As a teacher and a student of art, I believe that art should be an outlet and a means for students to not only express themselves but to find themselves as well. With my students, this is a goal I would like to work towards. To be an inspiration and the drive that students often don’t receive. I want to show them that art can be a way to express yourself, but that art can also be a lifelong career. Often we are told that there is no future in the arts but I want to show that there is. Art is in everything from what we wear, what we watch, what we listen to, and so on. I want my students to know that art is accessible to everyone regardless of their skin color, income, or if you have disabilities. To bring to their attention more artists that come from similar environments, backgrounds and that might work with non-traditional or obscure media to create art. As well, I believe that the classroom should be a safe space and a safe community for students. It should be a place for self-discovery and it’s a space where students can feel safe and be able to de-stress even if it’s for 1 hour. Pair that with music and friendly classroom conversation and you can pull away from the chaos that is outside of the classroom. My plan is to create a classroom and curriculum that can embody what I wanted growing up as a student by including things such as lesson plans on art history, mixed media art activities, and exploration of different art media.
Lesson Plan:
Explore the student’s interests and individuality and provide them with the tools to do so.
Provide constructive criticism that will help the student further their artwork but that will aid the student rather than dwindle their passion and confidence.
Provide more information, discuss and bring to the attention of the students, artists that come from similar backgrounds to them.
Classroom Environment:
Create an open environment where students feel safe and comfortable discussing and exploring sensitive topics.
Create a community within the classroom.
Explore the student interests and individualism.
Curriculum:
Exploration of art through the ages and how art has changed throughout time and through different communities and people.
Projects will explore the use of different mediums, traditional and non-traditional methods.