Teaching Philosophy

It is my goal to use art as a tool in the classroom to foster personal growth and help each student find his or her sense of self. Growing up, I watched someone close to me grow to mistrust the educational system at a young age. The older she became, the harder she had to work to conform to a system that failed her. She succeeded because of her own determination, but the constant struggle left her awkward and insecure. It left me wondering about those who are not as resolute. As educators, it is our responsibility to help and not hinder students’ educational and personal wellbeing. Howard Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences acknowledges that we all learn in different ways, through various forms of analytical, interactive, and introspective “intelligences”, or natural aptitudes. I plan to help students try different methods of learning and find what works best.

Through engaging in the art making process, students will gain confidence in their new sense of self and become more active learners. The education world is geared towards one type of intelligence when not all students fit into this “cookie cutter” mold. Each student learns differently and at different paces. This is part of what makes up who we are as individuals. When multiple intelligences are ignored and one type of learning style is taught to be “correct”, the individual is lost and students attempt to conform. When these students struggle to keep up, they begin to feel self conscious and inadequate compared to their peers. Students lose interest in the activity and develop negative feelings towards the learning process. This hinders future learning.

Less pressure is put on students to succeed in special areas such as art and this allows students to be more open to new and different learning opportunities. There are no exams that will determine their future. Art is an elective or special course. Students view it as a time to be social and relax. They may be unaware of this change in mental state, but it opens the door for learning. They will not resist or fight the learning process. If students can find their natural learning intelligence, they can apply it to other areas of their academics and, since learning takes place outside of the classroom, to the world around them. It will make learning easier.

By creating activities that apply to various types of intelligences instead of only one type, students will have an even chance of success. As an artist and as an art teacher, I truly believe that art can and should be used as a tool to help students succeed in life, not just in education. There is no place better to start then in the art room.