Brainstorming (and Other Things)

This week, my students are learning all about brainstorming and thinking things through before starting a project.  The younger students are being introduced to the concept and beginning to practice, while the older kiddos are jumping right in with brainstorming an idea and then developing it further via brainstorming and research.  Taking those ideas, they begin to create art.

It's been a little hit and miss, depending on the class, but so far?  I'll call it a tentative success.  My students have not often been required to produce anything like brainstormed ideas before jumping into a project.  A fair few were stumped when I ask them to list 3 things they could make art about.  Or things they find interesting. Or cool.  Or that they like.  They could tell me unprompted about all their favorite things in the world or offer a multitude of suggestions during class discussions, but asking them to list those things on paper seems to be such an alien concept that they have trouble understanding how to even begin.  It was an interesting (and somewhat frustrating) phenomenon to witness each class period.

Tomorrow marks the start of a new school year.  I"m feeling far more optimistic about it than I was earlier in the year.  There was much drama and disgruntlement within our school district, and with the changes that have been made, the atmosphere was markedly lighter at the district faculty meeting last week.

Things are a fair bit different in the art department this year.  Other Art Teacher has moved to be closer to family, so there is a new first year teacher at our school.  Other Art Teacher II seems quite nice and very quietly enthusiastic.  I think working with her will be fun.  We have also lost an art room due to a large increase in student population, so we are sharing a room and a cart.  It will likely be awkward--I've never dealt with either sharing a room or doing art on a cart--but I'm determined to ignore what I cannot change and just have fun with the kids.  No pessimism or other rainy day feelings allowed this year!

I think it's gonna be challenging, but ultimately very fun.