Capital City Upper School

Briefly......because my last experience was so different from my other experiences.

9th graders are a whole different experience. I was excited and totally out of my comfort zone in this class. The little kids are not always as verbal and are still developing their brains, but by the age of 11 or 12, the adolescent mind is fully formed. This made it exciting for me to think about art lessons that could take on bigger questions about self-identity, values, social issues....At the same time, adolescents are characteristically unenthusiastic and distant from adults. I was not cool and had no idea how to approach students or how a teacher would foster an authentic and influencial role in the students life. I would go back. Ingrid smartly pointed out that the students are teachers too. It would certainly be a learning experience for me and teenagers could benefit from smart and innovative opportunities. Maybe Roger will take care of that.

Final Project & Thanks

I thought everyones final projects were great!  I loved seeing everyones personalities shine in the little extras that they added to their project.  I really enjoyed working with Laurie and getting to know her better!  I found we collaborated very well for the project.  Thanks to the teachers and everyone for helping to coordinate everything and making this experience so fun! 

The Art League at Alexandria was a good choice I think for me to attend, very different from anywhere else I had been to just because of the age difference, this being an adult education program for people who were mostly taking classes for fun and leisure. 

Looking at all these different schools, classroom environments, and classroom populations, and student motivation for taking the class,  it made me realize about all the many MANY things that go into planning for teaching an art class. So many things effect it that I never really thought about. 

It was enjoyable, rewarding, and insightful experience. I am eager to see what happens this summer (as I am looking for a summer internship to do outside of school, not for credit, maybe if I am lucky for pay? lol) and with my student teaching next year. Through the last 9 months since entering the program the field experience class has thusfar had the most impact on turning around my thinking and outlook on this program and got me thinking more positively about my future after the program and more hopeful about the kinds of things I will be able to do.