A lesson for the MAY-hem

May is utter mayhem! There are so many disruptions to the schedule between testing, field day, field trips, concerts, awards and promotion ceremonies. It can be difficult to plan lessons short enough to complete by the end of the year. Staying organized and handing back all student artwork before the year ends also challenges most teachers of every subject.

I like to keep all student artwork until the end of the year if my storage space permits. (This is also helpful if you ever have an art show) I try to always keep all artwork until May. This allows parents to really see their little artist’s growth throughout the year. I truly believe this helps parents and homeroom teachers to have a visual of the impact visual arts can have on student growth. It is my hope that this will help at least a few more people in my school community to value visual arts and what I do within the school.

A great end of year lesson is to talk to students about portfolios. We discuss how artists keep a portfolio of their best artwork and why that is important for their job. Each student then uses a large piece of paper to create a portfolio. I use 24”x36” sulphite drawing paper. I fold it in half for my younger students and students who require more help, staple the sides, and write each student’s name in big “fancy” lettering. Students then spend two art classes designing the front and back of their portfolio with a pencil. They then color both sides, reminding them about craftsmanship before and during their work time. We usually use crayons or colored pencils as markers sometimes bleed through the paper.

This project helps students recognize how much they have grown throughout the year. It also allows them to transport their artwork safely home and intact to show to their families. My hope is to instill a sense of pride and responsibility in the process.