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It is week two in my student teaching, and I am still alive! Other than being physically exhausted at the end of the day, I can not think of anything better than getting my feet wet gradually in student teaching. I have come to realize that it is most beneficial to the student teacher to acquire a Cooperating Student Teacher Mentor that meets the following criteria:

1. Is someone you have observed and you feel comfortable with.

2. Is open to discussing strategies and is flexible in trying new things, because, as no two people are alike, not every teacher has the same procedures and teaching strategies.

3. Is someone you admire or who inspires you.

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In the picture above, I am having fun…I mean working on a new art project with my Cooperating Teacher Mrs. Olson.  This particular project was created by Mrs. Miller, another art educator in the same district.

What I think many art teachers need to let go of is being afraid of recreating or imitating projects they see other artists or art educators create. Imitating is part of learning, and teachers can tweak the imitated lesson to suit their own styles of teaching, methods and materials, or even to fit whatever materials are available.

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In this particular art lesson on drawing an Owl, it is not only about the technique of drawing with crayon to create texture and balance. What every educator should know is that every subject should be teaching reading in their curriculum.  What is great about art is that there are many beautifully illustrated story books on various topics including Owl Moon, by Jane Yolen.

In the pictures above and below, they show the teacher art samples.  This is a key step to planning any art lesson: practice before you teach. This way you can come up with some trouble-shooting idea’s for the materials you are working with, and you can better plan each day’s lesson for the project (e.g. is it a 2 or 4 day project). In elementary school, this may be a big deal if you see each class once a week.

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Owl Lesson to be continued…stay tuned.