NAME:
Ms. Coburn
SCHOOL:
Spring Wood Middle School
CLASS:
Middle School Art
CLASSROOM DIRECT:
630-894-4101
I have been teaching in District #20 since 1978. I taught elementary art at
Waterbury for eight years and began teaching at Spring Wood Middle School
in 1986. I am a graduate of Grand Valley State University in Michigan, with a
degree in Applied Art and Art History. I have also studied at the Art
Institute of Chicago. In addition to teaching art,I am an illustrator and
painter. I hold a master's degree, M.A.T., 2011 from Aurora University.
I have high expectations for my students and this is something I share with
them at the onset of the course. A main objective I have for students is
that they learn to think divergently, putting things together in a new way.
This is the creative process. In aligning our curriculum with the state and
national standards for art education, students will become familiar with the
Elements and Principles of Art, as well as have experiences in the various
art forms and medias. The Common Core standards are also being incorporated
into the art curriculum and are a work in progess. Art history is taught at
the 7th grade level, with units for sixth and eighth in the process of
development. Sixth grade will study the art of the 18th century, 7th grade
will study the art of the 19th century (Impressionism), and the 8th grade
will study the art of the 20th century. Students are encouraged to self-
assess their artwork through writing and group critiques. Students use a
Visual Diary - a sketchbook and journal combined. They are encouraged to
work in this weekly, and to respond in writing to their art. Finally, I
strive to have a visually pleasing and fun environment - a place where
students are encouraged
to create freely.