Teaching art emphasizes creative exploration, experimentation, and expression in the classroom. As a teacher, I encourage my students to become fearless in their uses of different materials and techniques, to create art forms that relate to their personal lives. My approach to teaching is interdisciplinary—the bridging of gaps that exist between art making and the study of other academic subjects. Art is a more meaningful experience when it interconnects with other school subjects and the differing aspects of students’ lives. By fostering such connections in the art classroom, I engage my students’ curiosity and desire to learn about art and its relationship to history and contemporary culture.
I believe that every student has the ability to succeed in art when provided with an inspiring and supportive environment. While I am the teacher in the classroom, it is just as important for me to learn from my students. Teaching is a lifelong learning experience. In addition to continually expanding my knowledge about historical and contemporary art making processes, my students provide personal perspectives that complement my curriculum. To have an engaging art classroom, my role as a teacher is to to keep the students organized and well informed. An extremely successful way to achieve this is teaching by example. Leading by example can be one of the strongest ways to instill rules in students. Maintaining an organized classroom is not only about keeping materials neat, but also about maintaining a functional classroom that utilizes working time efficiently. Creating a space that is thriving with input from the students and current cultural experiences relevant to the students creates an environment that is engaged. |