For thousands of yearsart has played an important role in cultures and societies around the globe. Art has been incorporated into so many different aspects of life. From cave art to company logos, art continues to play an important role in our lives. It is important that students of the common era grasp the concepts that revolve around art.
The ability to look into the past through simply observing art made in the decades preceding us is absolutely astonishing. This allows students to study different pieces of artwork through cross-curricular lessons that involve everything from geography to literature. My students seek the historical contexts behind art, and ask questions about not only how, but why something was made. Exposure to the works of other artists, both historical & contemporary, inspire students to create works of their own. Furthermore, my students explore the aesthetic purposes of art through studio projects that allow them to engage in hands-on learning. I also want them to develop a personal, cultural, spiritual, or ritual connection to art. Art allows students to express themselves and hone in on every bit of creativity they may have. My students feel free to search for the ties in art that can make it meaningful for them. I want my students to experience and practice art in their own terms. I guide my students while encouraging them to put their own personal twist on a given task and for them to figure things out in their own way. I believe a teacher must be a positive role-model and inspire self-confidence in their pupils. Acceptance is one among the many positive characteristics I generate in my classroom. My students learn that there are many different ways to solve a problem, and we solve these problems through trials. There is not necessarily a right or wrong answer to many of the problems that we encounter in art. This allows my students to feel confident and comfortable in my classroom while opening their minds, utilizing their knowledge and creativity, and coming to a solution that gives them a feeling of accomplishment. |
In addition to hands-on learning, my students learn how to discuss art. They understand the elements and principles that are considered to be the foundation of art. It is important to not just simply view and interpret a piece of art for its aesthetic qualities, but also to able to explain why a piece of art makes one feel the way they do. Through discussion and critique students take away meaningful terms and ideas that allow them to create more successful art in the future. Most importantly, as an educator my goal is to ensure the progress of every student and promote the expansion and development of their knowledge and skills. I encourage my students to hypothesize and experiment. I want to help my students address obstacles and learn from experiences. My students recognize that it is acceptable to make mistakes as long as they learn a valuable lesson, and use that information to be more successful in the future. I am a model for lifelong learning and promote that quality in my students. |
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