My Beliefs About Education and Teaching
Every student that walks into my classroom has a unique personality, history, and story to tell. Not only does this diverse individual need to be celebrated as they are, they need to be pushed to grow into a strong and fuller self. Each student has a different starting point and a different need, but each one needs to be given the opportunity and the drive to reach their full potential. It is my job as a teacher to recognize the student, develop curriculum that is adaptable to their needs, and to create an engaging learning environment that encourages risk taking and question posing while developing a healthy community.
Art education is an essential class that develops life-long skills for the learner. As an art teacher, I have the important job of helping students develop creative thinking. Through art, students will learn to express themselves and perhaps discover something new. There is no right or wrong answer to art and this is such a unique quality that often puzzles the learner. While skills need to be taught and honed, the creation of a piece allows learners to be inquisitive and innovative, freed from the fear of doing it wrong. I have the important job of providing an environment where each unique student has the opportunity to thrive and strive to do new things. The construct of the classroom, the focused units, and clear lesson plans need to follow the standards alongside being engaging to the student.
Every student that walks into my classroom has a unique personality, history, and story to tell. Not only does this diverse individual need to be celebrated as they are, they need to be pushed to grow into a strong and fuller self. Each student has a different starting point and a different need, but each one needs to be given the opportunity and the drive to reach their full potential. It is my job as a teacher to recognize the student, develop curriculum that is adaptable to their needs, and to create an engaging learning environment that encourages risk taking and question posing while developing a healthy community.
Art education is an essential class that develops life-long skills for the learner. As an art teacher, I have the important job of helping students develop creative thinking. Through art, students will learn to express themselves and perhaps discover something new. There is no right or wrong answer to art and this is such a unique quality that often puzzles the learner. While skills need to be taught and honed, the creation of a piece allows learners to be inquisitive and innovative, freed from the fear of doing it wrong. I have the important job of providing an environment where each unique student has the opportunity to thrive and strive to do new things. The construct of the classroom, the focused units, and clear lesson plans need to follow the standards alongside being engaging to the student.
I am a life-long learner. My joy comes from seeing those “ah-hah!” moments on a student’s face when there is finally understanding. My students are precious to me and they teach me how to see things differently each day. I strongly believe that building a relationship with a student is of the utmost importance, for without trust and accountability there will be no connection to what I teach. If I do not care about them, why should they care about what I have to say? All of this does take time, but I want to create life-long learners in my students. I want my students to make connections from one subject to another. I want my students to thrive in challenging situations because they know they have the potential to get through it. I want my students to become engaged citizens who think innovatively and approach the world with curiosity. I have a challenging and rewarding career ahead of me.