method
Our innovative teaching method combines the joys of creating with the joys of learning, helping each student discover his or her own creativity.
Lessons begin with art-historical orientations and include vocabulary, brainstorming, and in-depth demonstrations of techniques and materials. Students discover the possibilities of different creative decisions and are encouraged to take artistic risks. They learn how to discuss art through peer-to-peer critiques and public exhibitions.
Refined over 17 years of feedback from educators, parents, and students, our six-part method ensures consistently high quality and sophistication in every class and results in confident, creative children and teens.
Students are introduced to each FACT lesson through an art-historical context, giving them an awareness of artistic tradition that adds meaning to their own work. The presentation of art history is tied to language and literacy development, as instructors display and explain art vocabulary words and use them to initiate group discussion and brainstorming sessions. Throughout FACT classes, students refer to these words and use them to talk with each other about their projects. Demonstrations of each lesson's techniques and materials motivate students to experiment with their own ideas during hands-on artmaking.
Our students spend the bulk of each class making art and exploring the possibilities of their own creative choices. Lessons end with critiques encouraging students to use the phrases "I see..." and "I notice..." to share observations about their own and others' work with consideration and respect. This component builds students' confidence in expressing themselves verbally and communicating positively. Finally, every student has the opportunity to exhibit a work of art at a public venue. Meaningful events for students, their families, and the community, these exhibitions give young people lasting confidence in their abilities.
