A future of cooperative learning and non-competitive assessment

I absolutely loved art class today. So many ideas and possible lesson plans/ideas were shared. I truly felt like I was in a cooperative and non-competitive learning environment. How wonderful it would be if all of our learning were like that...I think we would enter the teaching world better prepared to meet the call for new culturally relevant pedagogy and be better able to teach in Canada's cultural mosaic. I know that sometimes I am guilty of focusing on grades and outcomes but I feel the tide turning - teacher training programs are better preparing student-teachers to focus on life-long learning and self-improvement, rather than on straight A's. That said, I think there is still lots of room for improvement - especially in the area of communication.

Expectations

I feel it is extremely important we reflect on the demands we ask of our students. Our primary concern should be the well-being and future of our students. What we want or expect might not be best for them.

Expressive reading gone too far

I CAN DO IT!

I do not consider myself to be an artist. In fact, I would consider myself to be extremely challenged when it comes to drawing, creating, and doing many of the things involved in the Fine Arts curriculum.

One of the most important new learnings to come to me so far in this course has been the need to change my attitude. I must show a positive attitude to art. I must admit the stongest reason I have had an "aversion to art" is that I think I suck at it. It is one thing to understand the theory behind a "self-fulfilling prophecy" (and tell others that they need to become more confident or set students up to succeed in an effort to increase their self-efficacy) but it is quite a different story when you are trying to do it to yourself.

In an effort to practice what I intend to preach, I am trying to change my mindframe. I can think creatively. I can draw. I can paint. More importantly, I enjoy it because it gives me a chance to express myself in a different way than which I am accustomed. I am growing. This is my best work of art to date. There will be others.

Grades vs. Process

One of the most natural human traits is to enjoy success. We tend to favor things that we are successful at, investing more time and effort, thus developing strengths in certain areas of our life.
In our Bed program we have learned the importance behind intrinsic motivation and the need to focus on the process in learning not the grades. If we establish this in our classrooms we will be more likely to create a community of learners where the students will be more prone to become lifelong learners who value education.
However, after taking this week's Art quiz, I have come to question my ability to do this. I feel that I must be able to effetively model something that I expect my students to do. I noticed that after the first quiz Willow sang a song and got us to sing along. At first I thought that this was another transition exercise, but after observing Willow, looking at others' expressions, and examining my own feelings, I think it was an unplanned song designed to uplift the mood of the classroom. I think that Willow thought that we were feeling depressed about having just taken a test. Perhaps it was just me. Perhaps I am way off base. But I know that my mood was not the best after taking that quiz. It gave me an insight into what a seven year old might be thinking when I am giving a quiz - "This is stupid. I hate school. I am doing ---tty" - while I am thinking, "You are all going to do fine. This is easy. Just do what I told you to".
I believe that I am more process-oriented when it comes to education. Perhaps I have further to go than I thought.