Murray students of all ages have been challenged to adopt a growth mindset this year in art. This means learning to think and talk about their accomplishments as the product of work and effort over time, a growing wealth rather than the result of innate (and diminishable) talent or a moment of inspiration.
This was true as students at various levels approached self portraits: As kinders described their own faces in lines and as 2nd graders rendered themselves peeking over grand birthday cakes after American artist Wayne Thiebaud.
This was also true of 5th grades as they sketched preliminary plans for what will be a collaged portrait project. Some of these older students noted how their drawing had come more precise, finer over our years of portraits together.
'Try your best,' I remind. 'Today's best' 'Trying----especially when something is difficult---is learning'
The important thing, I remind them, is to keep moving forward, developing skills,
ideas, and creativity along the way.
Luke (Kinder) Birthday Portrait Raleigh (2nd), Birthday Portrait Daniel (2nd) and finally 5th grade preliminary Sketches by Will T (5th) and Alise (5th)
