Studio Thinking from the Start

Students of all ages can learn to think like artists! Studio Thinking: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education changed the conversation about quality arts education. Now, a decade later, this new publication shows how the eight Studio Habits of Mind and four Studio Structures can be used successfully with younger students in a range of socioeconomic contexts and school environments.

Book Features:

• Habit-by-habit definitions, classroom examples, and related visual artist exemplars emphasizing contemporary artists.
• Full color mini-posters teachers can hang in their classrooms to illustrate each of the eight Studio Habits of Mind.
• Sample templates for students to use as they plan, reflect upon, and talk about works of art.
• Innovative approaches to assessment and strategies for implementation.
• Photos throughout the book of Studio Thinking signage and activities, students making art, and student artworks.
• Suggestions for using Studio Thinking for arts education advocacy.

COMPANION VOLUME—

Studio Thinking 2: The Real Benefits of Visual Arts Education, Second Edition

Lois Hetland, Ellen Winner, Shirley Veenema, and Kimberly M. Sheridan

Jillian Hogan is a doctoral student in developmental psychology at Boston College. Lois Hetland is professor and graduate coordinator of art education at Massachusetts College of Art and Design and a senior research affiliate at Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education. Diane B. Jaquith is co-director of the Teaching for Artistic Behavior Summer Institute at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Ellen Winner is professor and chair of psychology at Boston College and a senior research associate at Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education.

“This is an excellent resource for both novice and experienced teachers.”

—SchoolArts

"This fresh, new work focuses on the development of younger minds... Studio Thinking from the Start is designed for any teacher regardless of discipline, especially novices."

―Arts & Activities

“Studio Thinking from the Start is a rich compendium of examples of the studio habits of mind, and novice and experienced teachers will appreciate seeing the practical application of this framework. The book will also be useful for students of art education being introduced to a variety of pedagogical practices in the field.”

―Teachers College Record

“If we want our students to think, if we want them to learn, we must engage them in habits of the mind that cultivate their innate abilities. The habits of artists in their studios can help all of us who teach to hone our techniques in every classroom and can aid administrators to see possibilities to enrich our schools for the sake of learners and teachers alike.”
—From the Foreword by David P. Nelson, president, Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt)

"Starting young with studio thinking is a fabulous idea supported by this fine resource. After all, studio thinking thrives on art but applies to everything—habits of mind that help people to live their lives in thoughtful, curious, and creative ways."
—David Perkins, Harvard Graduate School of Education

“For experienced and novice teachers alike, for generalist teachers and for art teachers, Studio Thinking from the Start: The K–8 Art Educator’s Handbook is a needed addition to teacher resources for improving the quality of elementary art education. Focusing not on materials or project recipes, but on the language and interactions of teachers and students, this book supports teachers in deepening conversations about form and meaning by modeling simple elegant questions and exchanges that engage students as serious makers who are pursuing their own creative research agendas.”
—Olivia Gude, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Table of Contents

Foreword by David P. Nelson

Acknowledgments

Introduction:  Hidden in Plain Sight
   Studio Thinking: A Lens
   Teachers Weigh In About This Book
   Developing Your Lens
   A Note about "Pedagogical Appropriation"
   Where to Find More

PART I: UNDERSTANDING STUDIO THINKING

Chapter 1. The Studio Habits of Mind
   What Are Habits of Mind?
   Using the Studio Habits: Micah's Self-Portrait
   DEVELOP CRAFT: TECHNIQUE AND STUDIO PRACTICE
   ENGAGE & PERSIST
   ENVISION: IMAGINING AND PLANNING
   EXPRESS: FINDING MEANING
   OBSERVE: LOOKING CLOSELY
   REFLECT: QUESTION & EXPLAIN, EVALUATE
   STRETCH & EXPLORE: PLAY, USE MISTAKES, AND DISCOVER
   UNDERSTAND ART WORLDS: DOMAIN AND COMMUNITY
   Studio Habit Clusters
   Studio Habits as Entry Points
   In the Classroom: Catherine Karp's Fifth Graders Put Everything Together
   Things to Think About

Chapter 2. Studio Structures
   Adapting Studio Structures to the Elementary School
   Zeroing in on Each Studio Structure
   Moving from Structure to Structure: Transitions
   Things to Think About

PART II: ENACTING STUDIO THINKING

Chapter 3. Portraits of Practice 
   "LET'S MAKE SOME ART"—JULIE TOOLE
   "HAND, HEART, MIND AND COMMUNITY"—CELIA KNIGHT
   "I HAVE SOMETHING THAT MIGHT WORK BETTER FOR YOU"—KITTY CONDE 
   Things to Think About

Chapter 4. Portraits of Planning
   WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO MAKE ART?—NICOLE GSELL
   PLANNING A YEAR IN A CHOICE-BASED CLASS—WYNITA HARMON
   WORKING TOGETHER ON SCOPE AND SEQUENCE—CAREN ANDREWS AND JENNIFER STUART
   DISTRICT-LEVEL PLANNING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT—ELEMENTARY ART TEACHERS OF ACTON-BOXBOROUGH
   Things to Think About

PART III: EVALUATING AND SHARING STUDENT LEARNING

Chapter 5. Assessment
   Quality Assessment
   Assessment and Motivation
   Getting Concrete
   Conclusion
   Things to Think About

Chapter 6. Beyond the Art Room: Studio Thinking for Advocacy and Integration
   Making Habits Visible
   Keeping Parents in the Loop 
   Collaborating with the School Community
   Committing to Studio Thinking: A Day at the Maya Lin School
   Things to Think About

Appendices: Resources for Teachers
   APPENDIX A: MAKING STUDIO HABITS VISIBLE
   APPENDIX B: STUDENT PLANNING AND REFLECTION
   APPENDIX C: REFLECTING ON COMPLETED WORKS
   APPENDIX D: TALKING ABOUT ART
   APPENDIX E: DOCUMENTATION—COLLECTING AND KEEPING EVERYTHING TOGETHER

References

Index

About the Authors 

Definitions of Studio Habits and Studio Structures

Artist Connections: Video and Web Page Links

Appendix F: Connections Between the Studio Thinking Framework and the National Core Arts Standards