Class got off to a slow start as the tween and teens slowly got settled and filtered into the classroom. By 9:20 it seemed that everyone had arrived so the instructors could begin with introductions. The students where very responsive as they threw the globe ball to their class mates answering the questions that were projected.
Other then the obvious what’s your name, favorite art medium and where are you from there also was…
What’s your favorite Cereal?
This question lightened the mood and elicited amusing remarks like
“I hate cereal”
“Favorite breakfast food then?”
“Bacon” “Coffee” and even “Pesto, egg, swiss cheese and tomato on a bagel”
Asking these questions to the class created a classroom community.
How else can we build community in our classrooms?
Although you would think this had nothing to do with the units theme of exploring new and familiar cultures, the instructors were able to tie this in by discussing how we all have shared experiences and eating definitely happens all over the world.
This discussion went on till after 10. Which did not give enough time for the students to finish their print making activity.
Is it always important to complete the lesson?
How do we learn to be flexible when we already have a lesson plan?
How can we build classroom community while the students are creating?
I listened as one of the students mentioned she was from Korea. At this mention a student from pleasant gap proclaimed that she knew how to speak Korean so I asked her how to say hello. She said she did not know but that she took karate. The Korean student explained that Karate was Japanese but the pleasant gap student did not seem to take this in to account, ignoring her remark and continued with saying she learned to count. I then interrupted and asked the Korean student how to say hello in her language.
How do we deal with preconceived notions and stereotypes of other cultures in the classroom?
I also found out that the student from Pleasant gap asked Jeff to facebook friend her, when he told her no she continued to try to engage him by suggesting that he be her friend and handing him her phone to put his number in so she could contact him. Proclaiming she has another male friend who is 27. Of course he did not give her his number but this did make him very uncomfortable and nervous.
How do we confront teenage sexuality in the classroom when it is directed towards us as teachers?
I don't think it is always important for student's to complete an art project if the students are able to engage is some way that is stimulating to their learning. I think asking the questions like, “What’s your favorite cereal” was a good way to get the students to feel comfortable in the class and to get to know each other. This, like you said, helped them to build a community.
ReplyDeleteI think the question of “How do we confront teenage sexuality in the classroom when it is directed towards us as teachers” is a very tough one to answer. I think that it is hard to know what to say or do/how to respond to a student when you are put in a situation where they would like to friend request you or get your phone number. I think it is important to establish from the beginning that there is a line between teacher and student and it cannot be crossed.
Reflecting on my own high school art classroom experience, I think that creating a classroom community at this age is very vital. As we have all discussed in our AED classes, the art classroom is a refuge, so it is important for the teacher to make the classroom as safe and inviting as possible. I think that a lot of the questions that you mentioned will definitely come up during our teaching experiences. We need to be prepared that this is a reality. We also need to be prepared in that we may not know the answers. Some issues may be too difficult for us to tackle, and that is why we have back up in the school community such as guidance counselors, administration, and fellow teachers. I think that because we are "specials" teachers or "electives" teachers, we tend to be isolated from the rest of the school. It's important to stay connected in your own teaching community!!
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