TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
As a teacher I’m willing to let my students become the leaders. I want to learn from my students just as much as I want them to learn from me. This will happen best in a classroom that is set up like a community. Teaching is not supplying students with answers, it’s helping them develop the skills to find answers on their own. I demonstrate my background in Art and am ready to answer student’s questions while encouraging them to use trail and error to find solutions to their problems. The classroom’s community atmosphere will be based on how the rooms dynamic is set up. Rather than assuming all students work at the same pace or on the same level I will acknowledge projects could take longer for some people and would be able to adjust directions and due dates to the needs of the classroom. The class will be a positive environment. Cresting art is often stressful and in my classroom there are no mistakes in art. There is always a way to create something successful out of a accident. Creativity and positivity is everything, something I constantly remind my students of.
Every day will begin with questions from the students to see where the day will start, while encouraging students to answer each others questions with no inference from me. I want to transfer as much of my learned techniques and tricks that come with art to help students. Being flexible in a way to allow students the most opportunity to succeed, giving grace to students who ask for it. Being flexible as I understand my students have other classes and a lot in their life so I never assign busy work, only enough for them to be able to show me they know the material.
Letting the student drive the class with their questions and seeing what they are interested in learning is the way I always go with. This makes it easier to find which subjects should get more time allowed to them. Giving students a voice and a choice, never forcing them but rather giving options. For example letting them work in groups or independently as well as asking the class how much time they think they will need for an assignment. Giving too much of time can be just as bad as not giving enough time for students to work on a project. I do not see myself as the dictator ruling over students but rather as the guide, helping them on their educational journey.
Feedback is the most valuable thing I can receive from a student. My purpose is to teach students by example. Making expectations clear and always welcoming questions. While all homework projects and assignments will have their own rubric, there will be more in-depth discussion on the assignment itself during class.
As a result of my teaching, students should have a strong understanding of how to talk about art in a professional manner as well as showing art. My goal is for them to succeed which means equipping them with the knowledge of what professions include art and how to get started as an artist. Not only will students end up with a full portfolio with art made of diverse materials but they will also know what to do with that art. How to get in galleries and how to sell it.
l constantly do check ins to make sure students are reaching their goals so I am able to make sure I'm completing my responsibility to each student. They should see my excitement and enthusiasm for the subject everyday. I am able to share my passion with students so they look forward to attending class. I use a variety of methods for transferring information, both lectures and visual demonstrations as well as field trips so students can understand what outlets they want their art to be shown in. So they might be inspired to create their own works outside of class. Evaluating the classes retained knowledge in my class is done with projects and portfolios, graded on a percentage scale. The classroom is about learning and recalling information, not for putting more pressure on students. To implement this all quizzes and tests are not timed.