room for art?

[amethyst]

i want to be an art teacher, but it would take a lot longer to graduate. if i became a reg. classroom teacher, do you think i'd be able to incorporate a lot of art activities into the curriculum?

[Securis]

Depends on the district and the type of school. I know that lower elementary where I work are self-contained and they get to do very little hands-on art type assignments. From what I've gathered by talking to lower elementary teachers where I work, they have a script and they all have to follow it and be on the same page at any given time of the day. I don't know how that works out because I've never witnessed it in action.

Me, I'd guarantee that I'd be teaching art. Wait, that's what I did.

[Falcon Flyer]

You can definitely incorporate some art into the curriculum. I do most of my art along with writing activities, so they have to write a sentence and then illustrate it using different medias. The main problem I would see with being an art teacher is getting a job. In our district, (which has about 30 elementary schools) there are only 5 art teachers. That's not a lot of spots compared to how many elementary jobs there are.

[bros]

Originally Posted by Securis

Depends on the district and the type of school. I know that lower elementary where I work are self-contained and they get to do very little hands-on art type assignments. From what I've gathered by talking to lower elementary teachers where I work, they have a script and they all have to follow it and be on the same page at any given time of the day. I don't know how that works out because I've never witnessed it in action.

Me, I'd guarantee that I'd be teaching art. Wait, that's what I did.

Around here, the lower elementary teachers teach how they want. The second grade teacher whose class I am in once a week (sped teacher I am observing does in class support there) she's on Section 1.9 or whatever in their book and another 2nd grade teacher was on section 2.6 for math. They all work at their own pace as long as they get all the curriculum standards done

[scmom]

It really depends on the district. Some are really strict and some allow you to work it creatively into the curriculum.

I have the same concern for you re finding a job- many of our local district have no art teachers for elementary, and only 2 for the middle schools. More positions are available in the high schools but there are still more regular ed. teachers.

[JustMe]

Depends on district, school, grade, administration, subject, etc. I considered teaching art and decided not to, but I do incorporate a fair amount of it in my language arts classes. When I student taught history even more so! It's not so much art instruction, but artistic projects and even art appreciation.

[Samothrace]

It is true that art ed positions come around less often. It really just depends. I got a job 3 monthes after graduating with my undergrad. I know in my district, they are very..here is your reading street..do it. here is your everday math..do it.

I find it funny and hilarious..in a completely sarcastic way that the government wants our students to have the ability to think creatively, yet the arts are cut the most.

I really find it a diservice to our children.

Here is my thought. If you want to be an art educator and that is the passion you have to teach...then that is what you should do. God knows we don't need teachers in the world who aren't passionate about the subject they are teaching

The smiles and excitement my students see when using different materials..and that I've been having this really bizarre conversation in almost all myyounger grades b/c they saw a photo of The Scream hanging in my room (that I now have and these conversations would never happened without a room) all b/c they've seen the image on Wizards of Waverly Place on the disney channel.

ok..my vent is done If you want to be an art teacher, then do it. I know if I wasn't an art teacher I'd want to be a history/social studies teacher..and would use art to teach it!

[Aliceacc]

[QUOTE=Samothrace;1113441

Here is my thought. If you want to be an art educator and that is the passion you have to teach...then that is what you should do. God knows we don't need teachers in the world who aren't passionate about the subject they are teaching

D[/QUOTE]

AMEN to that!!!

[KinderCowgirl]

You know it's so funny -we do several art projects a week. Last week my kids made a diorama of the setting and characters (that was my curriculum connection) from the chapter book we are reading. At the end of the day they were like "this was such a good day", "thank you Miss KC for letting us paint" - they love it so much! I also usually make them write about what they made, then I can display it without any questions. I've gotten flack from other teachers, especially the grade above-but I can handle that - especially when I see how much the kids enjoy it!

We give standardized testing in writing in 4th Grade and the teachers always complain that 90% of the kids write the same thing-there's no creativity. And my answer to that always is-there aren't enough opportunities to learn how to be creative in most classrooms. So you may have to be "creative" in how you tie it in to your objectives, but I think you will be able to do it in your class.

[Samothrace]

We give standardized testing in writing in 4th Grade and the teachers always complain that 90% of the kids write the same thing-there's no creativity. And my answer to that always is-there aren't enough opportunities to learn how to be creative in most classrooms. So you may have to be "creative" in how you tie it in to your objectives, but I think you will be able to do it in your class.[/QUOTE]

THANK YOU! lol our kids, especially elementary kids..are taught so much..ok..this is the right answer, this is the right answer. They don't know how to come up with something that is creative and all their own! they are constantly told not to!