Art with Mrs. DelGrosso

“Creativity takes courage” -Henri Matisse 1

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…

WHERE CREATIVITY,

COMMUNITY, &

COLLABORATION COLLIDE!

Art with Mrs. DelGrosso

“Creativity takes courage” -Henri Matisse 2

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

State Art Standards, PreK-8th

grade students in the visual art program reap

the benefits of a comprehensive art education.

Through engaging and interactive discussions of art resources from

around the world, throughout history, and from their own interests, students

are empowered to feel confident in viewing, analyzing, and finding meaning

and inspiration relating to their own lives in art using strategies found in the

Visual Thinking Skills and Visual Culture methods of art education. During

studio work time, students are challenged with integrating characteristics of

artistic behavior and their own voices, strengths, and interests to creatively

come up with unique and innovative solutions to open-ended concept

prompts that encourage design thinking and relate to Big Idea themed units

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

awareness of the importance of art and will be prepared with the 21st

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.

Teaching Philosophy

…Imagine a classroom where students are

given opportunities to learn about and be

innovators, challenged with being critical-

thinkers, engaged in learning about

connections between a variety of subjects,

and encouraged to lend their unique voice

to learn from and inspire others…

As students enter the art

classroom, they are

immersed in an

environment that

encourages structured

knowledge growth,

creative thinking

development, and

opportunities for self-

expression.

Art with Mrs. DelGrosso

“Creativity takes courage” -Henri Matisse 3

What will I learn about in Junior High Art?

THE VALUE OF ART

Course Description

What will I learn about in 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...

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!

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!

WHO KNEW LEARNING COULD BE THIS FUN?!

WHERE CREATIVITY,

PASSION, & SKILLS COLLIDE!

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!