My Teaching Philosophy
Every student in my class will have a place. As a teacher, I will act as a facilitator and guide of creative expression, artistic exploration, and communal development. They will not receive generic lessons or strict, limited projects to complete; rather, my students will have the ability to shape their education according to their interests, abilities, and culture. By promoting Social Emotional Learning, I will teach students to set goals and guidelines for themselves when completing their projects. Through Culturally Responsive Teaching and Universal Design for Learning, I will create a space where each student is comfortable and can share their cultures, beliefs, and ideas with others through art. They will be encouraged to create pieces based on their cultures with mediums that are accessible to them. Art is a fantastic means of communication and expression, so my students will get to know each other through their pieces and discussions about their artistic experiences.
Art education is vital for students because, in addition to expression and communication, it promotes creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and sharing of cultures. As an educator, I aim to instill self-awareness, self-management, relationship skills, and social awareness into my students. By allowing students to create some of their own guidelines, I will teach them to manage their time and become cognizant of their abilities. Through group critiques and gallery walks, I will teach students to be mindful of each others’ experiences and build community. While there will be fundamental information to learn and basic projects that students must complete, these will be viewed as foundations for later student-driven projects.
I wish to create a collaborative, supportive, open-minded class where every student can be themselves and expect to be treated with respect. Group discussion will be crucial so that students can share ideas, thoughts, and feelings. When a student is being negative, I will talk with them to understand why and see if I can assist them. Perhaps they need time to cool down, extended time on an assignment, or a conversation with a trusted adult, all of which I would happily provide.
I wish for my students to respect one another and the art they create in my classroom. Building community and rapport with each other will be a major part of my class. It is important for students to get to know each other and build positive relationships. This way, they will have a support system and feel comfortable creating art that is reflective of who they are.