MIDDLE SCHOOL EXPRESSIVE THE Jason Van Roo SCENE PROJECT hinking like an artist comes from the balance of technical growth and student creativity. I’m con-stantly in search of achieving this balance through open-ended projects, and I routinely reflect and adjust what I teach to achieve it. The goal of this balance is to ensure students can look at art, understand it, discuss it, make art with increased skill and creativity, and see its expressive possibilities. I break this process down into three phases based on the design cycle: research, practice, and final project. We start by looking at both tradi-tional and contemporary art. After an introduction, including a glimpse at historical art, contemporary art, and grade-level examples, students conduct independent research, explore their T Left: Kathryn Z., Office Hours , grade seven. Below: Quinn S., Dreamwalker at Midnight , grade eight. 20 APRIL SchoolArts
School Arts Magazine April 2022: Page 20
