Worthingway Middle School Art

Hello again art fans! I've been really enjoying my first few weeks as a middle school art teacher. Here is what I love- I love that the kids are so capable with materials and I don't have to spend so much time teaching how to use them. I also love that they are still kids. Our first project was a little bit like art therapy. We learned about the art of Zentangles, which is basically the art of a repetitive doodle. An artist and a therapist worked together to create Zentangles and now many people use the art form as a meditative practice. The pieces the kids designed were a great way to add a quick bit of color to the room, and to also make the space feel more like our own. Each piece was laminated and hung on the wall. While the kids were finishing up their Zentangles I introduced the artist Dale Chihuly to them. Many of the kids had heard of him or had seen his work at The Columbus Museum of art or at The Franklin Park Conservatory. Here is an example of some of his ...

I was recently told to check out the short film Alike, about a father trying to teach his child the right way... but is there a right way? I hope you like this film as much as I did, I am looking forward to sharing it in class. Alike

For the past four summers I have been the director for a local summer camp called Camp Architecture.  The camp is a week long and is focused on giving kids hands on experiences within the fields of all things architecture and design. Various professionals in the field help plan different projects and field trips for our campers, and they always do such a great job. If this sounds like something your child would be interested in you can find more information  here. Camp for me is not only the perfect summer job, but it helps me get a head start on lesson planning. Each year I am inspired by all the creative projects planned for camp. This year we had an opportunity to work with an interior designer from a local design firm. She explained to us how interior designers begin planning by using mood boards, which is a place to collage your vision before you start actually decorating a space. Mood boards ultimately help communicate how a space should feel. After the kids design...

The artist Henri Matisse famously said "creativity takes courage", and he could not be more correct. Creativity is not something that should be fostered only in an art class, but is needed in all aspects in life. I believe creativity and success go hand in hand. With that being said, let me introduce myself. My name is Molly Zambito, and it is my job to encourage and inspire creativity in every child that finds themselves in my classroom. For the last five years I taught elementary art in Groveport Madison. The experience was invaluable and opened my eyes to new challenges children face on a  daily basis. I learned that children cannot begin to learn if they are hungry, tired, cold, stressed, or sad. It was our job as teachers to meet their basic needs first, and then focus on academic success. It was not a small task. I realized the importance to create a safe environment where children can explore the world through materials, and have a meaningful art experience. Now, g...