The Importance of Sketchbooks and Practice

In my last teaching position, which was in a middle school in SW Washington, DC, I was able to purchase sketchbooks for my students. This became a wonderful tool in the classroom, as it not only taught the students how to draw better over time, but it also helped with classroom transitions and student engagement.

On a rotating weekly basis students had special jobs in the art room which were posted clearly on my wall using a number system. Each table was labeled with the numbers 1-4, each seat having a number. That number corresponded with a job in the art room. For instance, maybe numbers 1's were responsible for picking up their table partner's sketchbooks when entering the room and passing them out. Another student was responsible for picking up drawing pencils and passing them out to the peer's at their table as well. The system worked well with giving the students something to do as they came in the room and having clear expectations that class was to begin right away.

After the supplies were distributed, the students viewed a drawing prompt on the board. As I was lucky enough to be in a middle school and see my students every day for a semester, I could rotate the prompts between observational drawings and challenge drawings every other day. Observational drawings were drawings that were completed as an exercising in viewing an object and trying to redraw it as you see it. I would set up interesting objects on the table for the students to observe. Anything from old bottles and cans to broken watches to art supplies. Challenge drawings were open ended prompts for the students to decide what they wanted to draw or design. An example of a challenge drawing would be: "You just heard a loud crash outside your window. You rush to the window, pull back the curtain and see...."

Both of these forms of sketching are wonderful ways to exercise your imagination, practice hand eye coordination, and strengthen your drawing skills. I was fortunate enough to afford these sketchbooks from my classroom Donor's Choose. If your school's budget does not allow room for you to purchase high end sketchbooks, students will just as much love legal sized copier paper folded in half and stapled. Let your students decorate the covers as they wish and they will feel an immediate attachment to their sketchbook and use it with pride.