Last year was crazy!!  My first year doing TAB was almost a success, but there were so many things I didn’t include in my curriculum but that were important.  Last year I started a list of “Studio Improvements” I want to focus on in 2015/16.    These “Studio Improvements” will expand my students’ ability to have authentic artistic experiences in the art studio.

1.  I want  to emphasize how to think like an artist to each student.  Last year was an experimental year for me and the students, so they did not understand fully how to make decisions about their artwork.  Towards the end of the year I focused on the Studio Habits of Mind to encourage their thought processes.  The Studio Habits really helped them focus on how to be thoughtful about their artwork.  This year, we will discuss how to think like an artist and make decisions about their artwork.  This will be a daily discussion with my students.
2. I want the students to critique their artwork this year.  Everyday I want to have a different critique game for the students to play.  I want them talking about their artistic process and giving suggestions to other artists in their class.  I think critiques will help their understanding of the artistic process as they explain it out loud to their peers. Critiques will also help prepare them to write their artist statements.  The more talking about art the better!
3. I want the students to take care of the art materials in the studio.  From pulling out the chairs to putting away the painting studio, I want the students thinking about the materials in the art studio.  This will create a feeling of respect, not only for the artists in the studio, but for the studio itself.
4. I want the students to be able to complete the entire artistic process from the start of an artwork to the end of the artwork.  I want to have fewer deadlines for the students.  Last year I had the students complete a project each 6 weeks.  I had many students who were very invested in art pieces that wouldn’t be finished in time.  This meant they would put away the work they loved and hurry to finish something else.  I want the students to be able to complete the entire artistic process from the start of an artwork to the end of the artwork. I will have the students turn in two finished projects each semester.  This will let them have more time with a project and really put much more effort into how it will be completed.

I think these four goals are going to help the students be completely art focused in the studio, and I cannot wait for implementation as school starts.