You are an artist.

This is your studio.

What do artists do?

 

These three statements hang prominently in my classroom and are the basis for the educational philosophy Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB). I use a centers approach in my K-5 art classes that encourage students to make their own decisions and grow as artists and creative problem solvers.

 

Every experience has the potential to be a learning opportunity. Learning is all about connections. Students bring knowledge and skills not just from other classes, but from outside of school as well. All of those factors together contribute to the learning process. As a teacher, I want to facilitate those connections, not create artificial divides. When a student brings outside information that they are passionate about, I strive to figure out not only how it fits into the current curriculum, but how the curriculum can bend and shift to fit the unique needs of each of my students.

 

I believe in the power of technology to facilitate these connections. We live in a world that can seem simultaneously entirely connected and completely isolating. Technology can play an important role in making and growing connections between curricula, students, teachers, parents, and the community. It can also be a way for students to disconnect from class and a trigger that makes teachers grow increasingly frustrated with students who cannot seem to be ever be apart from their screens. Knowing how to harness this power for good is a challenge in today’s classrooms and one I wish to address in my classroom through careful consideration of students’ learning needs both now and in the future. I hope to encourage students to make responsible choices and advocate for their own educational goals.