USC Upstate AP Art

This blog for your USC Upstate AP Studio Art Course.

Friday, June 09, 2006

Explain an exciting motivational strategy you use with your students

Robert Urban said...: As I think I mentioned to the two groups this morning, one motivation I use for my AP students... on their birthday I give them a computer-made card with an image of artist Wayne Thiebaud's (sp.?) "cakes" on it. There's a short message inside plus a few free coupons from McDonald's ( I just ask the manager each year for some). They also have their favorite candy- Reese's, Airheads, etc on their desk...whatever they put down as their favorite on my sign-up sheet. This really makes them feel special and it takes just a small effort on my part... the biggest effort is for me to remember! But I just sit down at the beginning of the year and write their birthdates down on my desk calendar.; 1:36 PM
Robert Urban said...: Felicia,I think food, drinks, candy are a big hit with any age group... you can't wrong with that.
Pam, I too use e-mail to let the kids know my thoughts, glad you brought that up. I also get the e-mails of the parents and let them know what's going on in art and let them know if their child has an artwork on display in an upcoming show.; 1:21 PM
Robert Urban said...: I agree that critiques can be very motivational. Critiques can create an underlying sense of competitiveness among the students, which I think they should be competitive with each other... not in an arrogant or even spoken way. But that "drive" should be there.; 8:54 AM