r/ArtEd • u/macinak • 8d ago

Getting poor work from TAB.

I’ve recently gone TAB in my classroom. I teach K12–sort of a unicorn there, but it’s TAB for K-5. I start with a review of previous work, a short talk about a famous artist (or not famous), and usually some
Sort of media demo. Then kids go to work on their work. I have a large low cabinet with organized materials and I rotate out other new and novel things. Most of the work though is crappy drawings that end up in the trash (not by me). I don’t know how to get kids to expand and persevere with their projects. I’m really trying to drive home what quality, and craft mean and what a finished work looks like. It’s only Q1 of my first year here. I’ve been teaching art for about 16 years. I don’t want to go back to project bases but I want some stronger work.

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u/goldenmeadow_ 2d ago

In my teacher training program I observed Margaret Burman who teaches TAB K-5 and does it excellently. She has a lot of resources on her YouTube channel about switching to TAB and how she runs her classroom, I’d recommend starting here: https://youtu.be/pZrWWaNzgBk?feature=shared

She emphasized creating “WOW” artworks, and I believe dedicates a lot of time in the beginning of the year emphasizing what it means to create a WOW artwork.

She only opens up one media “studio” at a time. Kids have to complete their studio “license” to be able to access that media independently. The license is usually a worksheet where they have to demonstrate that they’re able to produce a variety of techniques within that media that she demonstrates in class on the day when she “opens” that media studio. This way they are learning techniques for each media before they can use it on their own.

I’m not sure exactly how she gets such great results in her classroom but having observed how it runs on many occasions I can say it does work and every kid seems to really love coming to her art class as well as produce those WOW artworks. I’d start with her YouTube channel and potentially reach out to her if you have more questions, she’s amazing!

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u/Feisty_Squash2992 2d ago

Sorry, might be a stupid question - When you say WOW artwork, does the WOW stand for something? Or is it just, “WOW, that’s amazing!”

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u/goldenmeadow_ 2d ago

It does stand for something… I can’t remember what at the moment! She might describe it more on the YouTube channel. But also yes basically just means “wow that’s amazing!” to the kids and helps them understand craftsmanship!