We are educating people out of their creative capacities... I believe this passionately, that we don't grow into creativity, we grow out of it. Or rather, we get educated out of it.”
Sir Ken Robinson
I believe that having the opportunity to work with students is a privilege and it is a career path that comes with great responsibility, which is why it is so important that teachers have a teaching philosophy, acquire the skills necessary to be in the classroom platform, and also have a life long commitment to learning. A teacher is very similar to a parent, in the sense that you are entrusted with nurturing the mind, spirit, and overall well-being of the children and youth under your care.
My core teaching beliefs are to do things with love, be kind and empathetic, be respectful, tell the truth, and lead with conviction. These values pave the way for me as a teacher because it is important to foster a loving and respectful environment for all students. I do not undermine the relevance of radiating a kind spirit when teaching. This is fundamental because in my future classroom I wish for every student to feel welcomed and to feel valued. That is, a student needs a safe environment to learn and take risks. I believe that students are diverse learners, deserve opportunities to explore their interests and should be encouraged to become specialists since it cultivates an appetite for in-depth knowledge. A main goal for me is to help students become empowered human beings while learning about the transformative power of art. An effective teacher can help students to not only learn about the subject, but also help them develop the skills to be socially responsible citizens, effective communicators and critical thinkers. As Ken Robinson notes, “Our task is to educate their (our students) whole being so they can face the future. We may not see the future, but they will and our job is to help them make something of it.”
As a teacher, I identify with humanist, constructivist and progressivism viewpoints. I envision myself as facilitating play and creativity where exploration is at the forefront. With guided lessons that are less about providing a right answer and more about stating your personal opinion supported by your experiences and insights. My education experience didn’t allow for this approach, which is why I plan to incorporate pair share discussion, group dialogue, introspective/reflective journaling, student led discussions along with hands on making. I would also like for students to think about art beyond the classroom. One aspect of this is to work collectively to make art that serves their community (for example, public art such as a mural or a gallery show). Another aspect is to expand the classroom beyond our school classroom to visit museums, gallery exhibitions, art schools, visiting artist lectures, and artist studios.
One of the most important social norms within my classroom is that everyone’s voice matters and thus everyone is both a teacher and student. While the teacher does facilitate and is the leader, the teacher is not superior to his/her students. Another important expectation is to learn to be an active listener. So often, especially in this digital age, we can be impatient and not allow sufficient time to listening to others. Listening is part of being a good communicator and that is why this is a behavior expectation that will be fostered in my class.
Every student is unique and so is every cohort or class, so it is important to be flexible as a teacher and be able to adjust lessons to the group while also understanding individual differences and needs. Experience will be my teacher and I hope that over time, I can master this art form. The ability to inspire, to teach, to lead, is something every great teacher does and I hope that I can be a bridge for my students.
My core teaching beliefs are to do things with love, be kind and empathetic, be respectful, tell the truth, and lead with conviction. These values pave the way for me as a teacher because it is important to foster a loving and respectful environment for all students. I do not undermine the relevance of radiating a kind spirit when teaching. This is fundamental because in my future classroom I wish for every student to feel welcomed and to feel valued. That is, a student needs a safe environment to learn and take risks. I believe that students are diverse learners, deserve opportunities to explore their interests and should be encouraged to become specialists since it cultivates an appetite for in-depth knowledge. A main goal for me is to help students become empowered human beings while learning about the transformative power of art. An effective teacher can help students to not only learn about the subject, but also help them develop the skills to be socially responsible citizens, effective communicators and critical thinkers. As Ken Robinson notes, “Our task is to educate their (our students) whole being so they can face the future. We may not see the future, but they will and our job is to help them make something of it.”
As a teacher, I identify with humanist, constructivist and progressivism viewpoints. I envision myself as facilitating play and creativity where exploration is at the forefront. With guided lessons that are less about providing a right answer and more about stating your personal opinion supported by your experiences and insights. My education experience didn’t allow for this approach, which is why I plan to incorporate pair share discussion, group dialogue, introspective/reflective journaling, student led discussions along with hands on making. I would also like for students to think about art beyond the classroom. One aspect of this is to work collectively to make art that serves their community (for example, public art such as a mural or a gallery show). Another aspect is to expand the classroom beyond our school classroom to visit museums, gallery exhibitions, art schools, visiting artist lectures, and artist studios.
One of the most important social norms within my classroom is that everyone’s voice matters and thus everyone is both a teacher and student. While the teacher does facilitate and is the leader, the teacher is not superior to his/her students. Another important expectation is to learn to be an active listener. So often, especially in this digital age, we can be impatient and not allow sufficient time to listening to others. Listening is part of being a good communicator and that is why this is a behavior expectation that will be fostered in my class.
Every student is unique and so is every cohort or class, so it is important to be flexible as a teacher and be able to adjust lessons to the group while also understanding individual differences and needs. Experience will be my teacher and I hope that over time, I can master this art form. The ability to inspire, to teach, to lead, is something every great teacher does and I hope that I can be a bridge for my students.