Teaching Philosophy

In my six years of teaching, my philosophy has morphed with my experiences. The core ideas remain, but I believe this is a work in progress, much like myself! This year, I am beginning to research Growth Mindset strategies for the Art room, so I'm sure I'll be adding to this soon! :)

Mistakes and creative problem solving:

Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been inherently afraid of making mistakes. But the reality is, I make mistakes daily, and learn from them just as often as I make them. A main component of my teaching philosophy is helping kids accept the fact that they’ll be making mistakes in Art class. Huge, frustrating, head-on-desk, “what do I do now” mistakes. The struggle is real, and THAT’S OKAY.  With the ever-present testing looming over their heads, I’m finding it’s harder for students to step out of their comfort zone and take creative risks. I would like my students to think of the Art room as a place to be brave, and to take those risks. Learning to recover from “mistakes”, and coming up with creative solutions to problems builds confidence in and out of the Art room! 

To this point, this quote  from Kate Morris really resonates-
"The habits of mind gained through art classes will serve them no matter their future career path."

Building a strong foundation:

Another aspect of my philosophy covers teaching the “nitty gritty”, while experimenting with almost every material. I believe knowledge of art history, artists, color theory, elements and principles of design, etc. are tried and true foundations for a successful artist. From this sturdy foundation, students can experiment and make brave artistic choices, with the knowledge of the basics to fall back on. I also believe at the elementary level, students should be experimenting with every material they can get their hands on- experimentation is the key to discovery!

Building positive relationships:

I love when I can see a student’s physical reaction when they walk into the Art room – a sigh of relief, relaxed shoulders, a smile. While students will be developing a firm foundation of artistic knowledge, I want my room to be a place where we destress, bond, and develop relationships with one another. Challenging ourselves and taking artistic risks can be a bit stressful at times, but it’s all about finding that balance of pushing ourselves in a comfortable space.