Are you tired of traditional, teacher-directed art classrooms that inhibit creativity and limit student choices? Do you want to foster a more student-centered, choice-driven approach to art education? If so, Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) may be right for you.
What Is Teaching for Artistic Behavior?
Teaching for Artistic Behavior, or TAB, is a choice-based approach to art education that emphasizes student agency, creativity, and choice. The TAB philosophy is centered on the belief that students learn best when they are able to engage and persist in their own art-making experiences. Rather than being directed by the teacher, students are encouraged to explore their own interests, goals, and ideas in a supportive, collaborative environment.
One of the key principles of TAB is the idea of the “studio classroom.” In a studio classroom, students are treated as artists and are given the freedom and space to work on their own art projects. There is no set curriculum or set of projects that all students must complete. Instead, teachers provide a range of art materials and resources that students can use to create their own unique works of art.
Learning to Engage and Persist in a TAB Classroom
Teaching for Artistic Behavior is all about helping students learn how to engage and persist in their own art making. This means providing opportunities for students to explore their own interests, ideas, and techniques through a range of media. Students are encouraged to take risks, learn from mistakes, and develop their own unique artistic voices.
In a TAB classroom, students are given the time and space to work on their art projects at their own pace. This allows them to develop a sense of ownership and pride in their work, which in turn can lead to improved motivation, self-esteem, and overall engagement. TAB also encourages students to work collaboratively and to share their ideas and processes with one another. This promotes a sense of community and shared learning that can be incredibly powerful.
Teaching for Artistic Behavior Professional Development
For teachers who are interested in implementing TAB in their own classrooms, there are a variety of professional development opportunities available. There are workshops, classes, and conferences that can help teachers learn more about the TAB approach and how to incorporate it into their own teaching practice. Many TAB professional development opportunities are designed to be hands-on and collaborative, giving teachers a chance to experience the approach for themselves and to work with other educators who are also interested in TAB.
What Are the Studio Habits of Mind in Teaching for Artistic Behavior?
The studio habits of mind are a key part of Teaching for Artistic Behavior. The studio habits of mind are eight dispositions or ways of thinking that are essential to becoming a successful artist. These habits are:
- Develop Craft: Learning to use tools, materials, and techniques effectively.
- Engage and Persist: Staying focused and committed to artistic goals.
- Envision: Imagining possibilities and creating mental images of what cannot be seen.
- Express: Creating works of art that convey meaning and emotion.
- Observe: Looking carefully at the world around us and using that observation to inform art making.
- Reflect: Thinking deeply and critically about one’s own artwork and the artwork of others.
- Stretch and Explore: Taking risks and exploring new ideas and media.
- Understand Art Worlds: Understanding how different cultures, times, and contexts influence art making and interpretation.
By instilling these habits of mind in their students, teachers can help to foster a sense of independence, creativity, and confidence in their young artists.
Who Founded Teaching for Artistic Behavior?
Teaching for Artistic Behavior was founded by Katherine Douglas and John Crowe in the 1970s. Douglas and Crowe were both art educators who were frustrated with traditional approaches to art education that emphasized teacher control and standardized curriculum. They wanted to create an alternative approach that put students at the center of the art-making process and that encouraged exploration, creativity, and choice. The result was Teaching for Artistic Behavior, which has been embraced by teachers all over the world.
TAB Art Classroom
The TAB art classroom is a dynamic, collaborative environment that encourages students to explore their own artistic interests and ideas. In a TAB classroom, art materials and resources are available for students to use in whatever way they choose. Teachers act as guides, mentors, and collaborators, helping students to develop their own unique artistic voices and to create works of art that are meaningful and significant to them.
Choice-based Art Education
TAB is often referred to as choice-based art education because it emphasizes student choice and agency. Choice-based art education is a broader term that encompasses a range of approaches to art education that are centered on student choice and creativity. In addition to TAB, there are many other choice-based approaches to art education, each with its own unique philosophy and approach.
TAB Art Lesson Plans
Because TAB is a choice-based approach to art education, there are no set lesson plans or projects that must be completed by all students. Instead, teachers provide a range of art materials and resources that students can use to create their own unique works of art. However, there are many resources available for teachers who are interested in developing lesson plans and activities that are aligned with the TAB philosophy. Many of these resources are available through TAB-related professional development opportunities or through online communities of like-minded educators.
What Is TAB in Art Education?
In conclusion, Teaching for Artistic Behavior is a choice-based approach to art education that emphasizes student choice, creativity, and agency. By providing opportunities for students to engage and persist in their own art-making experiences, teachers can help to foster a sense of independence, creativity, and confidence in their young artists. Whether through professional development opportunities, studio classrooms, or choice-based art education, TAB is a powerful way to transform traditional art classrooms into dynamic, student-centered learning environments.