April 2010
1 post
November 2009
2 posts
WatchEach and every morning at Dilworth a handful of the students all drum different beats while the rest of the students arrive and come into the auditorium to watch and participate in the weekly song sung afterwards. Then the school principle introduces each ‘wonderful’ day and discuss what is going on in the school. To be a part of this is very cool and really brings a sense of community...
October 2009
9 posts
Dilworth Academy for the Arts and Humanities -
So this past Monday, October 26th I started at Dilworth for my K-5 elementary placement.
Dilworth is a great school that focus’s on creating! My mentor seems very nice and though this is a much more urban setting the students seem like they will be a pleasure to teach.
Video Conference...
The video conference that I set up with my friend Brian Kellett went really well despite the technical difficulties I had. The students were very engaged and asked a lot of great questions for Brian. Overall we had about 50 students show up during their lunch periods and other classes which was great.
my morning commute
There are obviously some draw backs with commuting 45+ minutes to my school everyday but I have found that my time spent in my car in the morning really gives me time to think and reflect. It helps me get my mind straight for the day and settle any nerves that I have. I have come up with a lot of ideas for lessons, activities for the day, and personal projects to start during this daily commute....
Differentiation!
A girl in my ceramics class faces many obstacles due to the fact that she is in a wheel chair. Her story is very sad for the fact that she use to be a gymnast but had an accident and is now is a quadriplegic. She is very determined and motivated which is great.
I was apprehensive starting wheel throwing in this ceramics class because I was not sure how we would be able to adapt the wheels to her...
A few artists I've been looking at:
Margaux Lange - awesome unconvential jewlery using barbie doll parts
Chris Gilmour - cardboard sculpture insantiy
Matt Nolen - amazing ceramicist
September 2009
9 posts
next Weds October 7th...
My great friend Brian Kellett has been gracious enough to lend his time to 5th and 6th period at Pine Richland High School. I have been setting up a video conference with him (since he’s studying in Santa Barbara) in PRHS’s conference room (the Dewitt Blank Conf. Rm). I finally got the room reserved for the 7th of October and everything is a go. I’ve made flyer’s (like...
It's nice to know...
that being in the art classroom is making me handle/practice with materials and mediums I usually wouldn’t deal with otherwise. I’m staying after students leave today for a little while to practice centering and throwing on the clay wheel since its been a while. I’m not super passionate about throwing but its nice to know that I’ll be improving my skills making myself a...
a break, a pause...HA!
I am currently in the middle of teaching two huge lessons; one for Intro to art and one for Ceramics. My ceramics class is in the middle of their 6 piece series which ill go into more depth about on here later when I have time. The past 2 days my INTRO class has begun the brainstorming process for their memory collages. This memory collage project is the lesson I’m creating for my...
Aura Lee Beck's current place of employment: →
week 3 [9/8-9/11]:
I’ve been becoming much more adjusted and comfortable in the classroom this past week. My relationships with students is improving and i’m getting a sense they are taking a liking towards me. My COOP has said that I am very approachable and the students can relate to me which i’m very happy about.
The beginning of this week was pretty much setting the stage for upcoming...
week 2 [8/31-9/4]:
This week at Pine Richland High School (PRHS) I am in the transitional stage of going from assistant teaching with my COOP to taking over completely. Right now my COOP and I are team teaching and starting sometime this week I will intro my first lesson and begin teaching on my own.
I observed a non art classroom (a Calculus class) to see how teachers in other academic disciplines go about...
August 2009
5 posts
first week [8/24-8/28]:
On Monday and Tuesday at Pine Richland High School (PRHS) I attended in-service days and helped my mentor set up our classroom. We also attended many meetings in the auditorium. The meetings consisted of reviewing 504’s and IEP’s (for special needs students) and union based affairs.
Key note speaker [Will Richardson] spoke to the staff and administration about today’s emerging technologies...
student teaching -
The Pennslyvania State University - B.S. Art Education- Fall’09
Pine Richland High School - Aug ‘09-Oct ‘09
Grades 9-12
Pine Richland School District, Pittsburgh PA
Dillworth Elementary - Oct ‘09-Dec ‘09
Grades K-5
Pittsburgh Public School District, Pittsburgh PA