Franklin Middle School - Melodee Strong, Art Teacher - 5.5 hours
I observed class at Franklin Middle School for the first time this past Friday! Melodee Strong teaches art classes at the school for the 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Franklin Middle School has a 7 period schedule, and art classes take place in the last 4 periods of the day. I walked up to the classroom at 11:45am to get situated before the first group of kids walked into art room at noon. The first group of kids were 6th graders, the squirmiest and most energetic group of the day. I didn't get to participate too much with the kids since I was taking the opportunity to observe for the first day I was there. Some of the kids confused me for Melodee's son before she was able to introduce me formally--it wasn't the first time this has happened!
The next period was the "Advanced Art" class. Students are able to register for this specific course if they have already taken an art class before. This class was a mix of all grades but mainly consisted of 7th and 8th graders. This class was more quite and on task and their eagerness to learn more about art showed in their attitude toward the material being taught and how they followed directions. All classes on Friday were doing the same project. The project consisted of starting a pattern project by drawing straight lines with rulers on nice paper and filling in specific sections with pattern designs to eventually compose a collage of pattern on the paper.
The last two classes were with the 7th and 8th graders, which were smaller than the 6th grade and Adv. Art classes. Over all, I enjoyed my first day at Franklin Middle School because of the authentic and hands-on experience. Franklin reminds me of my elementary school in the fact that they both consist of a ethnic-minority majority! I look forward to participate in a classroom with a teacher I highly respect and spend time with kids of the Minneapolis public school system.