My progress over the last 3 weeks (Rick Kincheloe)

     Hello everyone. I have enjoyed reading about your achievements, contributions and artwork over the past 3 weeks. Thank You for your enlightening conversations. I have been delighted to read about your talented artistic endeavors. As for me, I’ve been MIA, swamped with research, writing, and all kinds of things and issues with my classwork and Technician duties here at the Texas Tech School of Art. Although I get depressed that I oftentimes can’t keep up at the levels I’d like (due to my high expectations), I must understand that it’s all in the learning curve of transitioning from practicing Architecture to creating and teaching Art.  Mind blown.

     It was so good to see friends, colleagues and faculty recently at the Alumni Reception November 7^th in San Antonio. Although I was unable to attend TAEA, I was able to reconnect with friends that have encouraged and reinforced my design ideals through art, and who have shared their and my art experiences together in interactive ways in my MAE program at TTU and Junction. The friendships that I’ve made and your support as I grow in my journey mean more to me than many of you may ever know. I was able to see Gail Stouffer albeit briefly when I returned her artwork to her at her Roadhouse Arts studio in Bulverde. Gail has some wonderful fused glass artwork in progress and her students are learning and creating some wonderful, creative fused glass artwork pieces. I hope in the near future I can further develop my interests in creating fused glass artwork.

     In the past 2 weeks, I’ve had 2 opportunities to give a brief clay throwing demo for Katy Ballard’s Art class. 3 students were able to make small bowls and the 4^th student worked with hand-built forms to make fish shaped trays. Although I was unable to view the student’s progress over time, I have taught these students how to understand and respect the ideals of working with clay. They have also learned the importance of taking care of the material (clay) to shape and sculpt it as they please but under limited time contexts. Clay is forgiviging, but within reason. They have learned that using slip will not correct all “shortcuts” that were not resolved from proper procedures done initially.

I am also working diligently on my clay work at the LHUCA Clay Studio and will post progress pics on my upcoming post shortly.

When I returned to Lubbock Saturday night November 8^th, I was able to attend the FTK Concert at Lubbock High School. This RaiderThon is a student organization founded in 2010 that fundraises yearly for the Childrens Miracle Network at University Medical Center here in Lubbock. The purpose of this fundraiser was entitled “For the Kids: Stand for those who can’t”. This event reminded me of Liz Reyes and her group that runs for those who can’t. At this event I also connected with Visual Studies undergrads Marten Ortiz and Noemi Hernandez, students in Andres Peralta’s Art 4362 class (Curriculum Theory and Instruction Methodology) of which I am a TA. I was invited by Noemi to attend the “Coffee for a Cause” fundraiser by the TTU Alpha Omega chapter to benefit the “Hope Worldwide International Day of Giving” at Escondido Theater at Texas Tech on November 15^th.

     Lastly, in my series of recent events, I had an opportunity to read a children’s book entitled “My Five Senses” by Aliki Brandenberg to 6 children (ages 1-3 years old) at the TTU Early Head Start Day Care Center in the Arnett Benson region of east Lubbock. This was an assignment for my College of Education class (EPSY 5323). I was unprepared how this event would affect me. The children listened intently to my every word and followed my hand gestures as I repeated the 5 senses as illustrated in the book one by one.

     Now that I’ve explained my whereabouts in the past few weeks, one of my submittals this week is to further elaborate on issues of special needs in the “Reading and Teaching Students with Special Needs through Art” book. In my reading, I found 5 ideals that are relevant to teaching students with learning disabilities. These ideals helped me to understand the array of issues in working with special needs children and young adults and to break down the challenges of creating art into manageable means for beneficial results. In no particular order, they are as follows:

·      Students with learning disabilities can be original and very creative, but they oftentimes have difficulties staying on task until completion.

·      Students with special needs can and do discover enjoyment by making Art, but are oftentimes confused by multiple directions or steps.

·      Students with learning disabilities can be very focused on projects that match their strengths and interests, but may choose to repeat successful activities rather than start new projects.

·      Students with special needs can be very sociable w/adults and peers, but may need reminders to follow class rules.

·      Students with learning disabilities can be very talented in some forms of Art (ie: One is Adam, One is Superman book), but have little interest in other Art forms.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004, identifies how to spot learning difficulties in children with specific criteria for Brain Injury, Dyslexia, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and learning styles, modalities and discrepancies. This act produced revolutionary changes as to how special needs individuals are evaluated, taught and placed into contexts with other students when teaching art today. Many of these ideals require patience and understanding from teachers to properly evaluate the challenges of working with special needs in our social contexts of teaching today.

     As I move into student teaching next semester (Elementary and High School levels), I am certain that I will need to be cognizant and considerate of the special needs ideals with the children and young adults that I will interact with. I hope to be as prepared as I can be in lieu of the circumstances that I will confront and hopefully resolve with patience, kindness and fortitude to overcome the challenges that special needs individuals require. We are all handicapped in our own ways, but it’s in how we overcome our challenges that define who we really are.