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Gordon School of Art Teacher Training: Policies, Procedures, and Costs

Certification Phases

Phase 1) Foundation Course drawing skills training and teacher manual study. (The Foundation Course covers Levels 1 through 4 in the 10-level curriculum)
During the first phase of New Masters teacher-training, the candidate goes through the Foundation Course as a self-study art student following the step-by-step instructions in the teacher manual. It is during this phase that the candidate's own basic drawing skills are mastered and the Foundation Course instruction guides studied and understood. Upon completion of the course work, all worksheets and projects are sent in for evaluation. If the work receives a favorable review, the candidate is proceeds to training phase 2. NOTE: If the candidate is a parent teaching a child in the course, Phases 1 and 2 can be carried out simultaneously. It is advised, however, that the parent complete at least the first four steps of the course and have the work evaluated by Gordon School of Art before starting the training of children.

Costs to trainee:
The Foundation Course package - $220
Postage and handling - $15 in the continental U.S.

The Foundation Course package includes a teacher manual, videotape instruction and teacher lesson plans for all Foundation Course worksheets and projects (covering the first four levels of the curriculum), all necessary learning materials and enough supplies for the teacher and one student

Phase 2) Foundation Course Introductory practice teaching.
During the second training phase, the candidate instructs three students through the Foundation Course taking them through the steps in order and following the instruction guides in the teacher manual. If possible, these students should vary in their ages -- ideally one between ages 8 and 9, one between 10 and 13, and the other age 14 and up.

Level 5 Teacher-Training: At this point, besides conducting introductory practice- teaching lessons with private students, teacher candidates continue their own artistic training by taking themselves through the New Masters Level 5 home-study course.

Costs to trainee:
Evaluation of teacher's Foundation Course work (included with the course)
Evaluation of students' Foundation Course work - $30 ea.
(One student evaluation is included with the course).
Additional mail instruction fees beyond the two covered in the cost of the course - $30 ea.
Level 5 program package $230
Extra art books - $20 plus shipping.

Costs to each new student:
Registration fee - $10
Student art book - $20
Supply Packet - $8

Phase 3) Foundation Course individual-lesson practice teaching.
Once teacher candidates have successfully graduated a single student from the Foundation Course, they may begin the practice-teaching phase of their training - but only in one-on-one private lessons.

During this stage, the candidate may have no more than 6 students enrolled at a time. The 6 student limit will apply until at least 2 of those students have successfully passed step 4 of the Foundation Course, at which time the teacher may take on as many additional students as the evaluator recommends.

As soon as a student from each of the three age ranges has graduated from the Level 4 program -- on the mastery level -- the teacher will be awarded Foundation Course certification. At this point the teacher may enroll as many beginning students as he or she wishes for individual private lessons.

Costs to trainee:
Student graduation evaluation fees - $30 ea.
Any additional mail instruction, if needed $30 ea.
(Level graduation evaluation fees include registration for the next level.)

Phase 4) Level 5 Certification and Small-Group Certification
Teachers will be certified for Level 5 instruction when they successfully complete all the worksheets and projects for Level 5 themselves and successfully take a student of any age through the Level 5 course. Rare exceptions may be made if the teacher has passed step 4 of the Level 5 course prior to starting a student on that level, but it is important for obvious reasons that teachers be well in advance of their students in knowledge and skill prior to teaching them.

Teachers may begin small group sessions and/or extended lessons for their more advanced and independent students whenever those students spend at least half of their lesson time working independently. This could occur as early as phase 3.

Costs:
"Guidelines for conducting small-group Lessons" booklet $10
Evaluation fees - $30 ea.
Level 6 program package $250
Extra art books - $20 plus shipping.

Certification for Levels 6 through 8 will be carried out in a manner similar to the Foundation Course and Level 5.

The home-study courses for the 5 remaining New Masters levels include videotaped demonstrations for all of that level's worksheets and projects, all it's lesson plans, worksheets, project sheets and related teaching materials, art subject master sheets, and supply lists. It does not include student supplies which must be purchased separately. Some supplies may be purchased from Gordon School of Art; the rest may be purchased locally or through art supply mail-order catalogs. There are also certain items that should be in place in the lesson room for this and all future levels, like supply organizers, art appreciation materials, etc.

Phase 6) Classroom teaching workshop
This phase will be conducted at Gordon School of Art and will involve full-class instruction management techniques, actual practice teaching experience and individual consultations.

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