Have questions about art class? Here is where you should come first!
Q: Ms. M, why you trippin' on the cell phones?
A: Because the phones are diluting your ability to focus (and everyone else's). Take a look at this article on Science Daily that says that even the MERE PRESENCE of your cell phone distracts you from other stuff. Art-making, imaginative thinking, and the socialization that you can get in my class are all going to help you immensely as you form yourself into a mature, aware adult. Cell phones are necessary, and often beneficial for research, convenience, and communication, but not while your brain is doing other stuff. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, I will actually ask you to take out your phones and do something with them: take pictures, look something up, go to Google classroom, or even let you listen to music. Those times will be stated aloud, but should never be assumed/ Here is my phone policy: TEXTING, SOCIAL MEDIA, AND TAKING CALLS, EVEN FROM YOUR MOTHER, IS AGAINST THE RULES. By choosing to engage in any of these activities, you are telling me that you cannot discipline yourself with your phone and need help with making good boundaries. If I collect your phone from you it is because I have determined this is the case for you, and if you argue with me or refuse to hand it over, the consequences escalate from there. I take this very seriously because the creative nature of our class requires good, focused concentration. Even if you think you can handle getting distracted and then getting back on task, the person sitting next to you might not. Q: Can I do something I saw on Pinterest?
A: In short, no. While I am very happy that you are looking at what other people are doing and getting ideas, copying ideas from Pinterest, Instagram, Deviantart, etc. is at best, not very original, and at worst, plagiarism. Here is some more information about plagiarism. Use the internet for inspiration and not as a reference for YOUR artwork. Q: How do you grade art?
A: I use a rubric. Here are the things I look at, and the questions I ask myself when I am grading: Craftsmanship/Care: How much care was put into this artwork? Does it look like the student took time and most marks on the page are intentional? Are there any stray marks that are unintentional? Does it look rushed or like it was done with a lot of patience and thoughtfulness? Is the paper wrinkled, or is the material crushed from poor choices in storage or transportation? Creativity/Originality: Was there experimentation with any of the elements and principles of art to create something original? Does the work uniquely express the viewpoints or interests of the student? Does the work look too similar to artwork found by doing a Google search or looking on sites like Instagram or Pinterest? Composition and Design: Did the student use any of the composition structures that we have learned? Is there intentional use of the principles of art to organize the composition: balance, emphasis, movement, proportion, rhythm, unity, or variety? Did the student go through the process of creating thumbnails and exploring different ways of composing the final before starting? Work Ethic/ Focus: Is the work completed? Is it completed on time? Did the student use of the time available to him or her to work, or was a lot of time spent avoiding work? Did the student come in during Power Hour, before or after school to get some extra time to work? Citizenship: Were the materials used during class consistently cleaned and put away? Did the student help the other people who needed help, or offer encouragement to students who seemed to be struggling? Did the student distract anyone else from being able to work on his or her project by being overly social, loud, or creating a negative work environment? Growth: How does the work compare to earlier work of the student? Does the work show an evolution of ideas, technical ability, or craftsmanship? Was the student more engaged with his or her work this time than he or she has been during previous projects? Is the student stuck working in only one style or subject and not willing to try something different? |