My Teaching Philosophy
I believe children have an inherent ability for creating art. I think child's concerns, their creative play and imaginations are all deserving of consideration when making art lessons that are child-centered. Art is one of the most important ways people can tell us how they view the world. I believe what it means to be here in this world, at this place and time, may be explored through the works of artists of all ages. Children's natural aptitude is lost when art teachers impose only adult-centered concepts, opinions, and artworks onto them.
I aim to instill confidence in my students and empower them to want to search for answers. I believe in build a classroom ambiance in which knowledge is shared rather than imparted, challenged rather than accepted, and experienced rather than abstracted. I feel this can be achieved through alternative ways of thinking, creating, and expressing. Creating a safe and supportive environment where the students feel comfortable and able to express them selves in a receptive atmosphere is key. This is achieved by reinforcing the importance of experimentation and risk taking, and promoting and environment where what may be perceived as a “failure” is instead viewed from a different perspective, and as an opportunity to learn, and grow in a new direction.
As an educator and artist, I understand the importance of helping students understand their role as artists in society. I encourage them use their personal experiences, discover themselves, ask what is important and foster in them an excitement and enthusiasm to pursue their own answers. It is essential for teachers and artists (including student-artists) to work together to explore their own stories and dislodge the ideologies that sustain the practice of exclusion and assumption. This can be achieved through critical multicultural art education. Teaching non-Western art, European art, and contemporary art is important because, in some way, it is part of everyone's story and survival. One story is needed to balance the other.
I believe that it is crucial to incorporate the “real world” into the classroom whenever possible. In this way, I wish to guide students to look for information sources (e.g., internet, art publications), encourage them to seek opportunities outside of school (e.g., art competitions, awards). I also encourage students to promote their art in any way possible such as creating their own websites and competing in contests through which their work can be publicized. I think it's important to show the students work to the community, to both instill in the students a sense of importance in their work, as well as to show the community the amazing things the students are exploring, learning and communicating.
I believe that teaching art, more than any other field, requires an individualized approach. I understand that I wouldn’t always share some of their same feelings, or styles, but I think it is very important to embrace their taste, and I honor the idea that students have different types of imaginations, preferences, experiences, and or sources of inspiration. I feel the worst possible thing a teacher could do, is to discourage students by making them think that what they feel, express, or prefer is “wrong”.
Although it is easy to get concerned and rapped up with questions about the technical process, I believe it is the content and the context in which art is made that stimulate students to think, learn, and grow. My final goal is that my students we be prepared to create art, discuss art, write about art, as well as appreciate and advocate for the art for the rest of their lives.
Ideally, art should be connected to other academic disciplines. With interdisciplinary studies and collaboration between teachers, students can explore the concept of a cohesive community interweaving the arts with literature, history, the environment, and much more. I believe in the continuing development of the art world and I also believe in progression in teaching. Therefore, I understand that learning how to teach is a lifetime process and I expect to grow intellectually and professionally with my students through the years. I also hope that my passion, enthusiasm and respect for the profession will positively affect generations of students to come.
I try to pursue my teaching experiences by this quote…
"If you can’t teach them to fly, Inspire them to sing.”
I aim to instill confidence in my students and empower them to want to search for answers. I believe in build a classroom ambiance in which knowledge is shared rather than imparted, challenged rather than accepted, and experienced rather than abstracted. I feel this can be achieved through alternative ways of thinking, creating, and expressing. Creating a safe and supportive environment where the students feel comfortable and able to express them selves in a receptive atmosphere is key. This is achieved by reinforcing the importance of experimentation and risk taking, and promoting and environment where what may be perceived as a “failure” is instead viewed from a different perspective, and as an opportunity to learn, and grow in a new direction.
As an educator and artist, I understand the importance of helping students understand their role as artists in society. I encourage them use their personal experiences, discover themselves, ask what is important and foster in them an excitement and enthusiasm to pursue their own answers. It is essential for teachers and artists (including student-artists) to work together to explore their own stories and dislodge the ideologies that sustain the practice of exclusion and assumption. This can be achieved through critical multicultural art education. Teaching non-Western art, European art, and contemporary art is important because, in some way, it is part of everyone's story and survival. One story is needed to balance the other.
I believe that it is crucial to incorporate the “real world” into the classroom whenever possible. In this way, I wish to guide students to look for information sources (e.g., internet, art publications), encourage them to seek opportunities outside of school (e.g., art competitions, awards). I also encourage students to promote their art in any way possible such as creating their own websites and competing in contests through which their work can be publicized. I think it's important to show the students work to the community, to both instill in the students a sense of importance in their work, as well as to show the community the amazing things the students are exploring, learning and communicating.
I believe that teaching art, more than any other field, requires an individualized approach. I understand that I wouldn’t always share some of their same feelings, or styles, but I think it is very important to embrace their taste, and I honor the idea that students have different types of imaginations, preferences, experiences, and or sources of inspiration. I feel the worst possible thing a teacher could do, is to discourage students by making them think that what they feel, express, or prefer is “wrong”.
Although it is easy to get concerned and rapped up with questions about the technical process, I believe it is the content and the context in which art is made that stimulate students to think, learn, and grow. My final goal is that my students we be prepared to create art, discuss art, write about art, as well as appreciate and advocate for the art for the rest of their lives.
Ideally, art should be connected to other academic disciplines. With interdisciplinary studies and collaboration between teachers, students can explore the concept of a cohesive community interweaving the arts with literature, history, the environment, and much more. I believe in the continuing development of the art world and I also believe in progression in teaching. Therefore, I understand that learning how to teach is a lifetime process and I expect to grow intellectually and professionally with my students through the years. I also hope that my passion, enthusiasm and respect for the profession will positively affect generations of students to come.
I try to pursue my teaching experiences by this quote…
"If you can’t teach them to fly, Inspire them to sing.”
I am an Illinois State University Alumni. During my 3 years at ISU I had the privilege of working with amazingly talented instructors and fellow artists. During my time in the Art Education program, I was the proud President of Illinois State Universities: National Art Education Association Student Chapter. I will forever cherish the life long friendships I made during that time. Those relationships made me into the person I am proud to me today.
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