FAQs for Docents
I do not know anything about art or teaching. Can I still participate in the Art in Action program at my school?
Absolutely. Art in Action provides comprehensive, program level specific training for all docents. All the material is online, and you can watch the videos and get advice from other users on how to do each project. In addition, the in-person training workshops introduce docents to the masterpieces, themes, and projects in each level. Docents learn how to lead discussions and demonstrate the important skills, concepts, and features of each lesson. They are taught basic drawing skills, how to use materials, and tips for helping students extend their skills.
Where do I get art prints?
Art in Action provides one set of art prints in each grade level Starter Kit. Additional sets of prints are also available for purchase. The school coordinator at your school will have prints available for your use. Schools may store the prints in individual classrooms or in the art room. Check with your school coordinator to locate the prints at your school.
How do I get access to the online lessons?
Change your profile to include your school. Then ask the school coordinator to add you to the user list for the school.
Where do I get a curriculum book?
Curriculum books are always available for purchase at Art in Action. One curriculum book is also included in each grade level Starter Kit and in every Full ARTbox. Your school coordinator will provide these books for your use. If you would like your own copy, please contact Art in Action directly.
Where are my school’s art materials?
Some schools buy ARTboxes, art supply kits that contain all the materials needed to teach the twelve lessons in each program level; some schools purchase their own materials separately. Art supplies are generally stored in your school’s art room or in individual classrooms. The school coordinator at your school can tell you where to find the materials you need.
How do I schedule lessons with the teacher?
In some schools, the school coordinator sets up a schedule for all the teachers and docents. If this is the case at your school, you should receive a schedule from your school coordinator. If not, you may need to work directly with your classroom teacher to set up a lesson schedule. Check with your school coordinator to find out how to proceed.
How long do the lessons take?
The K-3 lessons last 45 minutes to 1 hour. The 4th-8th grade lessons require between 1 and 1 1?2 hours. Setup and cleanup take approximately 15 minutes each.
What if we don’t have time to do all 12 lessons? How do we choose which lessons to do?
The Art in Action program levels are discipline-based, sequential, and thematic with lessons built on concepts and skills learned in previous levels. We recommend teaching lessons in the order they appear in the curriculum book. If you don’t have time to complete all 12, we suggest that you consider the variety of medium, the skill level of your students, and the curriculum of your individual school when selecting the lessons for the year.