Welcome to art at Bartels Middle School! I am Mrs. Doro, the art teacher for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. This is my first year teaching in the district, but I have been a paraprofessional and substitute teacher in the district for the last 7 years.
A bit about me....I live outside of Portage with my family (my husband and two daughters). My husband is a self-employed carpenter and a captain in the National Guard. My two daughters, Olivia and Abby, attend Bartels Middle School as well. I am extremely proud of my family.👍 When I am not working on lesson plans or grading I raise chickens and honeybees. I love to be outdoors, especially with my 3 dogs.
Now onto the art program....when I am planning and researching for my curriculum I try to find diverse and interesting projects. I believe it is important to incorporate many different mediums and techniques into the art being created. Every student is an individual and has different preferences about what type of medium they prefer to use, for example marker/colored pencil or acrylic paint/oil pastels. I also try to develop projects with a "cool factor" - things that a middle school student is going to enjoy making. It is so much easier to engage a student in learning if they are interested in what they are creating. Whenever possible, I also try to incorporate art history into the lessons I teach. For example, 8th grade classes enjoyed learning about artist Wayne Thiebaud while creating their slab constructed "Pieces of Cake" boxes.
Participation is HUGE in the art room! I guarantee your student will not fail art as long as they turn in their work. Class projects are weighted heavily (70%) of their grade, one missing assignment can take an "A" down to a "D" or "F" instantly. Turning in all assignments is incredibly important. I also grade on effort and attitude. I expect students to try their best with a positive attitude. Another part of my grading is Community Citizenship. Every week they receive points for how they treat others, how they clean up and use class materials and how well they use their class time. A maximum of 4 points is awarded each day.
If your student did not get their work finished by the assigned due date it is their responsibility to find the time outside of class to complete it. Students are always allowed to come to my room during their study hall or before/after school to work on projects. Students are also allowed to rework their projects if they are not happy with the grade they received.
Please feel free to contact me throughout the school year if you have any questions or comments about the curriculum or your student's progress. I deeply care about your student's education and well being and will do everything I can to ensure they are successful in my room.😊
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| Me in my bee keeping gear. |
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| My third dog, and my baby, Stella out out for a walk with me. |
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| Two of my dogs - Jack and Porter - at obedience class. |
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| My wildflower garden (over 3 acres!) and two of my honey bee hives. The black tail belongs to Porter. |
