Choice-Art Educators (CAE) Column: Summer 2023

Choice Art: Student Engagement

Column by: Julie Jacobusse, CAE Co-President

This week, my administrator settled down in a seat near the back of my art room for my final observation. My heart fluttered as I thought, He is going to come in during this class of all classes? It is an elementary class with four students who can give you a run for your money. I took a breath and gave a brief review of the origami studio, we passed out projects, and I called students to their studios to start our class. As we got going, one of the students was actively making an origami cup, then went to the sink to try it out with a few friends. They all leaned over in anticipation and let out an “ooh” as they all were in awe that the cup actually did hold water. However, the student had to leave the cup on a messy mat on the drying rack to let it dry.

Other students who tend to be off task were actively drawing with chalk, while another was making superhero wrist cuffs. I went to check in on this student, as I saw they had slit the cuffs (made of donated toilet paper tubes) to get them around their wrists, then taped the cuffs around their wrists. The tape stuck to their skin. Instead of being critical of the student’s choice to tape the wrist cuffs to their skin, I asked what they were making. The student told me they were making superhero cuffs from the Fantastic Four. The student could not remember which superhero they were modeling the cuffs after. I was excited because I just watched that movie—or a part of it—the previous night, before I went to bed since I had to get up early for school. I suggested the student add color so the cuffs looked more finished, like superhero cuffs, and the student agreed. I asked the student if they needed help taking the cuffs back off. The student said yes, and after I got the cuffs off, the student chose to get markers from the drawing studio to add a splash of color. It was great to see this particular student so engaged in artmaking because at times, they can have issues. My administrator walked around the class, peering over students as they were working. I could clearly see the administrator was impressed with the students owning their learning with choice art.

This is my 2nd year in this building with 18 years teaching overall. I am one of the first art teachers to teach with choice in the district. It is tremendous to see how receptive the students and leadership have been as a choice art teacher. I hope people do not judge me since my students’ work is not as polished as DBAE art teachers’ student art. I feel the art statements that hang with the art and the students’ excitement and engagement in their artmaking speaks volumes. When I got my email from the teacher evaluator system, my administrator said: “The work you are having your students do is good to see. I notice that the S [students] seem to enjoy the different art studios offered during the class. Continue to provide S choice in your classroom as I see that as a strength in your room for the S.” This fills my heart with joy, and I feel this is why I do what I do: It engages students who may not always be engaged in art class. After all, we artists all like to have choices in how we create!

Julie Jacobusse and Maggie Leysath, CAE Co-Presidents