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Engaging Learners Through Artmaking: Choice-Based Art Education in the Classroom
This dynamic resource details the philosophy, rationale, and implementation of choice-based authentic art education in elementary and middle schools. To do the work of artists, children need opportunities to behave, think, and perform as artists. The heart of this curriculum is to facilitate independent learning in studio centers designed to support student choices in subject matter and media. The authors address theory, instruction, assessment, and advocacy in a user-friendly format that includes color photos of classroom set-ups and student work, sample demonstrations, and reflections on activities.
Book
Introduces artistic behaviors that sustain engagement, such as problem finding, innovation, play, representation, collaboration, and more.
Provides instructional modes for differentiation, including whole group, small group, individual, and peer coaching.
Offers management strategies for choice-based learning environments, structuring time, design of studio centers, and exhibition.
Illustrates shifts in control from teacher-directed to learner-directed.
Highlights artist statements by children identifying personal relevancy, discovery learning, and reflection.
Book
Introduces artistic behaviors that sustain engagement, such as problem finding, innovation, play, representation, collaboration, and more.
Provides instructional modes for differentiation, including whole group, small group, individual, and peer coaching.
Offers management strategies for choice-based learning environments, structuring time, design of studio centers, and exhibition.
Illustrates shifts in control from teacher-directed to learner-directed.
Highlights artist statements by children identifying personal relevancy, discovery learning, and reflection.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
41 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 7, 2017
This is a valuable book for Art Educators but more important for Administrators and parents! I have intuitively been using a balance between "emergent curriculum student-directed," "explicit curriculum teacher-directed" but find that the majority of the time my courses are structured using "modified choice" where I choose the content they choose the medium or they choose the content and I choose the medium. My observation in recent years is that more students fear self-directed work and this should alarm all educators! As a 7-12th grade teacher at an all-boys school I have seen an increase in students desire to have their work look similar to others (think adults with "Paint Nite") rather than take a risk in creative exploration. Students also have the PERCEPTION that developing creativity is not valued by parents, colleges and employers. Additional roadblocks I can see for other art teachers with the full "choice-based" approach includes having a space suitable to offer all mediums as well as time and schedule restrictions (art classes are often limited). Certainly the school community would have to be onboard. This book does not tackle those issues, but does provide some great insight into how to put choice-based learning and exploration into practice. What is promising is that curriculum outside of Fine Arts is starting to pedagogically move to align with learning approaches long exercised in Fine Arts. A good, short, productive and easy read.
October 19, 2017
So excited to try out choice!!
Great art teacher read! I’m super inspired and plan on implementing much of what I’ve read in my classroom. I am bored with the way I currently teach and crave more authentic moments with my students. I’ve never enjoyed cookie-cutter artwork and stuffy, micromanaged classrooms. I’ve always gravitated towards allowing my students a decent amount of independence so choice feels very “me”.
My only complaint - I wish the book would have touched a bit more on how to implement this system smoothly and strategies for dealing with unmotivated students. That’s a big reason I’ve been interested in choice-based art - feeling like I was failing a population of my students who were not engaged in my lessons and needed something more, and then a population of students who have the potential to progress so much farther than what I offered to them. I have some students that are very social - so much to the point of complete disinterest in anything else - and I worry that even still it will be a challenge to engage them in class when all they want to do is socialize. I’m hoping working collaboratively will inspire them and I can figure it out if not but some tips would be nice.
Same for choice strategies with difficult classes. I’ve had classes in the past who COULD NOT handle the responsibility of choice. What modifications could I make for classes like this? Now, granted, I haven’t moved into full choice yet and I may find that most of these problems all work themselves out but I will continue to read and research more in the meantime.
Great art teacher read! I’m super inspired and plan on implementing much of what I’ve read in my classroom. I am bored with the way I currently teach and crave more authentic moments with my students. I’ve never enjoyed cookie-cutter artwork and stuffy, micromanaged classrooms. I’ve always gravitated towards allowing my students a decent amount of independence so choice feels very “me”.
My only complaint - I wish the book would have touched a bit more on how to implement this system smoothly and strategies for dealing with unmotivated students. That’s a big reason I’ve been interested in choice-based art - feeling like I was failing a population of my students who were not engaged in my lessons and needed something more, and then a population of students who have the potential to progress so much farther than what I offered to them. I have some students that are very social - so much to the point of complete disinterest in anything else - and I worry that even still it will be a challenge to engage them in class when all they want to do is socialize. I’m hoping working collaboratively will inspire them and I can figure it out if not but some tips would be nice.
Same for choice strategies with difficult classes. I’ve had classes in the past who COULD NOT handle the responsibility of choice. What modifications could I make for classes like this? Now, granted, I haven’t moved into full choice yet and I may find that most of these problems all work themselves out but I will continue to read and research more in the meantime.
October 7, 2020
“Mimicry does not ensure understanding. Nor does it respect students’ abilities to develop and pursue their own ideas through planning, collaboration, innovation, and reflection. Their teacher who is always in control of every aspect of teaching and learning may never see what is truly important in the lives of children” (Douglas & Jaquith, 2009, p. 91).
This book was really compelling. It engages with theory, including postmodernism, which was impressive, provides persuasive evidence, and is encouraging to educators. Though I'm reading it over ten years after publication, a lot of these ideas would still come off as radical to many art educators I know. My one qualm is that the authors are vague in how teachers can make learning standards fit this curriculum. I see how it can be done, but for tenured lazy teachers or new inexperienced ones, I think they would just consider this too difficult amidst k-12 standards, especially in public schools.
This book was really compelling. It engages with theory, including postmodernism, which was impressive, provides persuasive evidence, and is encouraging to educators. Though I'm reading it over ten years after publication, a lot of these ideas would still come off as radical to many art educators I know. My one qualm is that the authors are vague in how teachers can make learning standards fit this curriculum. I see how it can be done, but for tenured lazy teachers or new inexperienced ones, I think they would just consider this too difficult amidst k-12 standards, especially in public schools.
June 14, 2021
This will not only change the way I teach Art, it will change the way I teach everything. Choice is SOOOO very important in a child’s learning journey. This approach to teaching Art will definitely give me tools to add to my already growing teacher toolbox. Wanting to give students choice in their education and being able to actually do so in a classroom setting are two very different beasts. Excellent book for teachers, parents, and homeschoolers alike. Lots of examples, guidance and leads for further reading. Excellent resource for any choice-based educator.
March 22, 2018
I totally love this concept. The children are so engaged that behavior issues decreased. Student Centered art making has reinvented my class room.
July 30, 2024
This book is very informative about the TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) classroom and the many benefits it offers students. I had to read it for my Art for Elementary Teachers class, and I can definitely say it changed the way I view traditional art teaching approaches! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is an art teacher, wants to become one, or wants to learn more about the TAB teaching philosophy.
April 2, 2019
As an elementary art teacher, this book gives a realistic glimpse with practical ideas and practices to use all learners. GREAT resource!
August 22, 2022
Excellent overview and introduction to TAB, providing philosophical underpinnings and pragmatic practices for considering/setting up the program. It is not meant to be comprehensive, but serves its purpose to offer initial understandings and systems.
August 1, 2011
I definitely want to switch to a choice based art room. Loved the ideas and the concept, but I am a little apprehensive about not knowing how behaviors will get in the way of this type of program. I will continue to research this method, and might try a modified version when school starts back in a few weeks.
August 4, 2016
I was introduced to TAB by one of my professors, and quickly because a huge fan. I was able to attend the TAB institute at MassArt, an I highly recommend for anyone interested in adopting this philosophy. Diane and Kathy are wonderful and have paved the way for the future of art education.
July 15, 2011
This was practical and inspiring. I will use many of the ideas and suggestions to create art centers in my classroom this year. I am anxious to get started.
August 25, 2013
Good book to get you thinking about how to set up a choice-based art program.
Currently reading
July 9, 2012So far loving the book! Only a third of the way in so I can not wait to see what is coming up!
October 13, 2013
Solid information on making the switch to a choice based art room.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews