Our C.H.O.I.C.E. Art Studio FAQ
What is a CHOICE Base Art Studio?
As a CHOICE based art studio we do things a little differently than the traditional teacher-directed art classroom.
CHOICE stands for Children Having Original, Individualize, Creative Experiences.
This Visual Arts program at Guy E. Rowe Elementary School is based on the principles and practices of the nationally recognized and researched-backed "Choice-Based Art Education," and "The Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) Partnership." The idea is simple: Children are offered real choices for responding to their own ideas and interests through the making of art. When given the chance to explore their own ideas, passions, and interests, children often find greater meaning and relevance in their work.
In many typical Art Rooms, it is the teacher who develops an idea, choosing both materials and subject matter. The student follows step-by-step instructions to complete the "project." This leaves very little room for independence, creative thinking, problem solving, and exploring. As a result, students may become bored, frustrated, or even develop a lack of confidence in their own abilities, believing they are "just no good at art!"
In a C.H.O.I.C.E. Studio, there is no prescribed "project." Instead the teacher offers guidance, suggestions, resources, and demonstrations for supplies and techniques. The students are regarded as artists, and are free to make their own choices concerning subject matter and materials.
What is expected of the students?
Being an artist is no easy task, it takes a lot of decision making, problem solving, collaboration, innovative thinking, independence, curiosity, and practice. With all of that comes the responsibility of maintaing the art studio, choosing materials, knowing where to find them, how to use them, and how they need to be cleaned and put away to be able to use them again.
What is expected of the teacher?
As the teacher, I fill a variety of different roles, facilitating the studio, fostering ideas, expanding thinking, introducing new materials, tools, and concepts, and responding to individual as well as whole class needs. I make sure the studio runs smoothly, the inspiration flows freely, ideas are pushed further, the next step is anticipated, to celebrate in accomplishments, rethink mistakes, and encourage each and every artist.
What does an average class period look like?
I see each class once a week for 40 minutes - not a lot of art time at all! So we use it very wisely!
What can I do to support my student artist at home?
Your artist is going to be exploring with materials, ideas, techniques, inspiration, and style this year. Remember not all artwork is or should be display ready but each piece is just as important to the process. Start a conversation about your child's artwork by using one of these questions:
As a CHOICE based art studio we do things a little differently than the traditional teacher-directed art classroom.
CHOICE stands for Children Having Original, Individualize, Creative Experiences.
This Visual Arts program at Guy E. Rowe Elementary School is based on the principles and practices of the nationally recognized and researched-backed "Choice-Based Art Education," and "The Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) Partnership." The idea is simple: Children are offered real choices for responding to their own ideas and interests through the making of art. When given the chance to explore their own ideas, passions, and interests, children often find greater meaning and relevance in their work.
In many typical Art Rooms, it is the teacher who develops an idea, choosing both materials and subject matter. The student follows step-by-step instructions to complete the "project." This leaves very little room for independence, creative thinking, problem solving, and exploring. As a result, students may become bored, frustrated, or even develop a lack of confidence in their own abilities, believing they are "just no good at art!"
In a C.H.O.I.C.E. Studio, there is no prescribed "project." Instead the teacher offers guidance, suggestions, resources, and demonstrations for supplies and techniques. The students are regarded as artists, and are free to make their own choices concerning subject matter and materials.
What is expected of the students?
Being an artist is no easy task, it takes a lot of decision making, problem solving, collaboration, innovative thinking, independence, curiosity, and practice. With all of that comes the responsibility of maintaing the art studio, choosing materials, knowing where to find them, how to use them, and how they need to be cleaned and put away to be able to use them again.
What is expected of the teacher?
As the teacher, I fill a variety of different roles, facilitating the studio, fostering ideas, expanding thinking, introducing new materials, tools, and concepts, and responding to individual as well as whole class needs. I make sure the studio runs smoothly, the inspiration flows freely, ideas are pushed further, the next step is anticipated, to celebrate in accomplishments, rethink mistakes, and encourage each and every artist.
What does an average class period look like?
I see each class once a week for 40 minutes - not a lot of art time at all! So we use it very wisely!
- Intro: Every class starts with a 5-10 minute introduction, this can be anything from a new material to a new artist, a new art concept (portraits) to the opening of a new center. The entire class is introduced to every material and technique as a group.
- Art Making: The artist retrieve their work and either continue with a project that they have already started or respond to the new information presented at the intro. Each artist chooses the materials that are going to work for his/her project, collects them from the appropriate center and uses them at his/her seat.
- Clean up: It is up to the student artist to take care of his/her own materials and work. As well as help the class as a whole if they finish early.
- Share Time: An important part of creating artwork is responding to other art as well as having viewers see your own work. As often as we can we have share time at the end of class where artist view each other's work, respond to it, and receive comments on their own artwork.
What can I do to support my student artist at home?
Your artist is going to be exploring with materials, ideas, techniques, inspiration, and style this year. Remember not all artwork is or should be display ready but each piece is just as important to the process. Start a conversation about your child's artwork by using one of these questions:
- Can you tell me about it?
- Why did you make it?
- How did you make it?
- What were you inspired by?
- What materials did you use?
- What did you discover?

my_choice_brocher.pdf | |
File Size: | 7612 kb |
File Type: |