ERIC Number: EJ935026
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-May
Pages: 6
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0004-3125
EISSN: N/A
Allowing "Artistic Agency" in the Elementary Classroom
Rufo, David
Art Education, v64 n3 p18-23 May 2011
The author was interested in seeing what would happen if children were given more latitude when making art in school. In January 2009, he began by setting up environments in his classroom wherein he hoped his students would feel free to create self-initiated forms of artmaking. Two times each week an hour was set aside for an activity called Open Studio. Open Studio was devised so that students would have the freedom to create in myriad ways using a variety of mediums, whereas during Read Aloud the students sat quietly listening to their teacher read a book. For approximately 3 months in 2009 he decided to keep a journal of his experiences in his classroom especially during the Open Studio and Read Aloud times. In this article, the author shares excerpts from his journal of experiences with students as they participate in the Open Studio approach to learning, discovering the fun of process as well as product and "ownership" of their creativity.
Descriptors: Art Education, Teaching Methods, Elementary School Students, Personal Autonomy, Childrens Art, Creativity
National Art Education Association. 1916 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 703-860-8000; Fax: 703-860-2960; Web site: http://www.arteducators.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Elementary Education; Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A