9-13-11 Response to Hellman, Towell, and Smilan

After reading the articles I realized just how vital and helpful picture books can be in the art classroom. Not only can picture books serve as a form of entertainment, but they also act as visual stimulus and ways to teach children about the world around us. In the article by Hellman, it states that they can be used in at least two ways- content and physical form. I agree with this entirely. The images in picture books can not only engage children and excite them about learning, but can also support the text and the lessons being taught. Children are naturally inclined to want to look at the pictures and hear the story behind them. Picture books also can aid the teacher as well in regards to teaching about design, form, narrative, art history, art forms, ways of creating shapes and colors. However, I believe that it is important to choose the right books. Books that are too long, too outdated, have no moral lesson or climax, irrelevant to the lives of children and our world today, and are just "boring" or lack "zest," will not be effective. Children are visual learners and want to have fun in school, and it would really help if the book is colorful, funny, and exciting. Children will not learn if they do not like what they are being taught. I think it is also really important if the teacher actually likes the book, because if they teacher doesn't like it what makes them think the children will? The book also should address a variety of students and cultures. If it doesn't, I'm sure a child may think "I don't know anything about this, so I'm going to look outside the window." There has to be connections to the students- keep in mind "culture is fluid and ever-changing." They have to learn how to become literate, which I find an interesting topic. In the article by Towell and Smilan, literacy is not just defined as being able to read. What does it mean to be literate? If it was only being able to read and write... well, how are we able to actually understand what we are reading and writing? We need experience, we need connections. Literacy is being able to read, write, interpret, speak, revise, connect, and understand. Picture books can teach us all of these, they are a reflection of the world around us. By using them, children will be able to better understand the world in which they live in as well as how other children, families, and people live in their own specific cultures.

Response to Multicultural Article

After reading the article, I found myself a bit surprised at how a single children's literature book can address so many topics that reference culture and social life. The analysis of the book states that not only place and an environment was addressed, but also the topics of family life, social culture, society, power, democracy, revolution, imagination, community, music, storytelling, and legends. Land, liberty, and destiny are also mentioned and held in high regard and importance. I feel that children can learn so much from this at a young age, especially from what sounds to be a very visual and stimulating book. The topic of place too is quite interesting to me because this book apparently references a variety of places including the safety of the home, the town in which they live in, the house of the ghost, the alluring cantina, and the community as a whole. Introducing children to all of these ideas and ideals through literature I feel is a great way to start teaching them about the world around them, especially through a stimulating, intriguing, colorful story especially with the use of visuals because children are extremely visual learners. There are still pictures and images I remember from picture books growing up that I since first seeing have never forgotten.

My art

As an artist I incorporate a variety of colors in my work. I prefer to use oil paints as my main medium, and often use complimentary colors to create psychological effects. My work tends to be slightly morbid and on the darker side, however this is not my true intention. I aim to create works that are eye catching, thought provoking, and visually and aesthetically pleasing.

First Response to Readings 8/25

I can't help feeling a bit confused, angry, and awkward after reading these articles based on race and racism in schools and the classroom. For me, race and racism is a topic that I just avoid conversation about. I'm afraid to say anything because I try to avoid conflict, but really this is so wrong. Racism is something that cannot be ignored, especially in school settings. Sure, I wish it didn't impact our lives, but that would mean living in a fairytale land. Racism is not something that has particularly affected me in my life, but every now and then it does... even by members of my own family. To me skin color and ethnicity does not matter, let me just make that clear. I really couldn't give a hoot what color someone is or what kind of culture they came from. I came from a bit of an eccentric one myself, which I feel makes me a bit more understanding. Don't get me wrong, I am one of those students who grew up in an entirely white neighborhood, went to  predominately white Catholic schools all my life, and so racism never really was a major issue in my life. However, I did know what it was, I understood that much, but looking back at myself as a child I have to admit that I was a bit racist. I mean honestly I think that everyone is a little bit racist, whether they admit it or not. I think that some of these ideas and beliefs that we see in media, art, magazines, tv, our own experiences, etc. whether we consciously realize it or not makes us a bit judgmental and prejudice. I'm not speaking for everybody, and to tell you the truth I'm a bit hesitant about posting it here, but I'm not one to hold back what I have to say. I'm kind of sick of holding it in and if I am going to be a teacher I need to get used to expressing what I think and how I feel, especially as an art educator. And to be quite honest again, I can't wait to have my own classroom with a diversified group of children. I am so excited because if everyone was exactly the same, what fun would that be? Stories and experiences children have coming into the classroom can teach not only other students but the teacher themselves about who these kids are, what kind of places are they coming from, and what they can bring to the classroom. Everyone can learn from each other, no one is better than anyone else, and every single day of our lives we learn more and more about the world and people. What could be better than that?