My Journey:
I initially took this course believing it would require a lot of reading and writing, so I waited until my final semester of my MA in Art Education w/ Teaching Licensure program which was probably the wrong decision I made. I learned very quickly that on-line courses require almost twice the amount of work than courses on campus.
I initially took this course believing it would require a lot of reading and writing, so I waited until my final semester of my MA in Art Education w/ Teaching Licensure program which was probably the wrong decision I made. I learned very quickly that on-line courses require almost twice the amount of work than courses on campus.
I started the course in a great stride completing all my assignments in a timely manner. However, early on there were many personal obstacles which unfortunately kept me from completing certain assignments by their due date. I could not coordinate my schedule with students’ schedules, or they would cancel their interview at the last minute, it was so irritating as I had no control of this in my small community.
I finally came on-board, got caught up on my assignments, and understood the importance of this course.
New Understanding:
I began to realize why it was important to learn about theories of reading and writing, as we all have different ways of learning. As a teacher, we have to make accommodations for all our students depending on their needs and expectations. I particularly enjoyed the videos, articles and resources that were provided as I will refer to them periodically.
I began to realize why it was important to learn about theories of reading and writing, as we all have different ways of learning. As a teacher, we have to make accommodations for all our students depending on their needs and expectations. I particularly enjoyed the videos, articles and resources that were provided as I will refer to them periodically.
Inquiry Project:
I found the Inquiry Project to be one of my favorite assignments in the course. As an artist and art educator, I am a visual learner, as well as many other students I have taught in the past. I use many visuals in my teaching process, as it gets the students prepared and ready for learning. The PowerPoint presentation, Art Education: A Creative Approach to Learning, shows the importance of bringing art education into the curriculum of K-12 schools in New Mexico. I believe this presentation is a prime example of getting the message to the community and all those individuals involved in getting art education into the school curriculum.
I found the Inquiry Project to be one of my favorite assignments in the course. As an artist and art educator, I am a visual learner, as well as many other students I have taught in the past. I use many visuals in my teaching process, as it gets the students prepared and ready for learning. The PowerPoint presentation, Art Education: A Creative Approach to Learning, shows the importance of bringing art education into the curriculum of K-12 schools in New Mexico. I believe this presentation is a prime example of getting the message to the community and all those individuals involved in getting art education into the school curriculum.
Question:
Why is “art” not part of the school curriculum in many schools in New Mexico, when it is obvious that it is part of the “economy” in these communities?
I was surprised to find this alarming statistic when I moved to the Laguna reservation. I am an artist and art educator, I unfortunately learned there were no art education programs in the curriculum in the K-12 schools on the Laguna reservation. Additionally, there are no art education programs at other schools on the Acoma and To’hajiilee reservations which are within a 60 miles radius of where I live. My goal is to change this disproportionate statistic and bring art education into these communities and many other Native American reservations throughout New Mexico.
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| Mudhead Family |
Thank you, Michelle, you bring an artist's awareness, advocacy and aesthetic flow to the disconnect of the lack of art education in schools with your inquiry project. I firmly believe that with Yazzie Martinez v NMPED case and requirement for culturally responsive teaching, that we, as educators, now have a legitimate voice in assuaging these obvious discrepancies. Making connections in schools to students' cultural and linguistic background knowledge is what Gee was referring to when he named students' 'identity kits' they bring to school. Yet we do not acknowledge, validate or recognize these qualities because we are too biased in teaching from the Dominant Perspective. This is why Yazzie Martinez may be ground breaking, finally, in persuading teachers and school districts to embed and draw from students' cultural perspectives as the content and context for teaching. Art is a beautiful way to begin changing this narrative in a visual and natural way!
ReplyDeleteSo lead the way!
Appreciatively,
Frances