Art education at Raymond School with Brooke Adamczyk: Fostering creativity and confidence

RAYMOND, WI — Raymond School Art Teacher Brooke Adamczyk believes art and art class are essential for students to unlock their creativity and express themselves.

From kindergartners to eighth graders, Adamczyk tailors her lessons to inspire and challenge students at every developmental stage, whether they are learning basic concepts like the value scale or exploring advanced techniques like hues and tints.

“Sometimes it’s hard for students to express how they’re feeling through words, but through art, with a pencil on paper, they can process things so much easier,” she said.

Creativity in practice at Raymond School: Hands-on projects

One project particularly beloved by younger students involves creating paper sculptures. First graders experiment with construction paper, folding, twisting, and curling it to design unique pieces.

“Seeing their excitement as they transform simple materials into art is incredibly rewarding,” Adamczyk said.

She incorporates demonstrations to spark ideas, showing techniques like curling paper around a pencil to create shapes in different ways students are familiar with.

Overcoming challenges and finding confidence

Adamczyk is passionate about helping students who doubt their artistic abilities.

She often works one-on-one with are hesitant or not really feeling like art could be for them. She encourages them to use their imagination and reminds them that in art, there are no wrong answers. These moments often lead to breakthroughs that are fun to experience.

“You see a lightbulb moment when they realize they’ve created something amazing,” Adamczyk shared.

Showcasing talent: Art shows

A highlight of the school year has been the recent series of art shows, a first for Raymond School:

• Kindergarten through second grade students showed off their work on Nov. 20.
• Third through fifth graders will display and describe their work on Thursday, Dec. 12
• Middle school students will take the spotlight on Wednesday, Dec. 18

The art shows are held in the school’s atrium outside the gym.

Students selected their favorite pieces to display, giving them the chance to explain their work and techniques to family and friends.

“It’s an opportunity for students to take pride in what they’ve accomplished,” Adamczyk explained.

Encouraging art at home

Adamczyk suggests parents nurture their child’s creativity by engaging in conversations about their art classes and providing materials for exploration at home.

She is also proactive about sending email to parents so they know what their students are doing in class.

“It’s about keeping the conversation alive and making art accessible,” she said.

Adamczyk also had the following suggestions:

Ask About Art Class: Parents can talk about art class experiences by asking, “Did you have art today? What did you learn?”

Build on Classroom Projects: In her email messages to parents, Adamczyk mentioned art class activities, such as special projects or guest speakers, so parents can discuss these at home.

Provide Materials: Parents can support creativity by providing basic art supplies, like paints or paper, so children can explore techniques they’ve learned in class.

Building a creative community

In her first year at Raymond School, Adamczyk has felt welcomed by students and staff alike.

“It feels like a family here,” she said.