Teaching Philosophy

My artistic life began when my mother pinned sheets up in a corner of our apartment, creating for me a little studio where I spent many hours scribbling away with my crayons and markers. As I grew as a student and artist, I was encouraged by my parents and teachers to explore the world around me through a creative lens. Experiencing the world in this way, I began to see how important creative thinking and problem solving is.

In my own teaching, I strive to incorporate creative and critical thinking into all of my lessons. These thinking skills are vital in today's image-driven society, and as an art teacher I have the unique opportunity to help students master them. Art and design fill our daily lives, and I desire to build in students the skills with which to successfully navigate and contribute to this visual culture. In examining the art they see everyday, students can gain a deep understanding of how art impacts, changes, and betters their life.

Examining art that already exists should be coupled with encouraging students in their own original creations. I work to open the world of imagination up to my students. I do this by posing questions that make room for possibility and by asking students to see objects in new ways, even when they feel they have exhausted all creative options. I believe that the imagination is ultimately one of the most powerful tools that a student possesses.

I engage my students in imaginative thinking about themselves and their world, while guiding them in reflection of their own work. Sometimes reflection is a quiet self analysis, while at other times it includes lively discussion and collaborative effort. I enjoy approaching reflection in a variety of ways because it allows the students to see their work in many different lights. Thoughtful and varied reflection helps students understand what they have accomplished and what critical decisions to make in future work.

I am genuinely interested in the way that students express themselves. I want students to be able to incorporate their thinking skills, both creative and critical, with self- expression. I believe that this marriage of skills is vital to not only artistic skills, but life skills as well. The thoughtful creation of artwork can lead to deeper understanding of the self and the world, and can transform a student's life. I hope to bring the transformative power of art to my students.