Student Expectations

This class provides you with an opportunity to learn how to make, to learn how to know what you want to make, and how to learn to make what you know you want to make. Fair warning- This can be hard! You can trust that challenge and uncertainty are part of The Plan. Sometimes you may be prompted to do really specific tasks that lead you to feeling trapped and bored. Other times you might be prompted with so few assignment parameters that you feel uninspired and lost. Sometimes you might try out a wacky idea, it falls apart, all you have to show for it is a ziploc bag of pieces. Maybe you feel upset at having been cheered down a path that lead to a ziploc bag of pieces. All of those responses, as well as any others, are 100% valid. Here’s the thing, though: Any attempt made with your full attention is a success. I repeat: Any attempt made with your full attention is a success.

How do you know that you are paying attention? Primarily, it’s a feel. Paying full attention is a feel and, with hope, you and you alone will come to know that feeling for yourself. Said, there are some tricks, like writing, speaking, and drawing reflections, that help you improve bringing your awareness to your own attention. This process is called metacognition. We will routinely practice metacognition in class. Q: Why do I care? A: Because metacognition can help you learn more deeply and faster. Q: Why do I care? A: Because with sensitivity and self-awareness, you can actually do anything. We’re here to help you figure out what in the world you want to transform with your consciousness, and how the heck you are going to do it.

 

 

 

 

 

Class Materials:

       Gotta Have Every Single Day:

       (Q: Yeah, but every single day? A: Yes. Every. Single. Day.)

1. 8.5”x11” Black hardbound sketchbook (no spiral bindings!)- You will use your sketchbook Every. Single. Day. in class, for fragments, planning, and reflections. A significant portion of your grade will also come from monthly 2-page spread homework assignments done in your sketchbook. ****Write your full name on the long edge of the paper and on the top right of the inner cover of the book****

2. Portfolio (rigid is better than cloth, unless you can put some cardboard pieces in to give the cloth ones structure)- You will use the portfolio to hold all finished and in-progress 2-D work for the class. It will live in the art room through the duration of the year. ****Label with your full name****

3. 2-4 Ebony pencils- Very good drawing pencils. ****Label with your full name****

4. 2-4 Magic Rub erasers- Very good eraser. ****Label with your full name****

5. Pens- Basic, cheap, whatever feels right. ****Label with your full name****

6. Sharpies- Black. At least 1 bold, 1 fine. ****Label with your full name****

7. Storage pouch- Whatever can hold it all.****Label with your full name****

            Nice to have:

1. Scissors

2. Pencil sharpener

3. Glue stick

4. Watercolor set- relatively low-mess form of painting to practice at home; good for quickly preparing pages for homework assignments.

5. Headphones- to listen to your own music

6. Whichever specific school-safe materials you may want to try in your sketchbook or for open-ended projects. Please talk to me before bringing in anything too zany. If you have any doubts as to the threshold for not-too-zany/zany in the classroom, plan on talking to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Class Flow:

            Everyday follows a consistent pattern (unless it doesn’t):

                        Enter Quietly, get sketchbook and supply pouch, put all else away.

                        Begin “Fragment”, work quietly ~20 minutes, share ~5 minutes.

                        Depth of Class

8th & 7th Grades- jump straight into Open Studio OR group presentation, demo, exercise, then Open Studio.

                                    6th Grade- group presentation, demo, exercise, project.

                        Break- group discussion & announcements

                                    8th, 7th, & 6th Grade return to work

                        Clean-Up song, clean ~10min

                        4 Minute Essay

                        Exit

       Elaboration of 2 key Class Flow elements:

• Fragment- Each table has an envelope. The envelopes are filled with different things every day. Sometimes your envelope will contain specific instructions. More often it will contain parts of texts, found images, art historical images, actual stuff, art materials, prompts to watch videos or listen to audio without explanation. Your job is to respond to follow the instructions if applicable. Otherwise, your job is to respond to the contents by creating a complete 2-page spread in your sketchbook. You may use any material on the material cart. You may draw, paint, write, or build. (Q: “Is it okay if I-” A: “Yes. Yes if it is in or on your sketchbook.”) You may not talk. You may not interfere with others. You must shoot to complete a 2-page spread within the time limit.

• Open Studio- 8th & 7th Grade- The bulk of time in class will be spent designing, creating, and reflecting on individual art projects. Sometimes, the parameters specify the material and subject matter. Sometimes, the parameters are more like a riddle that may spark projects in a variety or mediums. In these latter cases, students will be drawing, painting, sculpting, animating, performing, writing alongside one another.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Grading:

You will be assessed...

Daily for participation- Based on observed involvement with fragment, discussion,     lesson/project, clean-up. (4pts/week; 36~40pts/quarter; ~20% total grade)

 

Weekly for reflection- Based on your 1-page written and/or illustrated summary of  reflections from the week. (4pts/week; 36~40pts/quarter; ~20% total grade)

 

Monthly for homework- Always four 2-page spreads turned in the first class of the month, with instructions posted on www.catcieart.com (16pts/month; 16~48 pts/quarter; ~16%  total grade)

 

Quarterly diagnostic still lifes- Pass/Fail based on 2 rules: 1) Student does not talk 2) Student draws for the full 30 minutes (16pts/quarter; ~8%)

                       

+ Periodically for long-term projects- roughly 3 projects per semester.

8th & 7th Grade: Each project involves two big grades, one at the Halfway Presentation and another at the Final Critique. Both use a rubric that equally weights teacher scoring and student self-scoring in relation to 4 criteria.

(Presentation: 8pts/student, 8pts/teacher; 16-32pts/quarter ~12% total grade //

 

Final Project: (16pts/student,16pts/teacher;32-64pts/quarter; ~24% total grade)

6th Grade: Beginning with 4-criteria rubric similar to the homework rubric, we will work up to self-grading practices similar to the 8th & 7th Grade throughout the year. (points and percentages variable)

 

6th-8th Grade: From time to time you will also receive one-off tasks such as:                                       

***Signing and returning this form by:_______*** (points and percentages variable)

 

Grading policy:

• Absences: If you are absent for a class deadline, you are expected to submit you work the following class. It is your job to initiate submission. Sending an email explaining your absence and announcing your upcoming submission serves as a helpful record-keeping and reminder tool for both of us.

• Late Work: Will not be accepted. This policy may be softened if an email is sent explaining the reason for anticipated lateness at least one full day before the deadline.

• Communication: A key in all of this is timely communication. If you know you are falling behind on a big project, reach out to me either in person or by email as early as possible. It is better to admit previous poor time management and make a clean move towards fixing the problem, than pretending it doesn’t exist. We can work together to adjust goals and make a workable plan for your success.

                       

“With great power comes great responsibility.” / Rules:

This classroom offers you, the middle school student, a level of freedom and opportunity that you might not experience outside of the magnet program. It is vital that we all maintain respect and awareness of our interactions with peers, teacher, materials, and space.  

 

School-wide Conduct Policy: This classroom honors the guidelines put forth by the Student Code of Conduct. Serious behavioral offenses as specified by the Code will be immediately documented, submitted, and punished.

Classroom Conduct Policy: In addition to the Student Code of Conduct, this classroom has its own rules. Failure to adhere to any of these rules will result in suspension of classroom privileges and is to be documented by the student using a “What Did I Do? (-)” Reflection Form. Parent/Guardian contact will be made immediately upon earning 2 forms.                                  

Exceptional student behavior that goes beyond the basic classroom care requirements is to be documented by the student using a “What Did I Do? (+)” Reflection Form. Parent/Guardian contact will be made and an award presented upon earning 3 forms.

                                    DEVICES-

• You may, at specified times, use your device to listen to music and/or conduct research.

  • You may not use your device for anything else- especially games or communication.

                                    SEATING / MOVEMENT-

• You may sit at any seat at any table unless otherwise directed by the teacher.

• You are free to move around the room during independent work time.

  • You may not engage behavior that disrupts others during class.

  • You may not run or throw anything.

• 7th & 8th Graders may sit in the outside courtyard or hallway with permission from the teacher while working on independent projects.

  • 7th & 8th Graders may not leave the area without permission, make loud noises, listen to music on speakers, alter the facilities in any way, leave any trace of work outside.

                                    MATERIALS-

• You may use any of the materials on the materials cart, paper from the paper cabinet, sculpture supplies from the sculpture supplies cabinet, mirrors from the mirrors cabinet, lights from the lights cabinet, sewing supplies from the sewing supplies cabinet, string/yarn from the string/yarn cabinet, folded fabric from the folded fabric cabinets, and newspaper/magazines from the newspaper/magazines cabinets, drawing boards from the drawing boards rack,     and easels from the easels closet at any time unless instructed otherwise.

  • You may not use the aforementioned materials carelessly, leave a mess, nor fail to neatly return unused materials to where they belong after use.    

                                    RESTROOMS-

• You may get up to use the restroom at any time using the restroom pass.

  • You may not use the restroom pass as a ticket for extended  hang-outs outside of the classroom.   

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***Bonus Activities***

This year, you will have plenty of opportunities beyond the curriculum to stretch your art understanding.

Some of these include…

• Field trips- Every grade level will go on at least 1 field trip. For students to attend, they will need to sign and return the permission slip at least 48hrs before departure. We are always looking for parent chaperones. If you are even remotely interested in chaperoning, please email me so that we can get you into the system. Additionally, every year, we have one big out of state field trip in the late spring that students and families may attend. These trips cost and usually last 3 days. Please send me an email if you are interested.

• Visiting Artists- You can look forward to meeting and working with a handful of incredible artists from different professional fields this year. Some will show and discuss their work, some will prompt you to create yours using their techniques. If you know anyone from the community that might be interested in presenting something directly or loosely art-related to the class, please send me an email with their name and contact information.

• After School Portfolio Prep Workshops- 8th grade students applying to high school magnet programs have the opportunity to participate in free after school Wednesday portfolio preparation workshops from September through December. We will create pieces, enhance previous pieces, curate selections for each school, craft resumes, and conduct mock interviews to prepare students for their auditions.

• After School Techniques Workshops- All students will be welcomed to register for participation in small group techniques-based workshops on a first-come, first-serve basis. These may include ceramics, silk-screening, plaster-casting, and paper-making. Information will be distributed a few weeks in advance of each workshop.

• Participation in Contests-  The teachers of CAT&CIE are committed to submitting as much of our student art work to art contests as possible throughout the year. Contests & Shows are opportunities for students to show work beyond the walls of school, attend fun receptions with refreshments and see work from students from other schools, receive awards and prizes, and build their resumes. Ms. Regalado and myself make submissions decisions based on the criteria specified for each contest. You can find many of these under the Miami-Dade County Public Schools “Authentic Assessments”. We are always looking for parent volunteers to help transport the artwork to and from the contests. Often, they are going to or coming from the District building downtown. If you are interested in helping, please email me.

• End of Year Show- Every student in every grade level will have at least 2 pieces displayed  and receive an award in the End of Year Show. This event is a celebration of the students’ accomplishments, and it is very important that all attend. We are always looking for parent volunteers to help set up and take down the event.
   

All of these opportunities are made possible by the efforts of our incredible Parent Booster. If you are interested in getting involved with this power-house team, please email me. We are always looking for parent volunteers. Some fundraising tasks include Tuesday snacks sales and Valentines bracelets sales.

 

Any special skills, interests, resources?

We welcome any ideas you may have for supporting this awesome program. Please feel free to contact: sarahaley@dadeschools.net

 

Looking forward to another great year!

Sincerely,

Ms. Haley

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