Linda Mccaleb on thu 17 sep 09
=3DA0 Some one wrote in and said that I don't read ClayArt. Well I do. I wr=
ot=3D
e in and asked about buying some bats for some new students.=3D0A=3DA0Some=
=3DA0of=3D
the people that have seen my work have asked if I would teach them.=3D0A=
=3DA0 =3D
I asked about some inexpensive bats for the students, since I have only eno=
=3D
ugh for me. I dry=3DA0my work on the bat for one day usually before I take =
th=3D
em off.=3DA0I got a lot of great responses.=3D0A=3DA0 =3DA0I usually write =
back and=3D
say thank you for your time and experience. I did to this person and said =
=3D
something that got him angry. I'm sorry I got him angry and for some reason=
=3D
got him to thinking that I don't read ClayArt.=3D0A=3DA0 I am also =3DA0go=
ing to=3D
be a new teacher, so if=3DA0 anybody out there has any suggestions, I woul=
d =3D
be truly thankful. =3D0A=3DA0 I have only had one teacher, and had some sem=
inar=3D
s and guest teachers. So I am inexperienced to teaching.=3D0A=3DA0 =3DA0I w=
as goi=3D
ng to start with making a pinch pot, and some hand building. Then start wit=
=3D
h the wheel with centering and making a mug for their tools. Then If they d=
=3D
idn't have any thing planned to make I would make suggestions. I liked maki=
=3D
ng my own things that I was interested in while in class and when I was stu=
=3D
ck, my teacher would guide me.=3D0A=3DA0If I'm off base here, please make y=
our =3D
self known. I'm open to opinions and suggestions.=3D0A=3DA0 Thank you,=3D0A=
=3DA0 Li=3D
nda=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A
William & Susan Schran User on fri 18 sep 09
On 9/18/09 1:11 AM, "Linda Mccaleb" wrote:
> =3DA0I was going to start with making a pinch pot, and some hand building=
. Th=3D
en
> start with the wheel with centering and making a mug for their tools. The=
=3D
n If
> they didn't have any thing planned to make I would make suggestions. I li=
=3D
ked
> making my own things that I was interested in while in class and when I w=
=3D
as
> stuck, my teacher would guide me.
> =3DA0If I'm off base here, please make your self known. I'm open to opini=
ons =3D
and
> suggestions.
Where will you be teaching? K-12, college, community center, in your own
studio? How long does the class run each meeting and number of meetings?
You'll need to think carefully about the amount of time needed for each
process. Pinch pots won't take long, coil building is a slower deliberative
process and wheel throwing, well that's going to take more than one class
meeting.
In a school you probably have specific curricula to follow, in a non-credit
community center it can be much more open to responding to student
interests.
There is much online information that will assist in developing a
lesson/project plan - and you do want a plan. Students always want to know
what's going on and what's next.
I would start the first class meeting by introducing everyone to the studio
and what the studio guidelines are, especially when it concerns proper
clean-up procedures and not generating any clay dust. Then discuss the
process from making, to drying, to bisque firing, to glazing, to glaze
firing. Have examples of each stage of the process for that first class.
Bill
--=3D20
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com
Lorraine Pierce on fri 18 sep 09
Linda, I am so sorry I offended you. Please accept my apology. My name is
Lori, short for Lorraine and I am not an angry HE. Nor an angry SHE. I must
have been too brusque when I responded.
When you posted me again and asked for advice concerning bats etc, Clayart
had just had several really informative posts on the list answering your
questions, tho perhaps not addressed directly to you. . When I saw your
questions and Yahoo address I thought you may not have seen them or were no=
t
a member. As I now realize, you know some subscriptions are set so they do
not post all messages. I *knew my answers would be redundant* and wanted yo=
u
to become a Clayart member if you were not.The archives are a goldmine of
information and I think Mel recently sent very detailed access info.
I have just read Bill Schran's. post to you and wish I had written it ..it
says it all. Good luck in your venture, Lori Pierce in Orange Park, Fl.
On Fri, Sep 18, 2009 at 1:11 AM, Linda Mccaleb wro=
te:
> Some one wrote in and said that I don't read ClayArt. Well I do. I wrot=
e
> in and asked about buying some bats for some new students.
> Some of the people that have seen my work have asked if I would teach
> them.
> I asked about some inexpensive bats for the students, since I have only
> enough for me. I dry my work on the bat for one day usually before I take
> them off. I got a lot of great responses.
> I usually write back and say thank you for your time and experience. I
> did to this person and said something that got him angry. I'm sorry I got
> him angry and for some reason got him to thinking that I don't read ClayA=
rt.
> I am also going to be a new teacher, so if anybody out there has any
> suggestions, I would be truly thankful.
> I have only had one teacher, and had some seminars and guest teachers. =
So
> I am inexperienced to teaching.
> I was going to start with making a pinch pot, and some hand building.
> Then start with the wheel with centering and making a mug for their tools=
.
> Then If they didn't have any thing planned to make I would make suggestio=
ns.
> I liked making my own things that I was interested in while in class and
> when I was stuck, my teacher would guide me.
> If I'm off base here, please make your self known. I'm open to opinions
> and suggestions.
> Thank you,
> Linda
>
>
>
>
Elizabeth Priddy on fri 18 sep 09
On the first night, let them throw on the wheel.If that is what they want t=
=3D
o do, they will obsess about it until they get=3DA0their hand sin and on it=
. =3D
=3DA0
Anyone who isn't like this and doesn't want to will decline and that is ok,=
=3D
too.
When they see that it requires some work to master=3DA0(cause you made it l=
oo=3D
k so easy!) they can back up a bitand make something by hand to understand =
=3D
the properties of clay.
I thought they had to go through a "progression" of learning and I found af=
=3D
teryears of teaching that when people take a pottery class, it is becasue t=
=3D
hey=3DA0have some idea in their head that they want to make more than anyth=
in=3D
g in the=3DA0whole world. =3DA0Asking them what this is wil tell you a LOT =
abou=3D
t your students=3DA0and how to guide them through the huge array of informa=
ti=3D
on about clay. =3DA0If itis a reasonable plan, let them make this magical o=
bj=3D
ect first. =3DA0It will get it out oftheir system.
I use the same approach to teaching chinese painting. =3DA0I can paint aobu=
t =3D
anything,=3DA0so I let the students pick the subject. =3DA0It is a challeng=
e fo=3D
r me and it scratches thespecific itch that made them take my class.
Small classes make this approach very workable. =3DA0It is not the universi=
ty=3D
way.And since you are not a university, you have some lee-way. =3DA0Lucky =
yo=3D
u!
Elizabeth Priddy
=3D0ABeaufort, NC - USA
=3D0A
=3D0AWorkshops and pottery online at: http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
=3D0A
=3D0APersonal Blog: http://open.salon.com/user_blog.php?uid=3D3D943
=3D0A
=3D0ANatural Instincts Conference Information:
=3D0Ahttp://downtothepottershouse.com/NaturalInstincts.html
=3D0A
=3D0AKiln pictures and such: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7973282@N03/
--- On Fri, 9/18/09, Linda Mccaleb wrote:
From: Linda Mccaleb
Subject: new at teaching
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Date: Friday, September 18, 2009, 1:11 AM
=3DA0 I am also =3DA0going to be a new teacher, so if=3DA0 anybody out ther=
e has =3D
any suggestions, I would be truly thankful.=3D20
=3DA0 I have only had one teacher, and had some seminars and guest teachers=
. =3D
So I am inexperienced to teaching.
=3D0A=3D0A=3D0A
Marcia Selsor on fri 18 sep 09
A good starter exercise on the wheel is centering a 2 lb. lump and
pulling up a 10" cylinder...attempt
to pull up a 10" cylinder. Excellent practise and less precise than a
mug which needs a handle, lip and balance.
These should be removed from the wheel and keep the bats open.
Marcia with 38 years of teaching clay.
Marcia Selsor
http://marciaselsor.com
Glistering Phaeton on fri 18 sep 09
Dear Linda,
I don't know if this is going to be of much help, but the first pottery
class I took was 4 two-hour sessions. The first class we learned to =3D
wedge,
center and start pulling...and made short bowls obviously. The second =3D
class
we reviewed the first class lessons and threw what we could. [I wanted =3D
to
throw mugs and the teacher said that was absurd...it was too soon.
Bollocks! I still use one to this day.] The third class was dedicated =3D
to
learning to trim, and we trimmed what we had thrown the first two =3D
sessions,
and the last class was learning to wax bottoms and dip glaze.
It was a great crash course in the basics, and after those classes we =3D
were
welcome to sign up for ongoing studio time, which included clay and =3D
glazes,
and the occasional bit of guidance from the teacher. =3D20
I bought my own wheel shortly thereafter, as I wasn't all that fond of =3D
the
teacher or the high cost/hour, but mostly the fact that I could only =3D
work
two hours a week (very frustrating). I knew I wanted to continue on in =3D
clay,
so I went off on my own.
Good luck with your latest endeavor,
=3D97Adam
Los Angeles
"Down, down, I come; like glistering Phaeton, wanting the manage of =3D
unruly
jades."=3D20
-William Shakespeare, King Richard II
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Linda =3D
Mccaleb
Sent: Thursday, September 17, 2009 10:12 PM
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: new at teaching
=3DA0 Some one wrote in and said that I don't read ClayArt. Well I do. I =
=3D
wrote
in and asked about buying some bats for some new students.
=3DA0Some=3DA0of the people that have seen my work have asked if I would =
=3D
teach them.
=3DA0 I asked about some inexpensive bats for the students, since I have =
=3D
only
enough for me. I dry=3DA0my work on the bat for one day usually before I =
=3D
take
them off.=3DA0I got a lot of great responses.
=3DA0 =3DA0I usually write back and say thank you for your time and =3D
experience. I
did to this person and said something that got him angry. I'm sorry I =3D
got
him angry and for some reason got him to thinking that I don't read =3D
ClayArt.
=3DA0 I am also =3DA0going to be a new teacher, so if=3DA0 anybody out ther=
e =3D
has any
suggestions, I would be truly thankful.=3D20
=3DA0 I have only had one teacher, and had some seminars and guest =3D
teachers. So
I am inexperienced to teaching.
=3DA0 =3DA0I was going to start with making a pinch pot, and some hand =3D
building.
Then start with the wheel with centering and making a mug for their =3D
tools.
Then If they didn't have any thing planned to make I would make =3D
suggestions.
I liked making my own things that I was interested in while in class and
when I was stuck, my teacher would guide me.
=3DA0If I'm off base here, please make your self known. I'm open to =3D
opinions and
suggestions.
=3DA0 Thank you,
=3DA0 Linda
Bonnie Staffel on sat 19 sep 09
Hi all,
This subject brought a very challenging task when I was teaching at the =3D
folk
school. I was teaching a class for the Elderhostel group for one week. =3D
My
plan is to start out with press mold work of hand building so that they =3D
have
a nice looking pot to take home with them at least. We work then on the
basics up until Wednesday, drying those early artificially, bisque and =3D
then
glaze on Thursday. While waiting for kilns to cool, that is when I =3D
introduce
wheel work. So that is how I approach the week. However, one of these =3D
weeks,
a class came in and one little old lady (I hate to use that term any =3D
more as
I guess I am in that age category) announced that she told everyone at =3D
home
that she was going to learn to throw on the wheel. What to do???? So I =3D
had
to reach into her mindset and find some way to satisfy her desire and =3D
still
save her face. I showed her how to center the clay on the wheel the =3D
first
day. She soon saw that it was not as easy as she expected. Then I went =3D
into
my preplanned week of work. I think that she went home with a few nice =3D
press
molded pots and her pride was not injured.=3D20
I have been teaching for at least 58 years and there are always those
challenges that tax one's ingenuity so as not to squash their hopes and
dreams. I know that they do not want to take home work that looks like a
kindergartner has made, hence the press molded pot that teaches them how =
=3D
to
make coils, designs, the texture of the clay, etc., producing a nicely
finished pot.
Bonnie
http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
DVD=3DA0 Throwing with Coils and Slabs
DVD=3DA0 Introduction to Wheel Work
Charter Member Potters Council
Mary Starosta on sat 19 sep 09
Bonnie,
I want to be in one of your CLASSES! You'd be an awesome teacher!
Mary
On Sat, Sep 19, 2009 at 3:11 PM, Bonnie Staffel wro=
te:
> Hi all,
>
> This subject brought a very challenging task when I was teaching at the
> folk
> school. I was teaching a class for the Elderhostel group for one week. My
> plan is to start out with press mold work of hand building so that they
> have
> a nice looking pot to take home with them at least. We work then on the
> basics up until Wednesday, drying those early artificially, bisque and th=
en
> glaze on Thursday. While waiting for kilns to cool, that is when I
> introduce
> wheel work. So that is how I approach the week. However, one of these
> weeks,
> a class came in and one little old lady (I hate to use that term any more
> as
> I guess I am in that age category) announced that she told everyone at ho=
me
> that she was going to learn to throw on the wheel. What to do???? So I ha=
d
> to reach into her mindset and find some way to satisfy her desire and sti=
ll
> save her face. I showed her how to center the clay on the wheel the first
> day. She soon saw that it was not as easy as she expected. Then I went in=
to
> my preplanned week of work. I think that she went home with a few nice
> press
> molded pots and her pride was not injured.
>
> I have been teaching for at least 58 years and there are always those
> challenges that tax one's ingenuity so as not to squash their hopes and
> dreams. I know that they do not want to take home work that looks like a
> kindergartner has made, hence the press molded pot that teaches them how =
to
> make coils, designs, the texture of the clay, etc., producing a nicely
> finished pot.
>
> Bonnie
>
> http://webpages.charter.net/bstaffel/
> http://vasefinder.com/bstaffelgallery1.html
> DVD Throwing with Coils and Slabs
> DVD Introduction to Wheel Work
> Charter Member Potters Council
>
Gower on sat 19 sep 09
Good on you Linda
Last week our teacher read a short poem "ode to socks" and asked us to make
a piece based on a theme of "words" - any words from a book or poem that
inspire us. I loved it and it is a great exercise. I am taking an old pai=
r
of socks, dipping them with white slip and turning them into little
creatures. what fun and you could easily form something as simple as ABC
blocks for beginners. One theme but we could do whatever takes our fancy. =
I
like a bit of direction and then being left to create my own thing with som=
e
excellent guidance and instruction from an experienced and respected teache=
r
when I need it.
well done for passing your skills on to the next generation
Debby
Mullumbimby Australia
----- Original Message -----
From: "Linda Mccaleb"
To:
Sent: Friday, September 18, 2009 3:11 PM
Subject: new at teaching
Some one wrote in and said that I don't read ClayArt. Well I do. I wrote in
and asked about buying some bats for some new students.
Some of the people that have seen my work have asked if I would teach them.
I asked about some inexpensive bats for the students, since I have only
enough for me. I dry my work on the bat for one day usually before I take
them off. I got a lot of great responses.
I usually write back and say thank you for your time and experience. I did
to this person and said something that got him angry. I'm sorry I got him
angry and for some reason got him to thinking that I don't read ClayArt.
I am also going to be a new teacher, so if anybody out there has any
suggestions, I would be truly thankful.
I have only had one teacher, and had some seminars and guest teachers. So I
am inexperienced to teaching.
I was going to start with making a pinch pot, and some hand building. Then
start with the wheel with centering and making a mug for their tools. Then
If they didn't have any thing planned to make I would make suggestions. I
liked making my own things that I was interested in while in class and when
I was stuck, my teacher would guide me.
If I'm off base here, please make your self known. I'm open to opinions and
suggestions.
Thank you,
Linda
Patti Petit on sun 20 sep 09
I think this post might fit anywhere in the recent discussion threads.
The artist, the craftsman first meets with the teacher - be it person or te=
xt or in today's methodology DVD. Teacher is most easily identified by teac=
her and by student. At times the roles reverse and learning and art and cra=
ftsmanship become beautifully wedded.
During the years I taught physically and mentally challenged adults I worke=
d with folks who on their own might walk under the bus. But given a lump o=
f clay and a suggestion took off into realms of glory. Not impeded by ideas=
of who they were or what their place was in the scheme of things they dre=
w inspiration from the clay producing fanciful people and animals, tempting=
fruit and Chagall-like tiles. They never ceased to amaze me and often the=
mselves. One of our cherished activities was to create a "meal" on a plate =
I molded for them. They wowed me with fried eggs, bacon and toast, cheese b=
iscuits, spagetti and meatballs and tossed salad to name a few. All in clay=
.
I often think the artist is born and then slowly extinguished by society, s=
chool, well meaning family even religion. These simple dreamers showed me t=
hat for some art can be mined from near childlike simplicity.
Patti in sodden and soggy NE Georgia mountains
http://www.runningrabbitpottery.com
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