Art with Mrs. DelGrosso
WHERE CREATIVITY,
COMMUNITY, &
COLLABORATION COLLIDE!
A LIFE FULL OF ART
Welcome the Grass Lake School Art
Studio! My name is Heather DelGrosso
and I am in my fourth year of teaching
PreK-8th Grade art at GLS. I grew up with a
love of art while being surrounded by the
corn field landscapes of Northern Illinois. I
pursued my passion for art and teaching
by earning a degree in Art Education from
Northern Illinois University. I enjoy
developing my art skills by creating art
inspired by my own experiences and
interests, often relating to my family and
my love of traveling. Currently, my go to
art media are painting and drawing. I also
enjoy opportunities to share my art with
the community and I have painted a
handful of murals for school communities.
The GLS PreK-8th grade art studio is an
interdisciplinary environment that
encourages discovery, collaboration,
and hands-on-learning utilizing an
innovative curriculum that introduces
students to a wide variety of art media
and art history. Students are challenged
with exploring connections during the
creative process to their interests, other
cultures, and community to help reach
their artistic potential and grow as 21st
century learners who have the potential
to succeed in any career they chose in
the future.
POTTERY WHEEL, PRINTMAKING, PAINTING &
MORE…
“Creativity takes courage” -Henri Matisse
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Art with Mrs. DelGrosso
Teaching Philosophy
The art classroom has the power to inspire all of these responses on a daily basis for
all ages. Art education empowers students to develop as creative, innovative, and
inspiring ambassadors to the future. Through an emphasis on creative expression,
exploration of a variety of art media, and knowledge development of art history,
world cultures, and cross-curricular connections, students at Grass Lake School have
the opportunity to explore the importance of art. With an innovative curriculum
that encourages creativity, critical thinking skills, and collaboration inspired by the new National Visual Arts Standards and Illinois
th
State Art Standards, PreK-8 grade students in the visual art program reap
the benefits of a comprehensive art education.
As students enter the art
Through engaging and interactive discussions of art resources from
classroom, they are
around the world, throughout history, and from their own interests, students
immersed in an
are empowered to feel confident in viewing, analyzing, and finding meaning
environment
that
and inspiration relating to their own lives in art using strategies found in the
encourages structured
Visual Thinking Skills and Visual Culture methods of art education. During
knowledge growth,
studio work time, students are challenged with integrating characteristics of
creative thinking
artistic behavior and their own voices, strengths, and interests to creatively
development, and
come up with unique and innovative solutions to open-ended concept
opportunities for selfprompts that encourage design thinking and relate to Big Idea themed units
expression.
of study. Students also have the opportunity to explore connections to their
learning in other academic subjects through the incorporation of cross-curricular inspired lessons and collaborations between the
art program and staff from around the school. Through the development of individualized art displays in the hallway, personal art
portfolios and online student art galleries that demonstrate student growth, and active participation in multiple community art
shows every year, Grass Lake School student artists are able to showcase and share their success and efforts towards becoming
innovative, hardworking visual artists within the community.
A comprehensive and engaging art education program is a valued and important component of learning in our school, state,
nation, and world that benefits the development of our students immensely as they learn and grow as leaders and innovators. The
GLS art classroom is an exciting, creative environment that is home base to an art program with high expectations for student
engagement and growth throughout their elementary and junior high years of education. Students will graduate with an increased
st
awareness of the importance of art and will be prepared with the 21 century skills necessary to become productive and innovative
life-long learners who, no matter what career path they decide to follow, have the potential to make a positive impact on the future.
…Imagine a classroom where students are
given opportunities to learn about and be
innovators, challenged with being criticalthinkers, engaged in learning about
connections between a variety of subjects,
and encouraged to lend their unique voice
to learn from and inspire others…
“Creativity takes courage” -Henri Matisse
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Art with Mrs. DelGrosso
What will I learn about in Junior High Art?
Course Description
What will I learn about in Art?
WHO KNEW LEARNING COULD BE THIS FUN?!
Looking for a great reason to get out of bed and to school on time?
Look no further than the art studio! You will get the opportunity to get your
hands dirty using clay, discover the magic of the pottery wheel, learn eye-opening
drawing techniques, experiment with paint and color, and even put those selfies
to good use while you learn about portraits & photography! Enjoy the chance to
develop your knowledge of art while experimenting with exciting art materials!
THE VALUE OF ART
Can you imagine how dull and lacking a world
without art would be? From the clothes you
wear, movies you watch, games you play, and
even the buildings you live in and furniture
you sit on...
WHERE CREATIVITY,
PASSION, & SKILLS COLLIDE!
Art is everywhere!
Travel through space and time as you discover the
influence of art on our world by
investigating and responding to art from a
variety of time periods and cultures from
around the world!
There is only one you! In art class, you will have the opportunity to visually express
connections to your own personal, unique experiences and interests in your art!
Creative ideas, hard work, and art skill growth combine to make one-of-a-kind art
pieces that represent you and what you are passionate about! Make GLS a colorful
and innovative place to learn by sharing your passion and creativity through art!
A FUTURE FULL OF ART!
Don’t think you can put your art skills to good use outside of the art studio? THINK
AGAIN! From photography, book illustrations, game design (Pokémon Go, anyone?),
movie animation, and more, there are hundreds of art related careers you could
choose to pursue in your future! Working hard in art class now will also help you
develop the skills (Such as creative thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, &
perseverance) necessary to be successful in any career you chose!
“Creativity takes courage” -Henri Matisse
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