Thursday, July 6, 2023

About Instructor

         Visual art is my life. Nothing fulfills me more than motivating the next generation of creative minds. Most people dream of meeting their favorite artists. I am fortunate enough to work with mine on a daily basis as I play a part in curating their creative passions and curiosities. 

          My enthusiasm for teaching art is bolstered by formal training across various creative mediums (dance, film, collage, sculpture, creative writing, and architecture), and incredible classroom results. I am specialized in curating learning experiences that inspire an understanding and appreciation of art. I take pride in developing interactive art curricula synchronizing classroom procedures, art history, and various traditional and digital art disciplines-- photography, drawing, filmmaking, drawing, painting, dancing, collaging, sculpting, assemblages, graphic design, printmaking-- and then I adapt my lesson plan to not only accommodate the different grade levels, but also the varying needs and learning styles of each particular student. 

          I am called to be an art teacher. A part of this job is fostering and strengthen relationships with my students. I always find a way to integrate their interest within my lesson plans. My goal is to create an environment where everyone is accepted by honoring and nourishing each student's individuality.


Student Work

Click to view video

Classroom Management Plan

RESPECT PAYS

Raise your hand

  • For questions, comments, or to get out of your seat.

Effective Listeners

  • Pay attention and no talking during instruction and demonstrations.

Stay in your seat

  • Raise your hand and ask to get out of your seat unless otherwise instructed.

Please and thank you

  • Be polite when talking to teachers and peers.

Enjoy art

  • Have fun in art and be creative!

Consider others

  • Share materials with others.

  • Say please and thank you.

Talk quietly

  • Use inside voices.

  • No yelling to others across the room.

When RESPECT is obeyed, students have the opportunity to earn art bucks. At the beginning of the year, I ask students to bring in or make items to create a class store. Each class is given a different store task: organize the store, determine prices, and make price tags. Some students can become storekeepers while others shop. I make a schedule for the store’s hours depending on their schedule. Some teachers prefer the store to be open daily while others open their stores weekly or monthly.

 

Teaching Philosophy

         My philosophical approach to Art Education is both art focused and student centered. I want my students to be able to use the information and problem solving skills learned from my class, to help them in other classes and in everyday life. Art should be meaningful and be able to apply to things in the outside world. Creating a learning environment where students experience a broad range of general knowledge that reflects an understanding of the communities and world in which we live is important to me. Lessons I developed focus on the importance of being involved with the community and understanding what is happening in the world around us. A teaching goal is to expose students to as much art as possible in a variety of different ways. I believe teaching art is a way to broaden the scope of student thinking. It is important to teach students about the history of art, including analyzing and critiquing works of art.

         All students are different in the way they learn. It is important to know your students and their abilities, and set consistent expectations for them all. Teaching involves explaining or demonstrating the same process in a variety of ways. I always apply differentiated instruction to reach all of my students. Modifying teaching strategies and assessments are based on the individual student's needs and abilities. Using a variety of formative and summative assessment with students individually or in groups helps students talk about their work, and of their peers. It provides valuable feedback for future use of the lesson, or extensions to the lesson. Setting consistent expectations for students to refer to can be done with classroom management plans and rubrics for grading. Students also fill out self-evaluation worksheets and ask open-ended questions about the lesson, which will give valuable feedback for future planning.


         Teaching art is what I feel like I was born to do. As a little girl I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, and I was always passionate about art. As I entered high school art became my saving grace. After high school, I attended the University of North Carolina Wilmington and obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Film Studies. I always knew I wanted to become a teacher, and realized when I earned my Master of Fine Arts from Duke I belonged in art education. I immediately knew this was my calling. I finally felt like I found the place where I could make the biggest impact. It was the art teachers in my education who made the biggest impact in my life. Now I want to help students the way they helped me.


         As a life-long learner, I will continue taking classes and attending workshops and conferences helping me grow as an art educator. I actively seek advice from my collaborating teachers, peers, and students to help me grow as an educator, and regularly reflect on my teaching by keeping a journal/sketchbook. I plan on traveling around the United States and to different parts of the world to visit different museums and historical architectural landmarks. The knowledge I have obtained and will continue to acquire, combined with my upbeat determination and curiosities will be the key elements in inspiring my life’s calling.

About Instructor

          Visual art is my life. Nothing fulfills me more than motivating the next generation of creative minds. Most people dream of meetin...