Hi All,
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to this year’s art program. Students will attend art class twice a week. During these classes, they will be learning about the basic elements and principles of art. These things (like line, shape, color, balance, and variety) are the “art alphabet.” They are the basic building blocks of art. Children will also be learning basic art making processes, things like painting, drawing, and sculpture. We will learn about the history of art from different times and places. We will also be working with teachers in other subject areas to do interdisciplinary lessons.
To insure that everyone has the best possible chance of success, here are the rules that we ask all students to follow:
1. Come to class. We all will have times when we can’t make it to school (illness, family emergency, etc.), but is extremely important that students attend school as much as possible. We have lots of exciting learning opportunities planned for this year and we would hate for your child to miss out on any of them.
2. Show respect for everyone in the school. (This includes teachers, staff members, volunteers, guests, and other students). A good rule of thumb is that you are respecting someone if you treat that person the way that you want that person to treat you.
3. Pay attention. The people who do the best in school are not always the smartest or the most talented people. They are usually the ones who do a good job of paying attention and following directions. For this reason, we ask students to use their eyes, ears, and brains whenever someone is addressing the class. We also ask them not to talk while someone else is talking.
4. Ask questions. Some of the things we do in class will be confusing at first. It is my job as a teacher to help people when they have trouble, but it is the student’s job to let me know if he / she is having trouble. This is why students must ask questions when they need help. I can answer questions during class. Or if the student isn’t comfortable talking in a large group, I can answer questions before or after school.
5. Try. Some of the things we do in this class (and in our lives) will be extremely challenging. We may not do well the first time (or the second time or the third time). If we give up in these situations, we never learn anything new. But if we keep at it, we get better and better at what we do.
Please note that there is no list of supplies that students must bring to art class. However, sometimes we do projects that are messy, so you may want to have your son or daughter keep an old shirt or jacket in the locker for days like this.
If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at the school or to stop in for a conference. I am available every day from 7:00 to 8:30 and most days from 2:45 to 3:15. You can also reach me by email at dbrown10@cps.edu. I look forward to working together to insure that all of our children have a successful year.
Duone Brown
