As an educator, I strive to communicate the importance of art. I want students to recognize the significance of art and how it can benefit them whether they want to pursue it professionally or not. Although art is typically underfunded in schools, my teaching philosophy is that it is just as valuable as math or science. Art encourages creativity and critical thinking and has positive effects on cognitive development and mental health.
I also want to create a safe and welcoming classroom environment. School can be competitive and stressful for most students, and I would like my classroom to give students a creative break. I would like to establish a respectful system of communication through art critiques where my students can give their input on other students’ work and the artist themselves can explain their art and their intent. This will give students a sense of community and allow them to create without worrying about what others think, which I think is what the arts are all about. In addition, I would like to expose my students to different methods and styles of art. I want my students to be well rounded and have exposure to art from different time periods and different cultures. I would also like to explore different mediums in my classroom so students can get an idea of what mediums suit them. If they choose to continue art outside of my classroom, I can give them the basic knowledge they need to further their art career. I want my students to forget the idea that they are not ‘naturally artistic’ or that they are incapable of creating good art. I believe that with knowledge of the elements of art such as color theory, perspective, etc. anyone can create a piece they are proud of. I will not sugarcoat my opinion, but rather give constructive criticism so my students can improve their art skills. I want to give them the basic skills they need to give them confidence and the rest can come from their own creativity. Lastly, I want my classroom to use art to start important conversations. I want my students to be able to look at a piece of art and be able to ask what the artist’s intent was. What does this say about the society of the time? How can this relate to society today? I would like to encourage my students to think critically and be able to analyze art and be able to use their own work to express their ideas. |