Component 5 - Reconstructing

Criteria - Reconstructing

From understandings developed through addressing Component 4, reconstruct and reframe new understandings about the issues raised and how these will influence your future actions as a teacher of the arts. Mention awareness of the development of children’s personal aesthetics (refer to p. 133 of the Textbook. (For the final submission, collaborate about shared understandings and ‘reconstructions’ and collate actions for the future).

Min – 300 words

'Seasons' critiqued by Kelly Hansen

An important aspect of being an art teacher is to encourage children to be creative and develop their imaginative skills. Art teachers can achieve this by using an open-ended structure which allows the children to explore activates and respond to the challenge. In addition, it is vital for teachers to develop the children’s personal aesthetics. This allows them to understand their sensory, emotional environments and more.

This art work could be utilised in a number of ways in future teaching episodes. Firstly, it could be used as a tool to demonstrate certain elements and design principles such colour (rhythm), texture (contrast), and value (pattern). Secondly, the teacher can use the environment as a topic part of a unit plan. Thirdly, the art piece could be used as a warm up activity in an art lesson about the environment. The teacher could ask the children what they think and feel about the study piece to extract their personal thought and understanding of the art work. The teacher can ask the children what is an environment. The teacher could also have the children suggest other things they might find in the environment to help make meaning of the topic. Finally, the teacher could then read a story about the environment to the children and then create a re-tell. The re-tell would consist of an individual art piece and a re-tell of the story. After the retell is complete, the children take a specific scene out of the story and create it in their classroom as a group activity. This will create a real life experience to explore and an opportunity to develop their imagination, express individuality and encourage creativity. It also provides the teacher with evidence of achievement which allows the teacher to then provide more or less assistance if required.

© Kelly Hansen, 2013