Art

art

Teaching for Artistic Behavior – TAB

This year Stevenson’s 3rd-5th grade Art Program is transitioning into a TAB classroom: http://teachingforartisticbehavior.org

CHOICE-BASED ART EDUCATION regards students as artists and offers them real choices for responding to their own ideas and interests through the making of art. This concept supports multiple modes of learning and teaching for the diverse needs of students. The learning environment provides resources and opportunities to construct knowledge and meaning in the process of making art. Choice-Based Art Education utilizes multiple forms of assessment to support student and teacher growth.If students are offered a choice of materials while providing ample time and space for them to pursue their own ideas most of the time, they will learn many essential skills necessary for being a creative person.

Teaching for Artistic Behavior Supports 21st Century Skills. The Partnership for 21st Century Skills highlights the following cognitive skills for learning that meet the needs of today’s world. Choice-based teaching and learning provide opportunities for students to develop and expand these skills during art class. 

  • Creativity: Discovering new ways to think, innovate, experiment, learn and do.
  • Critical Thinking: Using original ideas to solve problems.
  • Communication: Expressing thoughts and feelings effectively.
  • Collaboration: Working in partnership with others toward a common goal.

Creativity is a highly valued 21st Century skill. You can keep children’s natural curiosity and confidence alive with many experiences. The arts are a great way to foster creative thinking and learning in school and home. 

What is Creativity?        

  • Creativity means “coming up with new ideas that work”
  • Creativity is a “habit of mind” for looking at situations in new ways and creating new ideas.
  • Creativity is “thinking outside the box” or “divergent thinking”.
  • Creativity is the act of making connections between seemingly unrelated ideas to make something new and appropriate.
  • Creativity means finding new ways to solve problems and interact with the world.
  • Creativity is a cycle, an evolving thinking process that moves from inspiration to exploration, creation and evaluation.
  • Creativity is the ability to see what’s not there and create something new.
  • Creativity is more than just brainstorming new ideas. Part of the creative process is deciding which ideas work best for the particular situation or problem. Every artist edits, evaluates and revises, building on feedback and inspiration from others    

From Crayola: Champion Creatively Alive Children. 2012.