Philosophy of Teaching
I view teaching as the ultimate opportunity to influence the lives of others for the better. The welfare of children has long been a passion of mine and I hold education as a way to make a significant impact on their lives.
I believe in teaching a curriculum that is designed to alter the students’ way of thinking, both about themselves and each other, in a positive manner. I view art as a way to connect people from all classes, genders, and cultures in a way that promotes tolerance and understanding. It is also an essential component in making connections between what students learn in school and the issues they will encounter in their everyday lives.
Throughout the school year, I provide my students with a variety of 2D and 3D media and diverse learning materials that will allow them to fully explore their abilities and discover how art skills, such as problem solving and reasoning, can be used in real world situations. My lessons are always based on an Art for Life approach which include following disciplines; production, art history, aesthetics, art criticism, creativity, technology, and visual culture that implement the state standards for art in Tennessee. This model ensures that all lessons will relate to the lives of the students and connect them to the world around them. I also strive to relate my lessons to the students’ other academic courses. I believe that relating art to what they are learning in other classes will help create vital connections that make those courses relevant to the students’ lives.
Because I strongly believe in community outreach through the arts, I also make an effort to connect with the students and their families. I believe that the communication and cooperation between families and teachers is necessary to construct the ideal environment in which a student is to learn and grow. I will also strive to make what my students’ study in art relevant to their lives so that those lessons will help them grow and create connections that will aide them indefinitely.
I believe that my classroom environment should be one in which the students are not afraid to express themselves and are able to discover their true potential and aspirations. Along with this, I also ensure that my environment is a safe one, free from both physical and psychological harm. My students are always fully informed of the risks of using any art materials before they are permitted to utilize it and I am sure to confirm that all students are practicing these safety guidelines. My semi-austere classroom management style also ensures that all students are respectful of their instructor, their work and each other at all times. I have high standards for my students in both their academic works and their character. With this, I also ensure that my students are always given the assistance needed to reach these high standards, as I do want every student to be successful.
I am dedicated to my profession and strive to be the example to which my students can aspire. I believe that in order to be a successful teacher, I must also be a successful and self-actualized individual. I aspire to instill these expectations of themselves in my students and encourage them to always strive for their best, both in academics and in integrity.
Classroom Management Philosophy
Teaching
It is my job as a teacher to be an example to which students can look for guidance concerning behavior, work ethic, and the treatment of others. I must provide a safe and supportive environment reinforced with consistent procedures in which students can reach their potential. I can do these things by establishing procedures and routines concerning working and behavior that must be followed without deviation each day. I must also make sure that my lessons have relevance to my students in order to maintain interest and to make interdisciplinary connections. By doing this, I will instill in my students a curiosity in art and they will seek out knowledge independently.
Learning
Students who are not learning see no reason to be in the classroom. This leads to unwelcome behaviors and undesirable habits that can be detrimental to the students’ futures. To maintain good classroom management, I must ensure that every student is interested and engaged with our activities with an interest to complete the assignment to the best of their ability. To do this, I must provide differentiated instruction with manipulatives and visual aids for those who are struggling and extensions for those who wish to go beyond. I must also show students that their hard work is valued by implementing a rewards and recognition system attainable by any student who desires to do their best. By doing these things, I can ensure that my classroom is one in which students can strive to do their best, discover more about themselves, and learn in a way that fits them best.
Working with Others
Students must develop empathy for others and understand that every person has a struggle, has strengths, and has weaknesses. I promote understanding and tolerance of others in my classroom through exploration of multicultural, mixed gender, and mixed ability artists to show students that they are all capable of doing something wonderful, as are their peers. In doing this, we are building a classroom community based on mutual respect, which will be reflected in our treatment of our peers, our materials, our artworks, and ourselves. I can also show this desire for cooperation and respect in collaborating with my fellow teachers and administration to give the students a full and round arts education.