Giotto di Bondone - Father of the Renaissance

Giotto di Bondone - Father of the Renaissance Giotto di Bondone was known for being the earliest artist to paint more realistic figures rather than the stylized artwork of the medieval and Byzantine eras Giotto is considered by some scholars to be the most important Italian painter of the 14th century.  His focus on emotion and natural representations of human figures would be emulated and expanded upon by successive artists, leading Giotto to be called the Father of the Renaissance. Places of Residence and Influence Italy: Florence Important Dates Born: c. 1267Died: Jan. 8, 1337 Quotation from Giotto Every painting is a voyage into a sacred harbor. About Giotto di Bondone Though many stories and legends have circulated about Giotto and his life, very little can be confirmed as fact. He was born in Colle di Vespignano, near Florence, in 1266 or 1267- or, if Vasari is to be believed, 1276. His family was probably farmers. Legend has it that while he was tending goats he drew a picture on a rock and that the artist Cimabue, who happened to be passing by, saw him at work and was so impressed with the boys talent that he took him into his studio as an apprentice.  Whatever the actual events, Giotto appears to have been trained by an artist of great skill, and his work is clearly influenced by Cimabue. Giotto is believed to have been short and ugly. He was personally acquainted with Boccaccio, who recorded his impressions of the artist and several  stories of his wit and humor; these were included by Giorgio Vasari in the chapter on Giotto  in his  Lives of the Artists.  Giotto  was married and at the time of his death, he was survived by at least six children. The Works of Giotto There exists no documentation to confirm any artwork as having been painted by Giotto di Bondone. However, most scholars agree on several of his paintings. As an assistant to Cimabue, Giotto is believed to have worked on projects in Florence and other places in Tuscany, and in Rome. Later, he also traveled to Naples and Milan. Giotto almost undoubtedly painted the Ognissanti Madonna (currently in the Uffizi in Florence) and the fresco cycle in the Arena Chapel (also known as the Scrovegni Chapel)  at Padua, considered by some scholars to be his masterwork.  In Rome, Giotto is believed to have created  the mosaic of  Christ Walking on the Water  over the entrance to St. Peter’s, the  altarpiece at the  Vatican Museum, and  the fresco of  Boniface VIII Proclaiming the Jubilee  in  St. John Lateran.   Perhaps his best-known work is that done in Assisi, in the Upper Church of San Francesco: a cycle of 28 frescoes depicting the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. This monumental work depicts the entire life of the saint, instead of isolated events, as had been the tradition in ​earlier medieval artwork. The authorship of this cycle, like most of the works attributed to Giotto, has been called into question; but it is very likely that he not only worked in the church but designed the cycle and painted most of the frescoes. Other important works by Giotto include the Sta Maria Novella Crucifix, completed sometime in the 1290s, and the Life of St. John the Baptist fresco cycle, completed c. 1320. Giotto was also known as a sculptor and architect. Though there is no concrete evidence for these assertions, he was appointed chief architect of the workshop of Florence cathedral in 1334. The Fame of Giotto Giotto was a much-sought-after artist during his lifetime. He appears in works by his contemporary  Dante  as well as  Boccaccio.  Vasari said of him, Giotto restored the link between art and nature. Giotto di Bondone died in Florence, Italy, on January 8, 1337. More Giotto di Bondone Resources Painting of Giotto by Paolo UccelloBooks on Giotto include Giottoby  Francesca Flores dArcais Giotto(Taschen Basic Art)by Norbert Wolf Giotto(DK Art Books)by  Dorling Kindersley Giotto: The Founder of Renaissance ArtHis Life in Paintingsby  DK Publishing Giotto: The Frescoes of the Scrovegni Chapel in Paduaby Giuseppe Basile Giotto di Bondone on the Web WebMuseum: Giotto Extensive examination of Giottos life and work by Nicolas Pioch. Renaissance Art and Architecture

How to become a kindergarten teacher

How to become a kindergarten teacher As far as teaching careers go, the idea of being a kindergarten teacher seems very appealing. The students are young, not yet subject to the social pressures of middle and high school, and eager to learn about the world. Maybe you see yourself singing songs and helping kids take those tentative first steps on their educational road. But while the job does include those things, the idealized vision of singing about ABCs isn’t the whole picture. Kindergarten teachers are educators first and foremost, and have the daunting task of making sure that many students’ first formal classroom helps set them up for a good education later on. What does a kindergarten teacher do?Because of the basic nature of what early elementary school educators teach, there can be misconceptions about how â€Å"easy† it is to be a kindergarten teacher. Sure, they typically don’t teach advanced calculus, but they do need to be able to teach in a variety of subject areas, while balanci ng young students’ complex needs for social and interpersonal development. A kindergarten teacher’s duties may include:Teaching lessons and basic academic skills across different disciplines (reading, writing, math, science, etc.)Managing classroom behaviorPlanning lessons and curriculumDeveloping educational play activitiesKindergarten teachers can be found in any elementary-level school, including public schools, private schools, or magnet schools. The school week is typically a straightforward number of daytime hours, but the job may also require additional time spent in the mornings, evenings, and off-hours to prepare for school, participate in professional development, or oversee extracurricular activities/school programs. Depending on how the school is structured, kindergarten teachers may have one main class per year, or two (morning and afternoon sessions).What skills do kindergarten teachers need?First and foremost, kindergarten teachers need to have a balance between educational skills and people skills, given that their students may have yet to master a number of life skills and may have a broad variety of needs and skill levels. Here are some of the core skills you’ll need as a kindergarten teacher:Teaching Skills:  For many students, the kindergarten classroom may be the first place they’ll encounter formal lessons on reading, writing, etc. A kindergarten teacher needs to be able to teach the basic building blocks for students with different skills and abilities.Kid-Friendliness:  If you don’t like kids, then spending all day, every day handling the needs of 5–7 year olds just may not be the right teaching career for you. The job definitely requires a good measure of patience and enthusiasm for working with young kids- and all their quirks.Creativity:  Kindergarten is special because it mixes in play and hands-on activities before students start to move on to more formal classes in later grades. A ki ndergarten teacher should have a flair for coming up with fun, creative ways to use educational concepts in the classroom.Organizational Skills:  Kids can bring chaos, especially in large groups. The adult in the room should not also bring chaos. Organizational skills are a cornerstone of any teaching profession, and being able to organize and efficiently manage a classroom full of little kids is an immensely useful skill unto itself.What do you need to become a kindergarten teacher?Unlike preschool teachers, who may not need a four-year degree, becoming a kindergarten teacher typically requires a four-year degree in early childhood education. Many teachers also go on to receive a master’s degree as well. Public school kindergarten teachers are required to be licensed, but this step is not necessarily required for private school teachers. You should consult with your state’s licensing policies, as well as those of your target school/district to see what the specific requirements are.How much do kindergarten teachers get paid?According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for kindergarten teachers is $55,490. This can vary depending on the teacher’s experience and the type of school.What’s the outlook for kindergarten teachers?This is a field that will continue to grow (or at least maintain) given that kids are a continually replenishing natural resource and will always need quality teachers to guide them through those early educational steps. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that the demand for kindergarten teachers will grow by about 6% through 2024.