MRS. MICHEL-HENDERSON'S ART PROGRAM
EXCELLENCE IN ART AND OPPORTUNITY FOR EVERY LEVEL ART STUDENT TO IMPROVE AS AN ARTIST
I entered middle school as a talented artist and I took Art classes every semester and every summer throughout my middle and high school years. My Art classes were fun, but I never improved as an artist simply because my Art teachers never taught. Art direction consisted of, "Get a paper, paints, a brush, and paint a scene." My teachers never demonstrated any art techinques or explained how to use different art mediums. One day, we would be on painting and then the next day, we would be on collage. There was never any rhyme or reason as to why one project followed another; so, there was never any learning taken away from these Art classes.
College opened up my eyes as to what could actually be learned in Art classes. So, when I had the opportunity to take over the Art Department at Millikan Middle School, I did so with the intent, and blessing of the Administration, to create an Art Program, which actually teaches middle school students what they would normally have to wait until college to learn.
Everything I teach in my art classes is sequential and academic, meaning that I teach each art concept through step by step instructions and demonstration, incorporating the vocabulary and mediums associated with that concept. So, long before a student completes a drawing in my class, that student will learn about different drawing mediums and papers, learn how to hold drawing pencils or drawing sticks to achieve different techniques, learn how to do value scales with each of the mediums, learn how to blend from one color into another color, learn how to draw, and learn how to capture a light source. Once they have a good understanding and mastery of these techniques, they will do a drawing and apply what they have learned.
My Art Program at Millikan Middle School is designed to help all students find the artist within them regardless of whether or not they feel they are or are not artistic. Students who feel that they don’t have an artistic bone in their bodies will come away with a new found realization that they, too, can create incredible art. Students with an artistic background will find that their desire to learn more and grow as an artist is also realized in my art program. As I teach Design, Collage, Paper Sculpture, Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Maskmaking, Printmaking, as well as other art concepts and techiniques, the students in my class will have the wonderful opportunity to learn about each of these things in the art classes that I offer at Millikan Middle School.
The Art classes offerings are as follows-
EXPLORATORY ART- is a beginning level 10 week art course taken by 6th grade students as part of the elective wheel. The page on EXPLORATORY ART will explain what students will learn in this course.
EXPLORATORY CRAFT- is a beginning level 10 week art course taken by 6th grade students as part of some of the elective wheels. The page on EXPLORATORY CRAFT will explain what students will learn in this course.
GENERAL ART- is an intermediate level 20 week art course taken by 7th & 8th grade students. The page on GENERAL ART will explain what students learn in this course.
DESIGN CRAFT- is an intermediate 20 week art course taken by 7th & 8th grade students. The page on DESIGN CRAFT will explain what students learn in this course.
ADVANCED ART- is an advanced college level 40 week art course taken ONLY by 8th grade students. Students who want to take this class need to have completed either GENERAL ART and/or DESIGN CRAFT in the 7th grade, and need to see me for my approval to get into this class.