My first couple of days with the students are off to a good start.
I had time to sit down with them and talk, evaluate skills and set goals for the summer.
I have two working on their dinnerware sets.
I ask them to come up with 3 plates, 2 eating bowls and 2 vessels for drinking.
We are well on our way through small plates.
I have an independent for the summer who is there to develop skills, he is a fast learner who is working on taking a cylinder to another level. We are working on form, function and moving the clay up.
Clay is such an individual beast for us all.
I let them all know I am there for skills, what you do with it after is up to you.
It is a long, but, so far, rewarding day.
It is interesting to come in around 5 and ask," how was your day?"
We don't have any contact from the time I leave until I am coming home.
The drive there and back leaves me time for reflection and slow drivers.
As a production pottery I well remember the struggle that it took to become more prolific in my throwing, there is a point that you just do it without thought. I find that showing the students is the easiest way to talk them through the process of how to achieve the end result.
The school clay is a well formed body that throws nicely. It is a far cry from our days there with the clay of the day. This stuff is creamy and smooth. I am planning to throw a bit each week while I am there so that the students learn just from watching. This was something Mark and I would do with the older potters in the area.
When we were working on a shape or item there were times would would just go find a quiet corner in the potter's work area and watch.
Time to move on-there are things to do.
10 comments:
I agree with you about watching and learning. Every so often I still like to just stand there and watch Jeff throw pots. Sometimes I can pick up little nuances that help me when I get back to the wheel. We are always learning!
You have so much to give these students, they are very lucky! I have had so many great teachers over the years, I still hear their voices in my head when I make something. Then when you teach, it's amazing how much your students actually teach you. It's great that you have that drive, my favorite way to think things through is a long drive through the country.
I love watching a good potter throw, to me it's like watching a dancer dance and then yes, sometimes the magic of learning happens and it's even better.
I like what you wrote about teaching skills, I may steal that line,
Lucky students. Absolutely skills first! I see way too many heavily decorated pots with bad handles, lids that don't fit and bad proportions. Might as well put glitter on a pig.
one of the things I like best about clay is that you never know everything there is to know, there is always something to learn, how far a drive do you have?
Love the runny glazes! Those are lucky students being able to learn from you. Wish the Community College at Troy NC was near here!
I bet you are double busy, hmm? teaching plus still working at home!
Glitter on a pig......;)
You all come to troy and we'll all make pots.
me thinks you have very lucky students! Over the years I found teaching and learning to be an upward spiral....... I always walk away with something and hope they do to. If nothing else it makes me look at my work from a different perspective.
Pots look good!
Had an old teacher tell me years ago...... Keep moving, it's hard to hit a moving target :)
I imagine you are a great teacher. It's on my bucket list to take some pottery classes.
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