Friday, February 19, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
What did you learn?
Last week we met the youth for the first time. There were almost 40 kids from ages 10-14! Unfortunately, the brand new Peralta Hacienda special arts facility is still under construction, so we spent the afternoon making art outside and crowded in the historic building.
The ice breakers were really fun and physical which kids need after being cooped up all day in school. Once the groups settled down they made journal/sketch books for themselves and decorated them all the while getting to know each other and their mentors.
This week groups got focused and started working sooner but it was colder outside so all but one group squeezed into the ancient, historically preserved mansion and somehow managed not to ding the walls, or leave smudges of acrylic paint on the floor. One group made cup cakes and did a color wheel lesson by mixing different colored icings. They had made enough to share with all 60 of us. There was lots of drawing, chalk art, finger knitting, and acrylic painting to music. The consensus from the mentors was that both weeks were a LOT of fun, but this week, teaching was a LOT easier.
Here is a list of some things the mentors learned:
It's important not to judge
The kids are interested in LOTS of things
There is a strong peer influence
The physical act of making art helps kids focus
The kids aren't as tough as they appear to be
The mentors' behavior set the tone for the group
The mentors need to be outgoing AND patient
Some kids act out as a form of self-defense
Issues:
1- Peralta Hacienda Historical Park is a public park so it is open to the general public. Some kids like to roam, and in a few cases, after while just walked away from their group. One was visiting another group, another was way out of earshot at the playground by himself. I had discussed guidelines for behavior with the mentors before this happened, and had asked each group to make it part of their lesson to establish these guidelines (like a buddy system). I must make sure they take this part of the job more seriously.
2- The wide age and ability range is something we are grappling with. We are considering making a younger group and an older group to better meet the needs of the youth. However, people are getting attached to each other and there is more reluctance to move and rebond, so we'll see. Maybe it will iron itself out.
The ice breakers were really fun and physical which kids need after being cooped up all day in school. Once the groups settled down they made journal/sketch books for themselves and decorated them all the while getting to know each other and their mentors.
This week groups got focused and started working sooner but it was colder outside so all but one group squeezed into the ancient, historically preserved mansion and somehow managed not to ding the walls, or leave smudges of acrylic paint on the floor. One group made cup cakes and did a color wheel lesson by mixing different colored icings. They had made enough to share with all 60 of us. There was lots of drawing, chalk art, finger knitting, and acrylic painting to music. The consensus from the mentors was that both weeks were a LOT of fun, but this week, teaching was a LOT easier.
Here is a list of some things the mentors learned:
It's important not to judge
The kids are interested in LOTS of things
There is a strong peer influence
The physical act of making art helps kids focus
The kids aren't as tough as they appear to be
The mentors' behavior set the tone for the group
The mentors need to be outgoing AND patient
Some kids act out as a form of self-defense
Issues:
1- Peralta Hacienda Historical Park is a public park so it is open to the general public. Some kids like to roam, and in a few cases, after while just walked away from their group. One was visiting another group, another was way out of earshot at the playground by himself. I had discussed guidelines for behavior with the mentors before this happened, and had asked each group to make it part of their lesson to establish these guidelines (like a buddy system). I must make sure they take this part of the job more seriously.
2- The wide age and ability range is something we are grappling with. We are considering making a younger group and an older group to better meet the needs of the youth. However, people are getting attached to each other and there is more reluctance to move and rebond, so we'll see. Maybe it will iron itself out.
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