Engaging Learners Through Artmaking: Choice-Based Art Education in the Classroom

This dynamic resource details the philosophy, rationale, and implementation of choice-based authentic art education in elementary and middle schools. To do the work of artists, children need opportunities to behave, think, and perform as artists. The heart of this curriculum is to facilitate independent learning in studio centers designed to support student choices in subject matter and media. The authors address theory, instruction, assessment, and advocacy in a user-friendly format that includes color photos of classroom set-ups and student work, sample demonstrations, and reflections on activities.

Book Features:

• Introduces artistic behaviors that sustain engagement, such as problem finding, innovation, play, representation, collaboration, and more.
• Provides instructional modes for differentiation, including whole group, small group, individual, and peer coaching.
• Offers management strategies for choice-based learning environments, structuring time, design of studio centers, and exhibition.
• Illustrates shifts in control from teacher-directed to learner-directed.
• Highlights artist statements by children identifying personal relevancy, discovery learning, and reflection.

€œThis is a book that €˜teaches all of the bases.€ The authors address theory, instruction, assessment and advocacy in a user-friendly format that includes color photos of classroom setups and student work, sample demonstrations and reflections on classroom activities. Overall, the book states the case for what we €˜ought to be doing.€€
€"Arts and Activities

€œThis book suggests the essence of art teaching, which is to inquire€"what do we need to provide young artists that will allow them to take full advantage of their artistic behavior?€
€"From the Foreword by George Szekely, Senior Professor, University of Kentucky

€œEngaging Learners Through Artmaking is the real thing. Clearly explained, highly informed of current research, full of the details that real teachers require for the realities they face every day, this book should make an immediate and enduring contribution.€
€"Peter London, Professor Emeritus, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

€œWith a refreshing and profound perspective on the core principles of art education, this book addresses the fundamental issues of the leadership we need in all facets of our society, namely the capacity to approach the challenges/problems we individually and collectively face in living a fulfilling life.€
€"Earl N. Powell, President Emeritus, Design Management Institute, Boston

€œEngaging Learners Through Artmaking provides important insights into the creative goals of any art curriculum and useful suggestions to help teachers move toward diverse and meaningful choice-making by student artists.€
€"Olivia Gude, Founding Director of Spiral Workshop, Professor of Art Education, University of Illinois at Chicago