What a great couple of weeks this has been in this class! It really has brought back so many different memories of my school growing up. The visual arts program really has stimulated my way of thinking and definitely how to integrate these methods into my own future classroom. Where some classes get a little boring with lectures and black and white words on the printed page I always look forward to this class because I know there will be something interactive for me to do. That's the way I learn best is by seeing something visual and then being able to express myself similarly.

The week we went from station to station learning and practicing the basic principles of visual art was great because there were explanations on what was required but then there was a whole table full of resources and materials available for me to get in there and do it myself. And if I ever had any questions I had 5 or 6 other people that were there to help me along.

The artist presentations were fabulous because they showed me new things I had never seen before as well as fun memories of things that I had forgotten. The greatest part was after all of these wonderful visual presentations we were able to get in and explore how each of these artists really did their work and I could try to mimic their style and have fun creating.

For a visual learner like myself I was very grateful for these week's lessons!

The Arts & Me

I think that the arts was really what got me into school and learning growing up. The only vivid memories that I have of my early education are of art projects, songs I've learned, and anything that had to do with visuals or hands on making things! I remember that most of my teachers would give us big projects that had several options with them. You could write a paper, make a timeline, etc...but the ones I ALWAYS chose were the artsy ones. I'm sure my parents LOVED getting to help me with those every month! I made paintings, sculptures, dioramas, stories, and anything else you could trust to an elementary school student! This was the case throughout my entire life through high school. I never really learned something until I got to get in and create something for myself. It enabled me to go and learn things on my own because I wanted to and because I wouldn't be able to finish my projects without doing so. And even better, those are the projects that I remember to this day so that knowledge has remained with me all this time. It wasn't until my junior year though that I had a teacher in humanities that made me appreciate art on a worldwide and more specific level. Before I knew things that I liked in art but I never really sought them out or learned to appreciate them on a deeper level. Through her class I was able to take journeys through time and really appreciate music and art and culture. That has been one of the greatest influences in my life. Now, I seek out museums and plays on my own in my own town and whenever I travel. Art is how I learn and I hope to be able to integrate that into most things that I can teach!