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Museum @ TLC

I am an Art and Humanities Instructor in FCPS (Lexington, KY) and the school where I teach has a Museum where we feature Exhibits and Products from all of our classes!  I am the Museum Director and I get to collab with all of our wonderful teachers and build these amazing "installations" with our kiddos!  We throw in some real-world apps, techie apps, field trips, some Guest Speakers and College/Career Readiness and you have one heck of a display!  Yep, don't hate, I get to do this everyday for my career!  and I LOVE it!  

And since I am such a blogger, well of course I had to have another Museum @ TLC blog!  

Here is the link!

Your Welcome America!

Follow both blogs for updates on Art Education, our projects, PBL, lesson plans and MORE!!  

Also on Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook!

Why Blog?

Why are you interested in blogging? 

online resume, professional documentation of my work, track my progress, almost like a professional “diary/journal”, my pictures, my reflectons/thoughts, if I can be a Customer Service to anyone else interest in the same things, to inspire, 

What blog(s) drew you to the idea of starting your own? 

I don’t remember, I think I was searching art lesson plans and found a few art teachers that had there own, they were posting activities, pictures of student artwork and at the same time, I was having to build my professional college online portfolio, it seemed like common sense to start a blog, that way I could share my “whatever” with whoever and as many people that wanted to see.

What types of blogs do you find most interesting?

the ones that are down to earth, not too “professional”

but still nice quality content and pictures

the ones that feature posts, pics and videos that make me say “man, I want to do that” or “that seems like an interesting individual that I would want to be friends with”, I could learn something from them, you can also tell the blogs that are doing it just to have something to do and the ones that really love what they do and really want to share their passion.

Notes:

Be patient, be consistent, learn...all the time

These questions came from thesmallthingsblog

I LOVE this blog and want to give her as much credit as I can!  

Pertaining to the notes above, I want to keep this as a reminder to myself why I am doing this.  It's one thing to disagree with something, it's another thing to disagree, but then try and improve something you KNOW needs to be improved.  My goal with this blog is to share myself AND the journey that I and my students take to incorporate Art into basically everything.  That our Nation's students are practically begging us to change, to listen to them and to teach them in ways that they can learn and understand.  I absolutely know that through art and projects and hands-on activities with a little sprinkle of 21st century skills and employable accountability, our kiddos will not only be engaged, they will be empowered leaders and change our society today as we know it!  They want to take over, (they probably will anyway), let's do it in a positive, proactive manner that benefits ALL.  

Okay, that's all I have to say about that.  Great, now I'm all worked up!  :) 

Student Meeting Notes

Tom’s Squad 3.28.13

Students are seeking, asking, begging to be heard in the classroom.  They want a say in their education.  And why shouldn’t they be!  For so many years, it was always teacher in front, students listening and writing down everything they were told.  They have been reprogrammed and trained to be like little robots (or big robots if you teach high school).  Why?  For classroom management?  For calm, quiet learning classroom environment?  Have you ever been so engaged or so excited about something that you responded by being calm, quiet and acting like a robot?  I seriously hope not, if so, you need to get out more.  Here’s an example:  I love Modern Family.  I look forward to Wednesdays because I know that for atleast 30 minutes in my crazy hectic week, I am going to sit down with no other distractions and watch this hilarious show and laugh.  Not a little laugh, but a can’t-hardly-breath-tears-in-my-eyes kind of laugh.  I look forward to it.  I relate back to it.  I get as much housework done as I can before it comes on so I can enjoy it.  Here’s a thought!  What if we made our classrooms as exciting and engaging to our students as I get about my favorite TV Show.  Just think about it for a minute.  Kids want to come to class, they look forward to it all day, they recall/refer back to it.  They get other things done first so that they CAN come to class!  Now quick question:  If they are this excited to come to your class, do you really expect them to sit quietly, remain calm and act like robots?  Would you even WANT them to behave like this!?!?!  My answer to you:  HECK NO!

During this particular meeting, some student shared their thoughts on getting their attention, maintaining engagement and putting some control in their hands.  These suggestions are very nice, still a little too traditional in my taste (but I can be pretty extreme like that), so take what you like from this.

Some students suggested offering several options as to how they could demonstrate their knowledge in a particular area.  For example: If you are learning about Romeo and Juliet, then provide the students a list of options where they could share what they learned with you.  Give them a little menu with 5-6 different options and let them chose.  (You will probably get it pretty quick that the students say this a lot:  “Listen to me, let me chose, let me decide on my project, let me, let me, let me…”

Another suggestion was to have more student /peer teachings.  Pair or group students together based on strengths and weaknesses and let me talk to one another, let them figure it out, let them share their God-given gifts with one another and build those critical skills!

Students want to be heard and to be invested in, some teachers are just showing a power point or video and passing out a worksheet, students are complaining about this, we need to set some goals.   

~This line came straight out of my notes, I didn’t feel the need to change it or even add to it.  It’s pretty much what it says. Period.

Additional suggestions that I could go on and on about, but I will just list them here:

Teachers need to differentiate based on student learning styles

Have a Student spotlight of the week, positive recognition and reinforcement

Switch it up, “We are getting bored!” – said a student

In saving the best for last, I love this:

Students are requesting a more democratic society in the classroom.  They want a classroom model that mimics real life.  They actually want to be treated like human beings and given a choice.  Why does this remind me of women’s rights, slavery or even nondiscrimination disclosure for employment.  Students (a majority of humans in a given school system) are seeking, asking, begging for a change, they are telling us what they want, they are giving us suggestions, they are saying “I will do your work, but can I do it in a way that makes sense to me.” 

It was even brought up about Maslow’s Hierarchy, especially the Love and Belonging Stage, why do you think they would bring this up? 

Some major words that were in my notes:  democratic society, student voice, civic engagement/partnership, love and belonging, lack of development skills, give me confidence.

Please listen to me.  I want to be here, I want a job to do, please give me a purpose.  I like computers, I can make you a game, a website, I can make you a Google Sketch up of what you’re talking about in class.  Can I do that?  Is that okay?  My friend Jason can help me, he’s in this class, too.  My handwriting is really bad, you probably won’t be able to read it, but I can type it for you and email it to you.  Is that okay?  You know, I am really interested in programming and IT stuff, maybe your technology teacher can help me with this program?  Please listen to me, I want to be here, I want a role, a job, a purpose. 

Twitter Page and Link

Follow our class Twitter Page here!  My goal is to use Twitter as our class formative communication and our Blog and Website as our class summative communication.  That way, everyone at home can see what we are up to, the kiddos can see their work on current technologies, and it’s a little for bragging rights!  I mean, c’mon!  Plus it’s a great accountability piece for me!  I am presently working with another student and teacher on building our Website from scratch, but it’s coming soon!!!

Form/Summ Communication

Follow our class Twitter Page here!  You can also click on the Twitter tab at the top and be redirected to our site.  My goal is to use Twitter as our class formative communication and our Blog and Website as our class summative communication.  That way, everyone at home can see what we are up to, the kiddos can see their work on current technologies, and it’s a little for bragging rights!  I mean, c’mon!  Plus it’s a great accountability piece for me!  I am presently working with another student and teacher on building our Website from scratch, but it’s coming soon!!!

About Me

My name is Ashley Baker and I have been an artist since I was a baby!   As long as I could remember, I was drawing on the bottoms of tables, painting in the Dining Room when I was "grounded" and drawing pictures of what I was trying to describe.  I have had a sketchbook since grade school and continue to add sketches, drawings, ideas everyday to my current one.  

I have two degrees from the University of Kentucky, one in Art Education and one in Art Studio - Painting Emphasis.  While at UK, I remember my professor speaking in great depth about all the different learning styles; you have the listeners, the visual learners - the ones who see it and they got it, and the ones who have to get up and do it.  I was always the one who had to draw it and apply it to NOW to really understand it.  

 My latest adventure and passion, using Art to support the education in other disciplines.  Surely, I can't be the only kid who doodled what the Science Teacher was talking about, or drew out the Math problems (yes, sometimes with colored pencils).  It wasn't that I NEEDED that to learn, I actually caught on pretty quick.  But my hands had to stay busy while I listened and the images that I drew just reinforced the subject matter.  Plus, when other kids asked me questions, I could flip through y notes and help them understand it.  Sometimes they just needed to see it as well.  And I loved the fact that my notes, my sketches and my little doodles helped them understand Science or Math or whatever!!

Which brings me to TLC.  I currently teach Art and Humanities at an alternative HS in Kentucky.  I do more than teach Art though!  I am the Museum Director and I get to collaborate with other teachers and basically create Art Installations and Exhibits to enhance their discipline!  (Was someone looking out for me, or what!)  So now I have this HUGE room in the middle of the school that I have transformed into a Museum Space.  (The room used to be a library, so you can see how big it is!)  Each little area is decorated and divided so that I have 8-9 rotating spaces to Exhibit work!  

I created this blog because (1) I have 3 separate blogs that I started a few years ago, and it is just crazy to keep up with 3, so I am combining them.  (2)  With all the hype about Pinterest and Twitter and everything, I am really getting back into my blogging groove!  and (3) if I can do anything in the slightest to help/support/enhance your knowledge through any of the art realms, my work here is NOT in vain! 

QR Codes for Blog and Twitter

Ok, so this is probably for my own organization, but I am adding the QR code for this Blog and for @ABaker0278 here:

Where’s my Paintbrush?

Twitter:  @ABaker0278

(I am secretly a techie nerd at heart...)