Unit 3: Stories
Artists: Thomas Hart Benton & Diego Rivera
Group Murals: Drawing and/or collage
Artist: Faith Ringgold
Story Quilts: Watercolor
Artist: Jean Shin
Mini Sculptures from Found Objects
Unit 3: Stories Reflection
Through out unit 3, Stories I found my self doing a lot of walking down memory lane. I believe whole heartedly that our experiences and pasts make us the individuals that we are today and will shape our futures. As Pink (2005) similarly states, “most of our experience, our knowledge and our thinking is organized by stories” (p. 101). I feel that through the different works in this unit I spent time looking back on my school days, funny stories, and the meaning behind some of the found objects I am across while attempting to find the right one to bring into class. During this unit I was able to spend time looking back and thinking about these stories and how they have contributed to my life and personality. I also found myself look ahead at my future as a teacher and thinking about how all of my students will come to me having their own stories. Each one of my students will have their own story that has shaped them into the individuals they have become and will continue to grow into. Relating to each of my students will pose a different challenge for every student. In order to get to know my students best, I find it important to learn the stories of their pasts.
I think that any of the three studios we worked with during this unit could be used in a general education classroom. Just some of my brief ideas to date would be using the cartoon strip to allow the students to share a funny story from their past. Student would be able to show me their comfortableness with sharing personal stories as well as their abilities. I think that the quilt would be an awesome form of building community. Each student could create their own piece of the quilt by drawing/painting something that is meaningful to them. As a class we could create a quilt and discuss the similarities and differences we find in our quilt. This would show us that we are all coming from different places, but the quilt being in our classroom shows that we are all apart of one community and we need to treat others that way. Finally the found object could be a fun way for students to bring in an object to share a story about. Then students could collaborate in groups that way we did in class and work together to create a project that represents a little of each of them. As Pink (2005) tells us, “we are our stories” (p.113) and the best way to get to know my students is through their stories. I hope to have a school that is supportive of a large time to create community and relationships at the beginning of the school year so I can encourage my students to share their stories.
Pink, D. (2005). A Whole New Mind. New York, NY: Penguin Group Inc.
I think that any of the three studios we worked with during this unit could be used in a general education classroom. Just some of my brief ideas to date would be using the cartoon strip to allow the students to share a funny story from their past. Student would be able to show me their comfortableness with sharing personal stories as well as their abilities. I think that the quilt would be an awesome form of building community. Each student could create their own piece of the quilt by drawing/painting something that is meaningful to them. As a class we could create a quilt and discuss the similarities and differences we find in our quilt. This would show us that we are all coming from different places, but the quilt being in our classroom shows that we are all apart of one community and we need to treat others that way. Finally the found object could be a fun way for students to bring in an object to share a story about. Then students could collaborate in groups that way we did in class and work together to create a project that represents a little of each of them. As Pink (2005) tells us, “we are our stories” (p.113) and the best way to get to know my students is through their stories. I hope to have a school that is supportive of a large time to create community and relationships at the beginning of the school year so I can encourage my students to share their stories.
Pink, D. (2005). A Whole New Mind. New York, NY: Penguin Group Inc.