Teaching Artist Practicum:
Placement #1: Urban Arts Academy, Preschool, Wednesday 1:00 - 4:00 (3 Hours)
Placement #2: Whittier International Elementary School, Teachers Susan Buchholz and Angela Olson, Kindergarten, Monday 12:15 - 3:00 (2.75 Hours)
Shadowing: Minneapolis Institute of Art, Angela Olson, No Shadowing Opportunity This Week
Urban Arts Academy - Preschool
Wednesday, April 17th, 1:00 - 4:00 ( 3 Hours)
On Wednesday the 17th, I spent three hours at Urban Arts Academy. When I got there, I was greeted by the substitute teacher Mr. Nehemiah, and after a little free play we took the students to the gym. The kids were pretty well behaved for the most part throughout the day. After the gym, they washed up and had their snack and us teachers took turns reading them books and setting up the art stations. This weeks stations were centered around their letter of the week, “F”. There was a fuzzy feather F, a flower F, and a worksheet with things to color that started with F. These stations reminded me of the 36 Days of Type challenge that a lot of graphic designers are taking part in lately on social media, so I really enjoyed it - I thought they were very cute and kids were still able to be creative with it. This project also makes me think of the body tracing self-portrait lesson idea that I have, and how to get them thinking in different ways or using letters as a form of identity/looking at ones name.
Since Mr. Nehemiah has been there two weeks now, so I am going to get in touch with him this coming week and see if I can plan my lesson for May and get his thoughts on it! I’m really hoping that it works out so I get the chance to teach preschool, otherwise I can integrate another lesson into Angela’s and Susan’s class at Whittier Elementary.
Whittier International Elementary - Kindergarten
Monday, April 15th, 12:15 - 3:00 (2.75 Hours)
On Monday, I made my way to Whittier Elementary. It was a pretty quiet day, a few of the more energetic kids were absent. Susan read the students a few books and went over their literacy lesson for the day, and then we both went around and helped the students complete their letter sounds worksheet. Afterwards, I was paired with a student for read to self time. I really enjoy working one on one during this time and with a new student each time. I learn more about them individually and just how Kindergarteners learn in general, which can be really eye opening since I’m usually just surrounded by the college environment. Miss Laurie and I were visiting while the students had quiet time after lunch, and we were talking about how the students are growing so much - physically and academically. You can really see the difference when you work with them. They know more sight words, and numbers come way easier. They are also just growing up and getting so much bigger, I think that’s really cool, and I’m glad I got to be there the whole semester to see the change in their learning and the way they interact with one another and myself!
Minneapolis Institute of Art - Open Studio Day Shadowing
No Shadowing Opportunity This Week