“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”
-Scott Adams
I have always been both a teacher and an artist. I realized that I wanted to combine my two passions of teaching and art after spending time as an instructor in the Health Department at Purdue University and locally at Monroe Community College. This prior experience served to galvanize my feelings about wanting to teach and helped me realize that the subject matter was not fulfilling my needs as an artist.
I use a constructionist approach in which students are expected to draw upon their existing knowledge base to close the gap between new content and prior skills. The conceptual basis for each learning unit is centered on a big idea, otherwise known as a universal human condition. Students are able to relate to these lessons, increasing student motivation and engagement. Engaged students generally focus and have success in their work.
In my classroom, I focus on a fostering a cooperative learning environment. This encourages everyone to work together to succeed. I utilize demonstrations to introduce students to new techniques and encourage exploration through guided practice activities. These two techniques help to increase student success by bringing personal relevance to each of their projects, and promoting active engagement in their own learning. I will guide students to a deeper understanding of their own beliefs and their role in the world around them.
I will teach the whole student by including lesson segments that use active participation strategies using all the senses to help reach every student. I integrate literacy in my teaching by using books and relevant worksheets. I look for opportunities to make connections between art lessons and lessons from other disciplines taught by the classroom teachers. One example of this was when I collaborated with classroom teachers on a unit focused on the play “Finding Neverland.” This included collaborating with the Rochester Broadway Theater League. Connecting lessons with school wide curricular goals helps to promote connections outside of the art classroom.
In my classroom, I develop curriculum that challenges students. I craft lessons with meaningful objectives that are tied to our state and national standards. These objectives are assessed at the end of the lesson with measurable outcomes. I use art history and the arts of other cultures to teach the importance of respect and understanding as students gain new perspectives. I will also use opportunities of available technology to enrich lessons, connect with parents, and connect with local resources such as the Memorial Art Gallery. I stay current in the education field through attending and presenting at New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA) and membership with National Art Education Association (NAEA).
Research indicates that strong Arts Education programs are critical in developing 21st Century Skills, including higher-level thinking and improving student academic achievement. (Citation: National Report Champions of Change: The Impact of the Arts on Learning). I am an enthusiastic teacher as well as a life-long learner. I believe that everyone should continue to learn and grow throughout life. I therefore believe that art education is an essential part of a child’s education.