FACTORS THAT WOULD TEND TO IMPROVE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT

There are a lot of variables that are outside the teacher's control - you potentially will have higher quality student work if these are in place:

1. RESOURCES: 

• Small class size - the smaller the class the more one-on-one time the student gets with the teacher, the more the teacher can help the individual student make goals, etc. 

• Funding to provide good quality paints, papers, and drawing media...poor quality media can result in poor quality work!

2. TIME: 

• The more time you have to teach, the better! 30 minutes once per week vs. an hour every day can make a big difference! 

• Does the class meet for the whole year or for 6 weeks? This will effect what the kids can possibly accomplish as well! 

• Another time factor is how many years you have had to build a relationship with the school and local community....kids have to have time to establish trust for new teachers. 

3. SCHOOL TYPE: 

• the school is a magnet school, IB school, or private school wherein students applied to get in - only the brightest students are accepted.  

4. STUDENT BACKGROUND

• the kids had previous experience in a quality art program and their basic skills have been established

• students who draw, paint, craft, build, etc. at home do much better in art programs at school. 

• the kids are from an affluent background, have supportive parents and grew up learning to value education.

• students have been taught to value the arts

5.  SCHOOL CULTURE

• there are few discipline problems in the class and school -  students are motivated to work hard and achieve

• the teacher is supported by administration; students are held to a high standard of behavior school-wide and the school culture is nurturing