I've always had the philosophy that Final Exams should be a culmination of skills and techniques learned throughout the semester.

They should actually make the student feel good. Feel proud.

If you recall, high school exams are half days, two classes per day. Extended time obviously.  Think of what you could accomplish in an 1:40 minutes.

 Marley Larson, Jr

Sometimes it is a one day final exam, utilizing that particular time period to create a piece or critique.  Mostly though, I assign the final assignment a week prior giving students the time to be inspired, plan, and get supplies with the deadline being during the exam date.

 

I've had tremendous success with this. Most all advanced classes have a "Large Self Portrait" as the final exam. Many have this final exam multiple times during their careers with me as an end of the semester final exam.

 

"It's the best piece you've done all semester" just heard said by Haley to Marley.

Marley just received her "A".

Here's some pics from 1st semester Final Exams "Large Self Portrait"

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Today's visitors included Dakota Bruce and Katelyn Babcock.   Day 4 of  The Jar.

As we were chirping away, mostly me and Dakota complaining, well me, a visitor was brought to my room.  In came a flatbed dolly with boxes on it through my classroom door. ( Jeff the eternal hall monitor pushed it in). An older woman was seen behind it, standing in the hallway, looking intently into the class. As I approached, she came inside the doorway and started to speak to me.

"I have some art supplies I think you may be able to use...."

"Oh that's great" I said.  She started say "They are from my......." and she stopped.

She said "I'm going to start to cry...."  I stood bewildered.  She continued, "They are from my brother who was one of the first graduating class of the school." 50 years ago.

"He was an artist."   

 She broke down a bit.  She said he loved art. Was really good, "won contests and awards".

 I couldn't ask her any questions with her in the state she was.  You could see it must have happened very recent. They must have been going through his possessions.

 She was letting go.   We were there to see it.  Thank you whoever you were.   Let's use them! 

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So I've known Ro for a few years. I came to observe his classroom when I was getting my teaching certification from EMU. This guy has posters on the ceiling! He hangs quotes from the ceiling! When he needs to get your attention (students), his voice will shake the tiles on the ceiling! Ok, not really, but I was intrigued by his methods, and when I accepted a job out here in northern Nevada, I used a few of his techniques my first year, and they worked! I am now finishing my fourth year of teaching and teach upper classman in the oldest high school in Nevada! Not in Las Vegas. I am six hours north of there, in a rural location. Cowboys come here in January and share stories and art. It's a mining town, too. But I am still using things I learned from Michigan and Mr. Ro and others, applying them to my own methods and getting these kids out here to know and understand art in a high desert community.

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This gift for me today pretty much sums up the origins of this blog idea.

1.  What a great gift from a student.  I had Allison last semester  for only Painting 1. She is going to attend Adrian College in the fall and go into Art.  I will wear the pin tomorrow at her graduation proudly. 

2.  It shows the connection to Alumni I have created since I began teaching in 1997.  Some of who are close friends now. 

3.  It represents how I want to share in your future successes. 

4.  It shows how I want to promote the arts and especially my alumni artists and their endeavors. 

5.  This post on my personal Facebook page will be buried in a couple days.  I feel on a blog I/we can access it through the archives much easier.

6.  Please comment!

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I've had the idea for years. In fact since 2003 I believe. What if I was able to corral the numerous personal alumni talents, skills, and interests that I've come across? What if we helped each other?

I have worked hard on websites, Facebook and Twitter to promote. Those have gone extremely well, but I know I can do better. 

My definition of websites now is that of an archive of information.  A place to go to get something as if researching or buying a specific item. I feel social media is the key to promotion of the arts. Facebook is great for a two day span, then the great posts get lost.  It's difficult to find a certain post when you need it.  Twitter is good for an hour at best then the thought gets lost.  

I feel a blog and its archive organization is what I'm looking for. A place for comments and posts by many. 

Any alumni connected through me can blog here. I would like to have daily blogs by different people.  An agreement where they would blog on certain days. I also don't want anyone to do extra work, to share a personal blog here or link to their own sites. 

I want to generate a community and share each other communities.  I feel through my teaching since 1998 I have quite the awesome community!  So why not share all around the country. 

THE GROUND UP

The goal of this blog is having numerous, talented, passionate, alumni (to start), who will contribute posts and promote their personal interests and happenings.  

In no way do I want those to do any more "work" then they already do.  One post a week, or just bring us to your own blog.  Promote yourself and your businesses. FROM THE GROUND UP.   

If we all tie our personal social, business, groups, "communities" together.  With me being the tying factor between contibutors,  we can provide a nationwide effect and support for our social networks.  

I personally will have a place to organize my lessons and influence that others can RESPOND/REPLY too. Seems better then a website and more organized then Facebook.  I also wanted to break away from some censorship of "school". 

We will use facebook and twitter to share our posts.

GROUND UP.  Please reply.  Hope to add YOU as a contributor. I'm proud of you. 

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Going over Comic Sans and how Cyndi Lareau was hired as Dan Gilbert's personal assistant.  It was quite a lesson.

More coming.

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Phil Hansen: Embrace the Shake

I made a lot of points today about this video. 

• He had to get "out of the box".
• Then he put himself "back in the box" 
• The PROCESS videoed was extremely important and in my opinion helped the artwork.
• His young age played a roll and was identifiable to many.
• His skill level?
• What was his process before attempting?
• How does the video make you feel?
• What do you think inspired him to TRY these new techniques? 
• Did he just try one time? How did he prepare?
• Would you like to contact this artist?

  philinthecircle.com/

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