Teacher Quality Standard I

Teachers demonstrate mastery of and pedagogical expertise in the content they teach. The elementary teacher is an expert in literacy and mathematics and is knowledgeable in all other content that he or she teaches (e.g., science, social studies, arts, physical education, or world languages). The secondary teacher has knowledge of literacy and mathematics and is an expert in his or her content endorsement area(s). 

Element B: Teachers develop and implement lessons that connect to a variety of content areas/ disciplines and emphasize literacy and mathematical practices.

Evidence Outcome: develops lesson that connect reading, writing, listening, speaking, and mathematical practices in content areas

Incorporating Literacy

An important element in each of my Visual Art units is that students participate and engage in presentation, critique, and reflection on works of art in order to bolster their use of visual literacy, key vocabulary and connect the core content the students have learned to their experience in the art room. This is done through many avenues such as: written artist statements, oral presentations of artwork, gallery walks with Shout Out/Share Out sessions, and written self reflections. Two of the CDE Visual Art Standards: Observe to Learn and Comprehend and Envision and Critique to Reflect benefit from incorporating literacy as a part of their grade level expectations for 6-8th grade.

Artist Statements

Elementary school students participating in a gallery viewing and critique of the “big kids” middle school art exhibition.

Written Reflections

My favorite art piece is Help Others Find The Light In The Dark Because of the message and the design. The message is about helping others when they are in dark times and the monsters represent the kinds of pain people feel. The design includes a black background with glowing dots with a monster around them except the dot in the middle which is bigger and brighter. It's rare to see a black background being used and it gives a different vibe or feel.

Hudson Asp, 8th grade

The sound quality is not great on this video. It is capturing a shy and soft spoken student giving feedback to ELA student. The exchange was grown out of a classroom culture of respect and trust amongst peers.

When I made an erupting volcano, I liked it as I put a lot of work into it and it was hard to make. I enjoyed making it because it was fun to come up with and fun to make. The most challenging part of this was making the whole in the middle so I could make stuff come out of it, making it erupt. This piece of art shows my creative voice as I came up with it out of the blue with not that much planning or thinking about it.

Andrew Binford, 8th grade

The artwork I picked is called "Dog in Moon". My art piece symbolizes my dog's death by having her be a pattern in the moon. When she was alive, she helped me get through some rough times. When she died, everything felt dark and lonely. Everyday, I thought of her. When I look at the moon, I think of her, since she was the light that stood out in the darkness. At night, I lay in bed, looking at the moon shining in through my window, knowing that she's still here for me, even with her not being seen. She is the light, and she always will be.

Scarlett Frost, 8th grade

Gallery Walk/Critique