Art at Montessori Community School
At Montessori Community School, we are dedicated to educating the whole child, so art is an
important piece in that education. We consider it essential for children’s development—to be
able to tell their own stories and create their own visions. The self-esteem and confidence gained
from art class, as well as the ability for flexible problem solving, not only manifest themselves in
other areas of their classroom work but carry over into all areas of the children’s lives.
Art classes at Montessori Community School begin in the child’s third year of primary (the elder
year) and continue through adolescence (grades 7 and 8). Students come to the art room once a
week for classes of 45-minutes for the elders and one-hour for elementary and adolescents.
Upper elementary students are able to come for studio time as well, in order to finish up work
from art class or create art to go with their classroom assignments.
The art curriculum at MCS focuses on the elements of art—line, texture, shape, and color—
while also delving into art appreciation. It developmentally builds skills and concepts and
becomes more complicated and abstract as the years progress. Students participate in art in the
relaxed, individualistic atmosphere that our beautiful art studio provides. There is plenty of room
to paint on easels, spread out big pictures to draw, choose work from the many shelves or read
art books on the rug in the library area. Additionally, we have a wide range of materials for the
students to use for exploration. Some of these include: various types of drawing pencils,
charcoal, oil and chalk pastels, pen and ink, watercolor and tempera paint and printing inks.
In class, children are encouraged to express themselves and to exhibit their own personal styles.
They are exposed to numerous and varied artists through our collection of art reproductions and
through their research work. This allows them to see that art is extremely diverse. In the art
room, problems have multiple solutions so there is no easy answer. Thinking must go on.
Everyone’s opinion counts. Students learn to grow confident in their own opinions.
Experimentation and risk-taking are all a part of being in art class. Our constant companions are:
What if…, What will happen when…., Can I try……, Look what I just discovered…….Can I
keep going…., I was wondering…, I never knew that….. To see children, who had no
confidence in drawing, suddenly like something they drew, is to see a child transformed. To see
children totally lost inside their paintings and not look up until it’s time to clean up, is magical.
Holly Dykes, Art Specialist
Updated October 18, 2016