Thread by @twoducks

THREAD: a story. "After I said my standard "centers are now open, start your art" one new 6th grader from Russia came to me and said "I listened to everything you said, but I must have missed something - what are we supposed to do? 1/8

I explained that this was up to her - she could choose a center and begin. I watched as she started a painting. It was as if she had never experienced any of it before - what to do? What to make? How to make it? What next? And now what? Each mark she made delighted her. 2/8

She made a red heart outline (on a GIANT piece of paper) and filled it in with more red (she was delighted with this) then - made a red heart outline and filled it with blue.I wish I video-taped her it was like watching a baby take her first steps. 3/8

it was touch and go for a minute - had she put it too close to the first heart? Would it fit? A Cliff hanger!) then what? "Five minutes til clean -up" I announced. Hurry! Scribble scratch paint a background 4/8

Oooooo - that doesn't look very nice! Now what? Oh! Fill it with black! Look! It covers all the scratchy background! Time's up! Finish tomorrow. Will it look good to the principal? Nope. Was it a good use for a 24" X 36" poster board? Probably not, could have used newsprint. 5/8

What will it say about the program if I have an art show? Not much. What was the quality of the learning? Enormous. 6/8

The student is the product, not the painting. the learning is the thing. The thing is not the thing. Will this student charge into the studio tomorrow eager to get to work? I'll let you know (I am betting yes). Nan Hathaway 2015 studio-learning.blogspot.com/search?q=quali… 7/8

I REPEAT: The student is the product, not the painting. the learning is the thing. The thing is not the thing.
#TABchat #studentistheartist #selfdirected #engagement #Quality 8/8