It's easier than you think & more important than you can imagine!
Writing is an important skill. It is assessed, tracked, and can ultimately impact school funding. Though you may think literacy should be left to the English teachers, literacy should be a portion of all classes. In art I have found that writing before working helps focus student ideas and there is less waste of materials because they have a more clear vision of what they want to create. Writing in the middle of a project, in the form of a critique, can help students refocus and create even better works of art. Final critiques and reflections help with future projects and having students reflect on their work so that it continues to improve. Here are a few ways I incorporate literacy...
Writing is a list.
Writing can be where they fill in information on a guided worksheet.
Writing in the critique in the middle or end of a project or by focusing on one aspect of critique.
Writing may be a weekly or daily reflection you assign before class begins
The "Written Assignment Literacy Rubric" in the image above was one I developed in coordination with my English department to assess student literacy progress. It can be used to grade, but I found it helpful to use it as a un-weighted assessment to record literacy improvement in my students. This tool has really helped me see, in a concrete way if and how my students are improving in their literacy skills.
A score of 15 would indicate that the student is writing at grade level. To determine this, one might need to coordinate with an English department colleague. A lower score would indicate that the written work needs improvement, and a higher score indicates that a student is working above grade level. Small improvements can be seen and patterns emerge as this rubric is used.
If you are looking for more literacy-based resources, I list many on my blog but hard copies can be purchased through Firehouse Publications. All the books include a link to Amazon, and many have video "walk throughs" so you can see the content.
I am including some images from various titles below.
Writing is a list.
- Write 10 things you couldn't live without
- Who are in your circle of friends
- What colors are you wearing today
- list 5 major life events, positive or negative
- What art elements/principles did you use in the last project
Writing can be where they fill in information on a guided worksheet.
- My cultural background is _____________, an animal from that country that might represent me is a ________ because ________________________________________________...
- Some of my hobbies are ________________. The one that is most visual is ____________...
- Someone that is no longer in my life is _______________ because _______________...
- If I could talk to anyone from history for 1 hour it would be _______ because _______...
Writing in the critique in the middle or end of a project or by focusing on one aspect of critique.
- Describe
- Analyze
- Decide
- Judge
Writing may be a weekly or daily reflection you assign before class begins
- Monday Art Quote Responses (Image above)
- Technical Text Tuesday (pushing vocabulary or concepts)
- Throwback Thursday - Write 3 facts about a famous historic artwork
- Compare and contrast 2 artworks
The "Written Assignment Literacy Rubric" in the image above was one I developed in coordination with my English department to assess student literacy progress. It can be used to grade, but I found it helpful to use it as a un-weighted assessment to record literacy improvement in my students. This tool has really helped me see, in a concrete way if and how my students are improving in their literacy skills.
A score of 15 would indicate that the student is writing at grade level. To determine this, one might need to coordinate with an English department colleague. A lower score would indicate that the written work needs improvement, and a higher score indicates that a student is working above grade level. Small improvements can be seen and patterns emerge as this rubric is used.
If you are looking for more literacy-based resources, I list many on my blog but hard copies can be purchased through Firehouse Publications. All the books include a link to Amazon, and many have video "walk throughs" so you can see the content.
I am including some images from various titles below.
If you need a resource you can make unlimited copies from, THIS LINK will take you to the Art & Literacy Workbook.
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