and an understanding of the arts can be an important part of a student’s educational pursuits. Teachers who are effective at art education instruction can help their students develop stronger abstract and analytical thinking skills.
Planning And Organizing Lessons
Plan your art education lesson thoroughly ahead of time. Make a comprehensive list of the materials your students will need, and arrange to make sure they’ll have them. If students need to bring materials from home, inform them well ahead of time to give students and parents the opportunity to acquire them.
Communicate A Clear Learning Objective
While some students will enjoy art education lessons regardless of the goal, others may need some help to understand how each particular lesson is valuable to their education as a whole. And even for those who don’t balk at art education, having a clearly defined goal makes your instruction far more effective.
Stay Up To Date On State Standards
Many effective lessons can be drawn from meeting state education goals. If your state has art education standards in place, review them regularly, and plan lessons which support these educational goals.
Vary Your Lessons
By using materials and methods appropriate to the age and abilities of your students, will teach a variety of different types of art production. Let your students experience the different forms of art offered by using finger paints or modeling clay, drawing from life or from photos, or experimenting with photography.
Explore Art In Historical Context
Art history not only introduces students to the masterpieces of the past, but teaches them that creative expression is strongly linked to social, scientific, and technological history. Teach about art throughout human history, and how the societies, events, and scientific advancements of different cultures influenced art. Doing so, places art in a larger context, and shows students that art influences society as well as the other way around.
Explore Other Connections
Art has strong connections with every other discipline. By helping students understand the connections between art and their own favorite topics, you’ll create more enthusiasm for art education lessons.
By Jane Dixon
