THE ART ROOM
Terman Middle School Palo Alto CA
Linda Papanicolaou, teacher

Choice Based Art Education is a nationally recognized approach to teaching art. Developed at the Massachusetts College of Art and tested in classrooms for over thirty-five years, CBAE delivers an in-depth, standards-based curriculum by regarding students as artists and offering them real choices and opportunities to explore their own ideas and interests through the making of art. As a classroom methodology based on responsive teaching, it supports multiple learning styles and assessment for the diverse needs of all students.

At Terman, our class period begins with a whole-class activity that may be a foundational drawing lesson, a materials demo, a "5-minute museum", or an aesthetic discussion. Then students regroup to draw, paint, work with clay, fibers, paper sculpture, stained glass, altered books, computers etc. After cleanup we have a brief closure. It may be a reflective exercise such as writing an artist's statement, a group share, or peer critique.

Our courses of instruction are as follows:

6th Grade: Art Wheel:

Sixth graders take a wheel class that rotates through four subjects during the course of the school year. Art wheel is an exploratory course to help students develop introductory skills and vocabulary, learn new techniques, and expand their knowledge of art. Instructional units include the tools of three-dimensional and figural drawing, observational drawing, and thinking like an artist.

7th and 8th Grade Art :

In the elective art class, students develop their knowledge of visual art as a means of communicating and expressing ideas. Through both whole-class and choice based instruction, students learn about various materials and techniques, aesthetics, valuation and art history. Instructional units include working with landscape, portrait and still life, exercises in composing with the Elements and Principles of Design, and a mock mini-Art History course.

The goal of the class is for each student to 1) become increasingly self-directed in his/her artmaking, 2) set goals and strategies for an art work in progress, 3) be able to evaluate a work of art, 4) be able to discuss art both orally and through the writing of artists' statements, and 5) be aware of future opportunities to incorporate art in their lives through high school and beyond.

Within the curriculum framework, the syllabus varies from semester to semester and students are invited to take the class as often as they wish.