techology in the classroom

I think that technology in the classroom can be a really good thing, because then there can be more ways to get your students to interact with the material. One question or maybe its a concern that I have is, if the students are only interacting on the computer or via the computer, then how to they get their face to face interaction with one another they way they should.


I like that teachers use technology in the classroom, and I think every teacher should. But I was thinking, since I am going to be teaching art, how am I really going to incorporate technology into my classroom? If I am teaching k through 12 then there will probably not be too many computer graphics classes that I will have to teach. From my experience those are most common in college.


From what I am assuming my classroom with be filled with paints, colored pencils, charcoals, graphite pencils, water colors and so on. And we will be using paper or canvas to draw on. I am not sure how many of these technology savvy classroom ideas I can use in my classroom in the future. Of course I can use e-mail, make a website for students to go on and use to look up assignments and maybe have a discussion board. I could make a powerpoint for the class, but from what I have been observing, there really isn't even enough time for students to start AND complete their work in a class period. Most students from what I saw are working really hard and taking their time. In my opinion I wouldn't want them to have to sit through a powerpoint while they know they should be getting work done. I don't think that means I would never make powerpoints, I would if I was having a class start a new subject or time era in art. But that would be the only time.


Have a good day :)

I came across something neat for teachers to use.

Hello everyone,

Today's post will be about a website I found called "www.apples4theteacher.com". It is a really cute website with resources for teachers and students. I decided to write about it because I thought some of the craft ideas were pretty nifty, and considering the fact that I will be teaching art, I decided to take a look at more of the things on the website.


From the introduction on the website they have interactive learning games, quizzes, and worksheet generator tools by subject-- creative arts, foreign languages, language arts, math, science, social studies, articles, and literacy coloring pages.


I thought this was pretty cool because it gives teachers a way to make fun and creative worksheets that go along with the subject they are teaching, and also gives students ways to learn by playing on the website using the interactive learning games, and the quizzes. If I was a teacher right now I would totally be using this site.


If I was planning on teaching something other than art, I would definitely have my students (as a fun activity if they were well behaved) to play on the interactive games, and color the literacy coloring pages. If I was a student I know I would enjoy that, plus I am pretty sure I just colored with crayons yesterday :)


What I like about this website is that it can accommodate any subject with quizzes and worksheets. Another bonus to the website is signing up for the free newsletter because it sends you free teaching resources such as lesson plan ideas and printables. I suggest this site, to just check it out. It seems like it could be useful in the future.


Check out the website and have a good night!

Not enough art in school?

As I wrote my last post about keeping art in school, I realized that there also isn't enough art in school. If you think about it, in a general middle school setting the students only get maybe 1 year of art. That year is split up between art and music, sometimes it isn't even a whole year. I remember when I was in middle school, we took an art and music class in 7th grade and after that it was optional IF you could fit it in your schedule with all your other academics.

Now when students get to high school they can basically pick any electives they want as long as they have enough credits to graduate. Sure you get some kids who take the art class for an easy A and other kids who actually want to be there. I feel like the arts are not really important to most schools. I don't like share that opinion. I think art is a great way for students to express themselves (as I have said in my other post).

Honestly though, there isn't much art in school. In elementary school the children get one day of music and one day of art a week. Thats two days a week every week. I honestly do not think that is enough. Of course academics are important because that is what children will use when they get older (etc. math, english, science, geography...) But as a person who is trying to become an Art teacher I think that art is really important for students and there should be more opportunities for students to take art classes. 

Art In Schools

I think that I heard somewhere that they are thinking about reducing the arts in public schools. I think that is a shame. First of all, art can be really useful as a tool to help students express themselves in ways that they might not be able to do in other classes or in other ways. I have been looking up websites that are for keeping art in public schools, and ways of enhancing the art programs of schools. One website that I found interesting was www.artinaction.org its a whole program dedicated to bring visual art education to the classroom, and they are nonprofit.
I think I would like to do something like that when I become a teacher. I want my students to be able to appreciate art, take it in, become creative and use their imaginations. Art also keeps kids out of trouble.
Who ever thought of reducing art in public schools obviously was not looking at the big picture. Keeping art in schools can improve student's grades, their ideas, their achievements and their lives. Art is fun and should definitely not be taken away. Everyone should be able to do art and enjoy it.