Getting Started with Calligraphy

Towards the end of the 2011-12 school year our department discussed adding some semester-long courses.  The deadline had passed to submit a new course curriculum, so I asked what semester-long courses were already approved and on the books. Turns out we had a Calligraphy course available so I jumped at the chance.  I'm still waiting on my order to come in for the basic supplies, so I've had to be creative with my instruction to keep the students busy with worthwhile activities.

Let's start with the Course Description.  I use the same basic format for all of my classes. I did a lot of research on the web and in books to figure out how I wanted to approach teaching this class (I am still figuring it out, to tell you the truth).

Composition Books

Because I teach on a 90-minute block schedule, I like to start the all my classes with a "Daily Sketch" or warm-up. It's a great way to get the kids settled down and their creative juices flowing.  It also gives me time to take roll, get kids who were absent caught up, etc. and since I don't collect the "Stamp Sheet" until the end of each quarter, it teaches them some responsibility and accountability (they must complete every assignment, regardless of attendance).  

I asked all the students to get a simple Composition Book on their own. They have to do the Daily Sketch every day, regardless of attendance.  I give the students this Stamp Sheet that has all the assignments for the quarter, plus a few empty lines at the bottom for extra credit.

 

Every other day I give them a hand-out to copy and a prompt that can be interpreted any way they like.  After 10-15 minutes I give them a stamp (if they deserve it through effort and completion.  I use these cool little stamp markers that fit perfectly in the little spot for stamping!

I get the images for hand-outs all over the place online.  I wish I had kept track of where I found all of them so I could give credit to the creators, but I will admit that none are from my own head. I am a thief.

I will post my handouts as I do them in class.  The first one was "Bubble Letters." The second was a prompt: Your Birthday, so they were to create a design/drawing out of their birthday (simple enough, right?)  I provide colored pencils if they want to use them, but just plain old pen or pencil is fine, too.

Two-Pencil Technique

While we waited for our supplies to come in, I taught them the "Two-Pencil Technique" that I learned about from THIS fabulous blog. She's even got videos to demonstrate!

 

First, I demonstrated the technique, then I had them do the entire alphabet it in their composition books.  After the letters are drawn, they need to close the open ends.  Then I talked to them about value,  demonstrated creating value with colored pencils and instructed them to add value to each letter in any color combination of their choice.

Ta Da!