Art News

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January Edition vol. 4 Dixon Middle School TheSecond Semester Issue

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Second Semester!

We’ve made it half way through the school year and it’s that exciting time where we switch exploratory classes.I think it’s wonderful that students can choose from so many courses to become well-rounded individuals.

About the Art Teacher

My name is Miss Lydia France and this is my fourth year teaching Art at Dixon Middle School. I’ve previously taught in Scotland County, NC and in Cleveland, Ohio where I am from.

I studied Art Education and Art Therapy at Capital University in Columbus, OH. I also have my master’s degree in School Counseling from Liberty University Online.

My hobbies include painting, playing the flute, going to the beach, and spending time with my cat, Sassafras, and sugar glider, Gwen.

Projects and Lessons

Ibelieve that a well-rounded art education is important for students. Using art as a means of expression can be therapeutic and can also be beneficial to other academic areas.

During my classes, students will get to learn and explore how to use a variety of art mediums that may include drawing, painting, mixed media, clay, print making, and paper mache. Students will discover interesting facts and works of different artists, as well as explore careers in the art field.

My lessons typically include the use of powerpoint, YouTube, Scholastic Art Magazines, and Edmodo. I have a tentative plan for each grade level however, I am flexible to meet the learning needs and interests of the students. Here is a list of topics I plan to teach this semester:

6th Grade: collage faces (Arcimboldo), color wheel/mixed media (O’Keeffe), South American clay pinch pot animals, crayon/glue resists, still life and manikin drawing, surrealism (Dali)

7th Grade: Optical Illusion Art (Vasarely), Japanese printmaking (Hokusai), coil pots (Martinez), mixed media pointillism (Seurat), African instrument/mask paper mache

8th Grade: Street art lettering and symbols(Haring), perspective drawing, clay story tiles (Ringgold), mixed media (Bearden), comic drawing, grid drawing (Close), Mandala art

Daily Doodles

Each day at the beginning of class, a prompt will be on the board for students to begin working on. The prompt will be a quick creative sketch or question to answer that’s related to the unit of study. Students will respond to these prompts in their sketch books.

I feel that these doodles are a great way to get students engaged upon entering the room, thinking creatively, and ready to work on their projects.

1:1 Technology

I will be incorporating the use of 1:1 laptops into this semester’s lessons. Students will need to bring their laptops to class charged and ready to use.

What to bring to class??

  • Pencils with erasers
  • Sketchbook**
  • 1:1 device if issued
  • Positive attitude 

**Sketchbooks are a new requirement. Something simple with blank pages (not lined) will be fine. (If needed, computer paper can be stapled together into a booklet.)

Grading/Assessments

I grade by categorizing assignments and weighing each category as follows:

*30% Warm Up Drawings

(Sketchbook: Daily Doodles, rough drafts, weekly drawings)

*20% Class Work

(worksheets, skill practice)

*50% Projects

The key to succeeding in my class is simply to follow directions and project rubrics and to try your best!

Expectations

All students are expected to respect others as well as other’s art work and art supplies.

Students are expected to come to class prepared with a pencil every day. Vandalizing school art supplies or fooling around during class will not be tolerated. Art can be fun, but rules still need to be followed.

Arrive Prepared(proper supplies)

Respect Others(teacher, peers, artwork, supplies)

Try Your Best (give each project an honest effort)

Safe and Neat(clean up after yourself and keep your folder organized)

Art Supply Fee

The supply fee for art is $3.50 and must be given to me during class. Exact change is preferred. I will send home a receipt with each student once they have paid. Fees must be paid separately this year by subject.

What’s so important about Art??

Research has shown that having one or more arts courses help students to develop the right side of their brain. It also aids in problem solving skills and many more important aspects of life. See below…

Contact Me!

**Please contact me at the school or through the school website if you have any questions or concerns.