Parent or Special Person Response to Art
Dear
Parents,
One
of my main goals in teaching art is to get my students
to appreciate art. Appreciating art begins with their
own art. I am very proud of each and every one of my
students. They
may not all end up being great artists – but they all
can be great at appreciating fine art. Each time as I
send work home, take a minute or two to talk about it
with your child. No need to record the discussion.
Today
I am sending home _____________________________________
_____
I have saved this project for display and will send home
later.
_____ I have saved this project for the art show and
will return after the show.
My
main objectives in this lesson were:
(Fill in a few
– keep it short)
- Here
are some sample questions to get you started – or come
up with your own:
- Tell
me about the colors in this work of art. What do they
mean to you?
- What
kind of mood or feeling are you trying to express?
- Does
your work have a title? What is it?
- What
meaning does this work of art have to you?
- What
did you like about doing this work of art?
- If
you were to do this project again, what would you do
differently?
- Thank
you for taking the time to discuss this project with
your child.
Sincerely,
Child’s
name ______________________________
Class ______________
Parent
Signature ___________________________
Date_______________
Comments:
Suggestions
from Art Ed List members:
From Kerry Marquis: This takes a little time, but I found
that it works for getting even most high school students
to take work home. If it was a work on paper, I would
get students working on something in class that did not
take too much attention from me. Then I would go student
to student with newsprint which I would lay their
artwork on and with much ado carefully roll it up within
the newsprint, tape it and write their name on the
outside with marker. I did this to show my appreciation
of their work and chatted approvingly about it to them
as I did so. Most took their art with them when they
left class. Hope this helps.
From Grace Hall - High School: I just tell my students from the beginning
that if their artwork is found in my garbage can or any other on this
campus, I will go into my grade book and take back the grade I gave them on
that project. I do this because if the artwork wasn't worth keeping and
showing off to parents, then it must not really be worth the points I gave
it in my grade book. Since then I haven't found any artwork stashed, left
in the room, or thrown in the can. I also explain to them that I inherited
some of my grandmother's artwork, and that it is absolutely priceless to me.
I tell them to imagine what their children will think of their sketchbook,
or old art projects 25 years from now.
From
Judy Decker: I had all of the custodians on my side. Anytime they
found a work of art in the trash, they brought it to my
room. Students were NOT allowed to throw away art at
school. I would call the parent and discuss the problem
and the next day the child would sheepishly come to me
and tell me their mom wanted to see their project.
Parents often came in to pick up the ceramic work left
behind if they wanted that. One of the teachers would
keep unwanted work and display in her room. This was
especially nice for lessons designed around her social
studies units. I enjoyed seeing the student work brought
out each year.
From
Sandra: I
take off points on the grade if I find their work in any
of my trashcans in the art room. I told them this prior
to starting the week that I came in, because the
previous teacher told me how disrespectful they were
doing it in front of her, so I said to the class, fine,
I'll take points off your final grade, if I find it.
Therefore there isn't any work getting thrown out (at
least in class). At home it's up to them. I always
though it was horrible that parents would carelessly
look at their kids work and throw it away (not at this
school, but previous years I had parents admit, Oh I
know I shouldn't but I just don't want all that work so
I throw it out when they aren't around. Then others
frame and mat the work and are very proud about their
child's work. I guess there should be 5-10 minute
lecture on art appreciation of your child's work and
what they bring home from school does matter. Try to talk to all parents at an open house or an art
show, or someplace they congregate so you can talk to
the ones who never come to the art shows. It's no wonder
they don't take it home.
