For the last four years, Roosevelt teachers with the support and leadership of our principal, Victoria Forrester, have had the opportunity to work with the Mills College Teacher Scholars program. This program supports ongoing learning for teachers through facilitating teacher-led investigations of teaching and learning. (Click here for more on Mills Teacher Scholars.)
Through my work with Mills Scholars I have explored:
- How can student engagement in visual art promote critical thinking and creativity?
- What does synthesis thinking look like in the art classroom and how do teachers facilitate this higher level thinking?
For my school year 2011-12 investigation, I observed and analyzed student work from seven fourth grade art projects spanning the entire school year. A highlight of the year was a project inspired by a Totem Pole art print.
To read more about the totem pole project and student thinking, check out the April 2013 Mills Teacher Scholars Blog: Synthesis Thinking Inspires Students to Join Skills and Creativity in the Art Room.
Student art examples from the Totem Pole Project, Grade 4, Washington School
Mills Teacher Scholars 2012 Inquiry in Action Forum:
