The act of growing up is difficult, and middle school is one of the hardest grade levels to make it through. There are so many changes that happen in this age group, such as a new school, multiple teachers, and school sponsored sports to name a few. All these changes happening around the same time lead to an identity crises of sorts. Kerlavage (1998) states, “All the rules for social behavior that developed in earlier stages are suddenly called into question as students, in transition between childhood and adulthood, attempt to establish their role in an adult world” (p. 57). They are changing from ‘little people’ who are told what to do and think, into adolescence who have their own opinions, who are unsure.
While students at this grade level …show more content…
Edwards (1999) states that students are becoming “sharply critical of their childhood drawing and begin to draw certain favorites subjects over and over again, attempting to perfect the image” (p. 69). Kerlavage (1998) adds that for students at this stage “competition becomes a big part of group interaction as young people test their abilities against each other” (p. 57). At this point the goal of the art teacher is to design a project or unit where all students can gain success while keeping competition from becoming hurtful. One way to accomplish this to use methods and techniques that lead to more realistic drawings like using a …show more content…
Once students reach this point they are reaching the end of Edwards’ (1999) “The crisis period” (p. 69). At this time if students are not interested, they will “abandon art as an expressive activity for another” (Edwards, 1999, p. 69). This makes the art teacher’s role even more important, because in the state of Iowa students must take art classes only through eighth grade. Once they leave the Carroll Community School District middle school art room, students who don’t have a passion for art are not required to take another class in the subject. It is very important to foster understanding, and appreciation of art in the middle
While students at this grade level …show more content…
Edwards (1999) states that students are becoming “sharply critical of their childhood drawing and begin to draw certain favorites subjects over and over again, attempting to perfect the image” (p. 69). Kerlavage (1998) adds that for students at this stage “competition becomes a big part of group interaction as young people test their abilities against each other” (p. 57). At this point the goal of the art teacher is to design a project or unit where all students can gain success while keeping competition from becoming hurtful. One way to accomplish this to use methods and techniques that lead to more realistic drawings like using a …show more content…
Once students reach this point they are reaching the end of Edwards’ (1999) “The crisis period” (p. 69). At this time if students are not interested, they will “abandon art as an expressive activity for another” (Edwards, 1999, p. 69). This makes the art teacher’s role even more important, because in the state of Iowa students must take art classes only through eighth grade. Once they leave the Carroll Community School District middle school art room, students who don’t have a passion for art are not required to take another class in the subject. It is very important to foster understanding, and appreciation of art in the middle