In Finland children
in elementary school have one to two art lessons per week. It’s usually their
teacher or other classroom teacher from their school who organizes art lessons.
Art lessons are based on our nationwide curriculum but it only gives teachers guidelines
what to do, not readily planned lessons. For example if it says in curriculum
that second graders need to learn primary colors, teachers have to plan lessons
and art work for students around that topic. To me it was always one of the
interesting and most fun subjects to plan and teach.
Our
children’s school here in California is involved in a program called Art in
Action. Basically what it means is that the school has bought rights and
materials to organize art lessons that are well planned and ready to use. This
program even offers live tutoring how to organize these lessons in the best
possible way. One thing that I hardly see happening in Finland is that parents
actually organize these lessons. Last year I was helping the Art in Action
docent in our daughter’s class but this year I decided to take one step
forward. Now I’m actually teaching these art lessons and it’s most fun in a
long time!
Before my
first art lesson I drove to Menlo Park to have my tutoring session. There were
about 20 fellow parents who were learning about those art lessons we will
organize during this school year. We got some useful advice and the teacher
actually guided us through all the 12 lessons available. In reality I only have
time to organize nine out of them but it’s ok because it gives me a little freedom
to pick those nine lessons that I’m most into. I have to say that these lessons
are very high quality and thoroughly planned. They include information about
different artists, art trends, materials and art concepts. It’s perfect package
to teach and for students to learn varied techniques, trends and artist
information.
The most
difficult part for me when getting ready for my lessons to come is the huge
amount of specific concepts that I don’t use in my everyday language. I really
have to work hard but I guess it’s good to activate your brains like this every
now and then.
On the left you can see some of the projects we'll be making this school year.
So how did
the first lessons go?
My daughter
says that I did well. I would say that I did ok for the first lesson. I’m
learning from my mistakes and I think that the next lesson will be better. One
good thing about kids who live in our neighborhood is that they are used to
hear different kind of accents so they don’t pay so much attention if the
pronouncing is not totally correct. It’s all natural for them that people speak
in different ways. Because students only have one art lesson in a month they
are usually very excited to have their art docent teaching them and especially
being able to do different kinds of art projects.
For me,
being able to do this is a huge thing. I’m so ready for my upcoming art lessons
in the future and for now on my students are guaranteed to have fun and high
quality art lessons wherever I’ll be teaching!
