About Me

Hi! My name is Zuleimi Rocha. I am an Art Education student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. I am currently enrolled in Art Ed 327, where I got the opportunity to work with Elementary students at La Escuela Fratney. Here, I worked one-on-one with first-grade students on their math and reading skills. During my time here, I also worked with the first graders on an art lesson celebrating Dia de los Muertos, which can be found under the curriculum & instructions tab in the Elementary school section.

Apart from school, I also work full-time at a hospital serving food to patients. In my free time, I love being out in nature, going out on walks, and exploring new places!

Teaching Philosophy:

Creativity as Empowerment

At the core of my teaching philosophy is the belief that creativity is a fundamental right and a powerful tool for empowerment. I believe that every student has the capacity to be creative, and it is my role as an educator to provide a safe and supportive environment that encourages exploration, risk-taking, and self-expression. By encouraging creativity, I aim to empower students to become confident, independent thinkers and problem-solvers, equipped to navigate the complexities they may be faced with in the real world. A learning community informed by this value would be characterized by curiosity, experimentation, and a growth mindset, where students feel encouraged to explore and express their unique perspectives.

Inclusive Learning Environment

I firmly believe that art education should be accessible and inclusive for all students, regardless of their background, ability, or identity. It is essential to create a learning environment that values diversity and challenges dominant narratives. By doing so, I strive to create a space where students can feel seen, heard, and valued, and where they can explore their own identities and experiences through art. This value will impact my curriculum and teaching by incorporating diverse artists, perspectives, and themes, and by providing accommodations and modifications to meet the needs of all learners.

Growth through Reflection and Feedback

I believe that reflection and feedback are essential components of the learning process. By bringing critiques and feedback into the classroom, I aim to help students develop a growth mindset, learn from their mistakes, and refine their artistic vision. This value will impact my teaching practice by incorporating regular critiques, self-assessments, and peer feedback, and by providing constructive feedback that guides students towards growth and improvement. A learning community informed by this value would be characterized by a culture of trust, respect, and continuous improvement.

Curriculm and Instruction

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Altar de la Vida

Art Lesson - 1st grade - La Escuela Fratney

Lesson Overview:

This lesson focuses on exploring the cultural significance of Dia de los Muertos, building community through collaborative art making, and honoring the memories of loved ones who have passed on. Students will first read the book, “Our Day of the Dead Celebration” by Ana Aranda, and then students will be given the option to work in one of the three stations. They will design traditional Mexican decorations such as papel picado, cempasuchil flowers, and decorate sugar skulls. In the end, individual contributions will come together to form a stunning, collective altar that celebrates the beauty of life and the power of community.

Learning Objects ( Students will be able to...)

Create traditional art pieces seen in Altars

Work collaboratively with their peers to create a community altar

Describe the significance of Dia De los Muertos and its importance in Mexican Culture

Vocabulary Words

Supply List:

Calavera

Dia de lo Muertos

Ofrenda

Cempasuchil

Folding techinque

Shape

Often crafted from sugar to create "sugar skulls" and can be decorated with icing and other adornments, and they are used to celebrate and honor deceased loved ones in a playful and colorful way

Day of the Dead, a celebration held in Latino communities and throughout Latin American on November 1st and 2nd.

An offering, often in the form of an altar, used to honor ancestors and others during Dia de los Muertos.

A word adopted from the Nahuatl which refers to the Mexican Marigold that blooms in many shades of yellow and orange.

Methods used to create intricate designs or patterns by folding paper

A form or outline, like a circle, square, or triangle used to create a design and pattern.

- Tissue paper

- Styrofoam Skulls

- Our Day of the Dead Celebration book by Ana Aranda

- Acrylic paint

- Plates

- Table cover

- Candle lights

-Brushes

Learning Supports:

Our Day of Celebration Book by Ana Aranda

Reference Image of Calaveras

Process

- Students will put away all the material they used from the math lesson they were doing prior to and will sit down on the carpet ready to listen to the teacher read the book, Our Day of the Dead Celebration.

- After reading Our Day of the Dead Celebration Students will be making decorations for the altar in the three stations they are assigned to and before they can start creating, there will be a demonstration on how to create them.

Once students have finished creating their artwork for the altar, they will finally get the chance to place their piece onto the altar, along with place a candle.

Evulation from Cooperating Teacher

Legendary Sunset Landscape

6-8th grade Lesson Plan

Legendary Sunset Landscapes is an art lesson designed for grades 6th-8th that combines art and creativity. The students will create their own stylized landscapes inspired by the artworks of Robin Med, who works with bright and blended colors. The lesson focuses on understanding landscapes, exploring the element of space, and using warm and cool colors to create depth within their piece. In this project, students will draw a sunset landscape with a horizon line, sun, mountains, and water, and then color it using oil pastels. They will learn how to blend colors, add details with thick black lines.

Learning objectives:

Responding to Art:

Students will be able to analyze and interpret the artwork of Robin Mead

Developing Works of Art/ Design:

Students will be able to create a stylized landscape artwork that incorporates warm and cool colors, blending, and layering techniques to create depth and visual interest.

Relating Art to Context:

Students will study Robin Mead's landscape artwork to synthesize and relate the knowledge they learned into making pieces of art that are meaningful to them.

Learning Supports:

Powerpoint presentation/ Worksheet:

This is a presentation on the artist Robin Mead that shows her artworks including a worksheet where students will analyze and describe her work with the help of sentence frames.

Anchor Chart:

This helps students visualize the differences between the warm and cool colors