Philosophy of Arts Education
I am a firm believer that the inclusion of arts education is essential for breeding creativity and building critical thinking skills in the lives of all students, providing richness available in no other subject. The arts teach so much more than content and skill. The visual images in art cross over the boundaries of differences in culture, socio-economic status and ability levels. The recognition of the importance of arts in education is invaluable as part of the human experience, that leads to art appreciation and acceptance of social diversity.
The continuation of my own personal art practice, self-observation and reflection (through the use of journals) and my commitment to continue to learn and grow are two important elements in my roles as teacher and mentor. As I continue to practice art making through a variety of mediums, I am constantly striving to find new meaning in the process. Through my art, I am able to express feeling, emotion and mood, and have learned to value both the process and the final product. Those experiences are what I take with me into my classroom.
A good teacher is one who is able to engage students and give them tools and skills needed to accomplish a task. A great teacher inspires students to begin a life-long journey of exploration and discovery. My teaching philosophy embraces a balance of technical instruction and creativity. Teaching art involves teaching students to see, and to look at the world in new and different ways, sometimes more abstractly. All to often, technical (or hands on) training is dismissed as being out of date, but my belief is that it is indispensible in the journey of learning to make art. On the flip side, art without content can feel empty. Conceptual art pushes students to challenge their own beliefs and to find meaning and relevance in the visual images they create. The other essential element in my teaching practice is my goal of heping students to see the importance of self-reflection, both in their work and in their lives. Documenting the process of creating art through journaling and the use of a sketchbook is a wonderful way to develop new ideas and to gain an understanding of successes and failures in one's practice.
I believe that art education is essential in forming well rounded, critically thinking individuals. I also believe it is possible for all students, in spite of challenges, to grow and learn in the arts. I believe in having high expectations for all students, and making accommodations or modificiations when necessary. Art has a reputation of being a fun class, however it can also be challenging. Through my teaching, I hope to engage and inspire, while helping students find a meaningful path that advocates and teaches appreciation of the arts.
~ Creativity ~ Critical Thinking ~Communication ~
~ Collaboration ~ Character ~ Citizenship ~
I am a firm believer that the inclusion of arts education is essential for breeding creativity and building critical thinking skills in the lives of all students, providing richness available in no other subject. The arts teach so much more than content and skill. The visual images in art cross over the boundaries of differences in culture, socio-economic status and ability levels. The recognition of the importance of arts in education is invaluable as part of the human experience, that leads to art appreciation and acceptance of social diversity.
The continuation of my own personal art practice, self-observation and reflection (through the use of journals) and my commitment to continue to learn and grow are two important elements in my roles as teacher and mentor. As I continue to practice art making through a variety of mediums, I am constantly striving to find new meaning in the process. Through my art, I am able to express feeling, emotion and mood, and have learned to value both the process and the final product. Those experiences are what I take with me into my classroom.
A good teacher is one who is able to engage students and give them tools and skills needed to accomplish a task. A great teacher inspires students to begin a life-long journey of exploration and discovery. My teaching philosophy embraces a balance of technical instruction and creativity. Teaching art involves teaching students to see, and to look at the world in new and different ways, sometimes more abstractly. All to often, technical (or hands on) training is dismissed as being out of date, but my belief is that it is indispensible in the journey of learning to make art. On the flip side, art without content can feel empty. Conceptual art pushes students to challenge their own beliefs and to find meaning and relevance in the visual images they create. The other essential element in my teaching practice is my goal of heping students to see the importance of self-reflection, both in their work and in their lives. Documenting the process of creating art through journaling and the use of a sketchbook is a wonderful way to develop new ideas and to gain an understanding of successes and failures in one's practice.
I believe that art education is essential in forming well rounded, critically thinking individuals. I also believe it is possible for all students, in spite of challenges, to grow and learn in the arts. I believe in having high expectations for all students, and making accommodations or modificiations when necessary. Art has a reputation of being a fun class, however it can also be challenging. Through my teaching, I hope to engage and inspire, while helping students find a meaningful path that advocates and teaches appreciation of the arts.
~ Creativity ~ Critical Thinking ~Communication ~
~ Collaboration ~ Character ~ Citizenship ~