DEA 407
Reading & Language Arts Methods
Below are some engaging & interactive strategies I like using in the art room to support the connection between contents such as reading language arts. It is important for my students to understand the importance of the research process and how to use said research to support the visual literacy they are building in our studio.
Reading
In my art learning studio, we will use learning strategies to connect our reading to our comprehension. One of the ways we will do that is through the written conversation activity while reading an article students will pass notes to each other. This is a fun way for students to have conversations about the subject, we are learning and using their own language to share opinions, concepts to real life experiences, summarize and recall, and make connections while building on prior knowledge all by using the nostalgic method of note passing.
Additionally, students are able to practice their writing skills to support their ideas, disagreements, and discoveries.
Writing
In the art studio it can be really daunting for my students so in light of creativity and differentiation of product, we practice raft writing and Ekphrastic writing.
In both, students are able to create or build what they’d like to write about. For clarity in the raft activity, students select their audience, the writer, their role they are writing from or as their audience, format, and their topic. For example, a student could choose to be an apprentice to a Weaver writing to their parents back home in Chicago, in a format of a letter about their second week, studying under a master Craftsperson. Could be an artist, writing a transcript for a tutorial for their TikTok audience, who are interested in creating an embroidery patch.
This assignment can be fun and yield to some really interesting creative writing. This assignment challenges, the students to think about topics from a new perspective all while summarizing, and comprehending the content they used to complete the assignment.
Ekphrastic writing is a form of descriptive narration of work. Students are also able to write from any point of view any format they’d like it must be directly connected to a piece of art. This is a great way for students to get a new perspective or outlook on their work, especially by their peers. This can also support students who may struggle with writing about the decisions they made in their work.
For example, a student could be viewing the A piece from Ebony G Patterson’s when they grow up a series and write a song about it.
or the kitchen series by by Carrie Mae Weems and maybe write a short story about it, but from the perspective of the daughter in the image or the table in the image.
Listening
Speed Conversations is just like Speed Dating but for opinions and facts. After reading students will be paired with a peer. They will have five minutes to discuss the topic at hand in the first two minutes and 30 seconds. Student 1 will respond while student two notes, interesting information shared, a-ha moments and questions they have. Then the students will switch roles. This can also happen as a general discussion if students have the capacity to speak and take notes. This activity requires students to clearly listen to their peer and their opinions. it is important for students to leave my class understanding the roles of communication and the importance of listening to rather than listening to respond. This helps develop critical, listening and thinking skills.
Speaking
Similar to writing in the art room, speaking can sometimes be intimidating. In my art studio we practice where do you stand? Also known as four corners here. Students are asked a question and have 30 seconds to answer the question by moving to the answers displayed around the classroom along with them to think critically, confidently and efficiently. Students are returned to those who ended up in their corner to discuss why they are there. Students will select one student to represent the group and share their group's opinions. Students will discuss why they agree or disagree with the opposing groups. This allows for students to speak about their opinions and are required to use their research and prior knowledge to support them.
Interacting
Sketching through text or Visual Journaling. These strategies are a great way for students to think their way through a reading and then visualize what they are consuming as our use imagery and sketching to illustrate and annotate the content. They are moving through the difference between sketching and visual journaling is that sketching through text can happen directly on the reading, and the margins of the reading as visual journaling, happens on a separate sheet of paper and allows for students to create more detailed, illustrations and notes. It is always suggested that students read through the text first, then create the visual notes, but every student interacts with the process differently. This is OK for me. It is here where students can use graphic organizers, comic strips, and more to illustrate the vocabulary, ideas and processes they are reading about. this also ensures that the notes that are being taken, are unique to each student and helps them reinforce their own unique, visual language.
Thinking
In order to build an art studio based on artistic behaviors and inquiry, it is important for my students to have access to as many forms of research and empathy building opportunities as possible. So having in person and virtual studio visits with experts and artists focused on the topic we are learning about, along with field trips allows students to feel immersed in the content. These will always be proof of learning processing and comprehension. so it is important for my students to participate in things like photo scavenger hunts, interview guided questions for our experts, videos to summarize the experiences they’ve had and many more.
Another thing I like to do with my students in order to initiate independent thought is student written contracts. This allows for them to take ownership of their projects and use the research. They have compiled a plan and created an innovative product that supports our essential question.