Visual+Arts+and+Literacy

**  Paulette Mitchell  ** **  Visual Arts Teacher  **  **South** **Loop School**  The Visual Art program at South Loop School integrates literature based hands on art projects that are connected to classroom lesson in the core subjects. Through my experience as a teacher I have become knowledgeable of themes that are taught across the curriculum as they relate to specific grade levels. For example Community and Family in kindergarten, Animals in first grade, self identity in 2nd grade, and weather in third grade, the solar system in fourth grade, 5th graders created drawing based in figurative language and 6-8th grades Visual Art Careers. The lessons that I develop require the acquisition of new vocabulary in the content of the visual arts. In the visual art some very familiar words when applied to the content of the visual arts take on new meanings, thus expanding one’s word knowledge and usage. As students create a plan for art they are required to list and define materials, words describing art techniques and terminology. Students also create their own list through the use of brainstorming and listing activities. Students will be required to read books about art and artist newspaper and magazine articles about art and culture. Students are held responsible for researching about art, culture, and art careers. I require students to conduct their on research about art when they are planning individual art project as part of their art plans. All student participate in Art Criticism this require students to make judgments about art, make interpretations about art, value the art, critic a work of art verbally as well as in writing. This requires the student’s ability to make analysis, prediction and judgments as they would do the same in reading. Students can reflect on their artistic experience when they write their own self evaluation about art through journaling the artistic experiences and written analysis about a work of art.
 *  The Visual Arts and Literacy  **
 *  Language Arts and the CRI  **