My first observation experience at Cameron Elementary School was a fantastic experience.  I participated in the 4th grade art classroom which was just starting a project centered on mask making.  Mrs. Allen the 4th grade art teacher presented a power point which gave the students several examples of mask from different cultures.  She told the students that they would be creating a mask inspired by an animal.  She had a fantastic worksheet for the students to fill out that asked the students to list several animals real and imaginary she asked the students to create at least 2 drawings of their proposed animal mask and than met with each student to discuss their design and how they would achieve the design they created.  I helped the students brain storm different kinds of animals and helped them identify defining characteristics of animals to use on their mask.  The students were very excited about this project and receptive to my direction.

Mrs. Allen asked the tables to clean up and directed all the students to put their mask worksheets in the "art museum".  The "art museum" is a cubby that Mrs.  Allen has organized with files for dry work that the students do.  All the students know that dry work goes to the "art Museum and wet work goes in the drying rack. 

The students sat back down at their tables when they were down putting their supplies away and waited quietly to be dismissed .  Each table has a color and artist hanging above it.  The teacher then can dismiss tables by color or by artist name.

On the first day of class after drill the students on safety issues such as tornado drills and fire drills she assigns the students to a table.  Kindergartners are all assigned tables by color the rest of the grades are assigned tables by artists.  The students are also given several facts about their artist and these are reviewed throughout the year.

On the first day of class the students are also required to create a sketchbook which they can work in if they finish a project early.  The sketches are given a sticker or a stamp that students can use as art buck.  Art bucks can be turned in at the end of the semester for prizes.

I thought these were all fantastic ideas.  I especially like the idea of assigning an artist to each table and can see myself using this idea within my classroom.

Becky Marine is a special education teacher she primarily addressed how we as teachers can reach students with differing ability levels.  She suggested that as teachers we consider how we can lower the playing field for our students so that each student can reach the goals appropriate to their ability level. 

The idea that I found most helpful from her was using advanced art students to help students with a lower ability.  This would allow me as a teacher to address the needs of the class while still ensuring that students who are struggling are getting the one on one help that they need.

Peggy Larson stressed several things during her presentation.  The importance of keeping your options open so that your available to take the job offered to you.  She also pointed out that art teachers teach more than just art.  Teachers also teach math, organizational skills, social skills and the list goes on.  She feels that it is important for teachers to address in particular the social skills of a student before a teacher can begin to teach content to the student.  I agree that as teachers we will be teaching much more than content and many of the skills and attitudes we will be teaching will be even more important than the content we teach.

I teach a discipline based art curriculum.  I have specific skills that I want my students to have once they leave my classroom.  I believe that it is necessary for me to direct their learning until I know they have acquired the content knowledge that I feel it is important for them to have.  If I feel a student has mastered the material that I have presented to them I would begin allowing them to direct their own learning a little more.

I am not professionally committed to any specific trend in education.  I believe that each trend that comes generally has something of value to my teaching practice, but I don't believe that any of them will be able to provide a solution to every problem I will encounter in the classroom.  What I am committed to is reflecting upon my teaching and making adjustments to my teaching according to my students needs.

Teaching is infinitely more important to me than art.  If art was more important to me than I would not have pursued a teaching degree.  It would not be fare to the students for me to teach just to support my art.  I enjoy working with students and watching them learn and grow as people.

I think that it is important to know your content to be an art teacher.  I don't believe that you need to be showing your work in galleries and taking commissions to be an art teacher.  I think that would be very difficult to devote enough time to your teaching if you were pursuing your art outside of class.

Safety is such an important issue I believe it is imperative that as a teacher I'm methodical in the way I approach safety issues.  Addressing safety with in my class room begins before the students even enter my class.  By being proactive and looking for materials and tools I would prevent accidents before they could have.  I also plan on giving my students a tour of the class on the first day pointing out where there are safety hazards and the steps it is important everyone take in order to keep everyone safe in my classroom.  Thirdly every time I begin a new project or allow a student to use a new tool I would demo that tool to them and ask them to sign a contract acknowledging that they have been trained in the proper way to use that tool.