SOUTH VIENNA MIDDLE SCHOOL

ART NEWS

How You Can Help What’s Happening in Art? Grading

WELCOME!

Hello! My name is Mrs. Watkins, and I am the new art teacher at South Vienna Middle School

Just to let you know a little bit about me:

I grew up in West Liberty and I graduated in June 2007 from Ohio University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education. This is my first year teaching and I am very excited to get to introduce different kinds of projects to the students. I am teaching 7^th and 8^th grade art in the afternoons here at South Vienna, and in the mornings I teach 1^st-5^th grade at Rolling Hills Elementary.

I would like to use this ART NEWS page as a communication tool & gallery for parents/guardians and students. I think it’s important to show off student artwork, and I look forward to giving parents & guardians multiple opportunities to do so.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Art Wish List

If you are interested in donating items for art projects that would be great! Just about any item can be used to make art. These include everyday items you might just be throwing away. Some items we could make good use of would be:

· Egg cartons

· Cardboard

· Magazines

· Buttons

· Beads

· Paper bags (small)

· Yarn

· Large plastic lids

· Paper tubes (toilet paper size)

· Gallon plastic buckets (the kind ice cream comes in.)

· Plastic cups (butter, cottage cheese, etc.) –used as water cups.

· Random found objects such as: old LP records, dowel rods, bottle caps, pop tabs, etc…

Also, if you have any great ideas for art projects you would like to see the students do or would like to volunteer to help me with large project just let me know! I’d be happy to talk with you any time! Just give me a call at South Vienna Middle School, or send me an email.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN ART?

7^th Grade

Click here to see what the 7^th graders have been hard at work on this quarter.

Project 1: Sketchbooks

Project 2: “Namely Matisse”

Project 3: “Come Together”

Project 4: “Dream Bedroom”

8^th Grade

Click here to see what the 8^th graders have been hard at work on this quarter.

Project 1: Sketchbooks

Project 2: “Split Personality”

Project 3: “View from the City”

Project 4: “Fruit Again?”

GRADING

A big question when it comes to art is how do you grade something so objective?

I grade projects based on a rubric. With each project I use the same rubric and I give 5 points each for:

1. Craftsmanship:

Is it evident that you took the time and put effort into your art piece? Is it neat, does it look finished (no white spaces/filled in completely)? Is it completed to the best of your ability?

2. Following Directions:

Did you follow all the directions for the project & include them in your piece? I look at certain items I wanted them to include for each project and make sure all are there.

3. Effort/Stayed on Task:

Were you working diligently during class? Staying on task? Not bothering your neighbor, but instead putting as much effort as you could into your project?

4. Creativity

When it comes to the points for creativity I just see if they took the time to put a little bit of themselves into each work. Did they make it their own? Students usually receive all 5 points for this.

The projects count for 50% of their total grade for the quarter.

30% of the remaining grade goes to the sketchbook. Every time we start a project they either have to practice or make sketches of their ideas. They also use their sketchbooks for free time if they finish a project early.

The remaining 20% goes to participation. They receive 5 points a day. They may get points deducted if they come to class not prepared, disrupt class constantly, or refuse to work. I expect the students to always be working on something. It isn’t a free period.