My New Teaching Philosophy 

1. Allowing my students to understand that art is not a talent it is a skill, there is always room for growth. 

2. Allowing students to have room for choice within projects both on their take and choice of materials. 

3. Culturally responsive teaching

4. Creating a safe space to share ideas about art and self-expression 

5. Allowing students to understand the purpose of learning and making art

6. Giving students the space to learn and grow from their mistakes and experiences

7. Listening to my student’s interests and ideas to develop lessons and grow as an educator 

8. Sharing pieces of myself to allow my students to better understand and connect with who I am. If I want students to be vulnerable with me I have to be vulnerable with them too. 

9. Use integrative lessons to help my students expand their knowledge and give them more choices on where and what skills they will learn. 

10.  Experimentation leads to learning. 

 

Looking back on this semester it is crazy to think about how much I have learned and what has happened both in school and just in my life with how much I have grown and changed. What this weekly assignment has taught me is how many aspects of my life connect to where I am right now, becoming an Art Educator, and how all the choices and experiences I have can relate to and I can learn from. It seems crazy that a few years ago I would have had a very different answer when I was asked what I wanted to be or do for a career, because my experiences and everything make it clear to me that this makes sense, this is what I am supposed to do with my life. As I sit here in my new house staring at my first Art journal so much is similar and so much has changed, the first is my personal thought about art education which is anyone and everyone can be an artist, it is a skill or a muscle you work with and develop over time, that there is no right or wrong way to be an artist. Some things changed based on what I learned during this course through reflection like culturally responsive teaching and how important it is to me. Or integrative learning and how that can teach students so much about other topics, but also give them so much choice when it comes to creating their piece. This was really hammered home for me during the process of our peer teaching, which allowed me to learn new skills and then turn around and teach them to our students. Some of the items on the list are things that I originally had listed but were reframed during this semester as I opened up with my students and as I grew through my own failures and experimentation. As we are nearing the end of the semester, and the Art show, I have been thinking a lot about my own experiences with Art shows. As a child, my work was shown prominently on the halls of my school, and on my fridge at home. As I got older and grew back into the arts I was considered a “gifted and talented” student in art, so my work was shown in the halls of my school, entered into scholastic competitions, and district and local art shows at the firehouse art center and even more. I loved art shows, I loved being recognized for something I enjoyed doing and spent so much time and energy creating. I matted my own work, framed it, and I was there in person every single time to see what other people thought about it. Last semester I prepped and student art show and realized how much work actually went into the planning of art shows and exhibits, it was a lesson in organization and how to provide enough space and a piece of art for each and every student in my class. This is why this week when we discussed Art shows and the importance of showing every student artwork it struck a nerve, as an adult I have been denied from countless shows, and it always stings. I never want a student to feel like they aren’t a good enough artist for something because art is essential to life. We encounter it every single day. We see art on TV, on the streets, in windows, and in advertisements. Without art, life, and the world around us, would be dull. Art creates impactful content and can make a powerful difference in any message. Art is also for everyone to enjoy. Anyone can create and benefit from practicing art. You do not need a certain level of skill or talent to create beautiful art. Anyone and everyone is an artist, it’s simply about finding what you like, and letting go of whatever thoughts or feelings may be holding you back. Art is an amazing tool for both your body and your mind. It opens a door of possibilities; you simply need to walk through. When you think about it, art impacts everything. It may influence why you stop looking at a promotional poster. It may draw you towards a certain brochure or pamphlet. You may encounter something that brings you happiness to see on your wall every day. So, art is not for the privileged or those few who seem to be born with “talent.”  Rather, art is an inherent part of our nature, one that can be denied and ignored or nurtured and recognized, strengthening us as individuals and as a society in the process. 

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This week I have added more layers radiating out, in the same yellow color as last week to represent my positivity and growth. As the radiating shapes are similar to the patterns i envision tree rings to be, to show my growth and development during this semester. Because yes I am now this more developed educator, but it also acknowledges that within me is the beginning of this journey, those stories of my first students and how I have come to be here in this moment. I also used the words "spread ur wings" since most of my symbolism in the piece has wings, and shows this growth and change in myself as I prepare to leave the "nest" of sorts and get ready to teach myself in a new capacity once the semester is over. I hope to add more layers to this piece and continue the recognition of this journey by including my actual journal entires, more text and imagery that represents that acknowledgement of my past that has led me to where I am now. 

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I am so very excited to show my Art piece next to my peers whom I have gotten to know and grown with from these last few semesters because each of us together has learned something about ourselves during this class, and I feel as though we are all proud and rooting for each other continued growth as educators. And I want to give my students the same pride I have had during my own shows, I hope that I allow them the space to develop their own skills in showing their art, and give them the room to do that. I hope that as I continue to learn and grow as an educator I can take everything I learned this semester about choice-based teaching, and problem-based learning and create a choice-based art program that teaches students Art and life skills that they can carry with them. I know I still have so much more to learn, I am entering a field where I will be a lifelong learner, and I hope to be able to reflect like I have been this semester and apply that to my own teaching as I think it has made me more self-confident within my choices as a teacher.

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