Pre AP Syllabus – Mrs. Oden

It is my pleasure to be your art teacher this school year. I believe that art and art education foster and develop important critical thinking skills, creativity, innovation, self-discovery, and self-expression. My promise to you is that I will BE PRESENT each day that I am in class with you, and I ask the same of you. I don’t mean just physically in the classroom, but mentally engaged and ready to work.

Pre AP will focus on a variety of drawing techniques, as well as some painting, printmaking and 3D work. The goal will be to build upon the techniques learned in previous art classes and move toward refining those skills. In addition, you will create an online portfolio and learn to write and speak about your work using proper vocabulary. I want you to experiment & become proficient with various mediums AND become confident in drawing from observation. In addition I want you to work on developing your own personal art style based on your personality, abilities, and interests. Please remember, any art form takes patience and perseverance. Always remember to keep an open mind and don’t give up!

Because this is a Pre AP class, expectations are very high. Each project should be a reflection of your BEST efforts, as each is a candidate for your portfolio in AP next year. Toward the end of the year, we will create some projects that will begin to get you geared up for the expectations of the AP class and give you a head start in both the areas of breadth and concentration – the 2 main portions of your AP portfolio.

Supplies needed:

  • Sketchboook (at least 200 pages)
  • #2 Pencils. I will provide some drawing pencils to use in class, but I would strongly suggest that you get some of your own. Graphite pencils work great, and are usually pretty easy to find.

Attitudes and Work Habits:

All students have different levels of skill and experience, so effort and attitude will be rewarded! This class is not based on talent, but on the ability to listen, put forth your best effort, accept all challenges and complete assignments as instructed. I will give plenty of time for projects to be completed in class. In addition, grades will depend upon your ability to talkand/or write about your work using proper vocabulary and terms that we will cover in class.

Off task behavior will result in unfinished projects, lower grades, mandatory tutorials, and disciplinary action.

***This is a safe space for EVERYONE. That means absolutely NO bullying or hurtful comments to your peers. I have a zero tolerance policy for this. If you violate this, you will be asked to leave the classroom and you will receive a zero for the day. I want you all to have a positive and fun experience in this class, and that means respecting each other and the space that we are in.

Music is a PRIVELEGE

My art room is a learning environment! Properly manage your own electronics so I don’t have to. Please do not walk into art wearing headphones. NO music or ear buds while I am talking, teaching, or demonstrating. You may listen to your music ONLY during independent work times, and if it becomes a distraction from your work, your ability to learn, or my teaching, you will lose the privilege. Keep the volume low at all times so it is not a distraction to other.

  • You may use your phone to listen to music if it helps you work. I know when I create art, I like to have music playing, so I completely understand this.
  • No texting or taking calls in my class.
  • No games, movies, videos, social networking,
  • When in doubt, PLEASE ASK FIRST or you may risk having your phone taken up.
  • You will get one warning, and then I’m taking it.
  • We will use your technology devices frequently to research artists, art movements, as well as the utilization of Google Classroom. If you are watching movies, playing games, or socializing, then you are not present and giving your effort in my class. This will result in a poor grade.

Grading

Grades for this class will be based 60% on major summative assessments (projects) and 40% minor summative assessments (classwork/sketch books). Classwork can include sketch book activities, journaling, creativity exercises, and group work. Also, large part of this grade comes from student effort and participation. Projects will be graded on effort/engagement, craftsmanship, following directions, and creativity. In addition, there will be writing assignments for some of the projects that you create. If you are putting forth your best effort, maximizing class time, and turning in project on time, you will do great in class!

If a student does poorly on a project, they have 10 days from the day that I pass the project back to improve it for a better grade. This will apply ONLY to those who work diligently in class on their work. If students are wasting time in class, they will not be provided with this opportunity.

Sketchbooks

You will keep a visual journal, or sketchbook throughout the semester. Your sketch book will be more of an art journal and will be an ongoing project in itself throughout the year. We will do preliminary work to prepare for your projects, small writing assignments, notes, etc. In addition to the things that I will assign for your art journals, you will be expected to fill them with your own work independently. This is a place for you to truly experiment with different ideas. You are free to do anything in your art journal, and in any medium. This is a truly open space for creativity! There will be an art journal entry due EACH WEEK. It will be due the last day that I see you that week. For each day the weekly entry is late, it will be 5 points off. I will only take them 5 days late. After that, it will be a zero.

We will go over this more in detail in class, but please understand that your art journal is a key component to your grade in this class, so don’t take it lightly. If you need, I can store them in the room so that you don’t lose them .

OK…now that all of that is out of the way, let’s have an awesome year! I can’t wait to see what you create this year. Art should be the class that you go to in order to be yourself, release your creativity, think innovatively, and expand on your uniqueness. Be open, be creative, and have fun!!!