Described below is my teaching philosophy. It has developed slowly through my experiences in various education theory classes, methods and materials classes, and practice in the field as a student teacher. Through these experiences I have developed my own ideologies and what I would like to do once I have my own classroom to run.

     As an art teacher I believe in a strong foundation of the Elements and Principles of design. Not only do these concepts lend validity to our practice but they also give students a way to decode and understand the increasingly visual world that we live in. The Elements and Principles of Design are the foundation of a good visual education.

     My priorities in the classroom are Reflection, Personal Expression, and Exploration. These elements work together to create an experience in the classroom that will not only develop a well-rounded visual learner but also, build personal skills and knowledge that will help students be successful in the future.

     Reflection is a key tool to utilize for teachers as well for students. This is a skill that helps us identify and overcome issues we struggle with. It is how we learn about ourselves and how we take stock of what we have achieved.  Reflection is a paramount practice when trying to grow and learn. Sometimes the learning process absorbs us into it. Sometimes we get caught up in achieving goals that we forget about the processes we are learning along the way. Because of this Reflection is a crucial element when learning, whether it is in or outside of the classroom.

     Personal Expression is a big component of any artistic endeavor. It can also be the most challenging part of creating something. How do I make something that is unique and new and truthful? My answer to that question has always been to look inside and find something about yourself that you can share with the world. This is Personal Expression and it is a priority in my art classroom for a couple of reasons. The first, as I just stated, is because Personal Expression is a big part of creating art. The second reason is related to a child’s development.

In middle school and high school students reach an age where they begin to define who they are and what they want to be in this world. I feel like a good art education, that focuses on Personal Expression is crucial in helping students discover who they are and who they want to be. Being armed with this knowledge of themselves they are much more likely to have a successful future.

     Exploration is the creative process at its core. An artist cannot create if there is not curiosity to spur them on.  When we explore things for ourselves we have begun to take our learning into our own hands. That is my goal for all of my students. I want to foster their curiosity and their desire to Explore because it leads to a lifetime of discovery, learning and success. Lifelong learners are always ready to Explore, they are always ready to try new things and are never daunted when presented with a new and possibly challenging task. This is a mindset I hope to instill in my students so that they will have lives filled with new and wondrous discoveries.