Teaching Philosophy

Carley Weisbeck

Teaching Philosophy

The arts have always been a big part of my life, so when I teach, I like to think that I can “infect” the students with my passion. There are a few different themes in my teaching, and I like to think that by using various art activities in my classroom helps encompass these themes. The three major things that I will touch on are: inclusiveness, making connections, and making choices.

Being an Arts Education student I believe that all children need to experience their education not only through academia, but through expression by means of the arts as well. Working with the arts has many benefits for students of all ages, including: self-confidence, abstract thinking, social development and self-expression. It also gives students a common ground to start from. When it comes to art there is no right or wrong answer. This takes away the competitive nature of school- art is more about the individual than competitiveness. This allows everyone to participate to the best of their ability. Most times when I introduce a new art form, or assignment, it is a new experience for all of the students. This gives everyone the same starting point, so everyone must learn from scratch, and pick it up at a similar rate. This only encourages inclusiveness.

Students can enrich their learning by using the arts to further explore an idea or subject.  For example: in a classroom students can be doing a unit on birds. As a class we can further explore and deepen our understanding through dance. If we practice moving like birds, we must first know how different birds move. After obtaining this information, we work together to get the feeling of “birds” in our bodies. This will not only enhance the learning experience, it caters to a different type of learners, and will be easily remembered because it was an experience, not a lecture that goes in one ear, and out the other.

Another theme that I think is particularly important in my teaching is for students to be constantly making connections. Being able to make connection is a skill that does not always come easily and needs to be developed. It is easy to start by asking something simple: Is this particular experience or lesson similar to anything we have done before? Once a connection is made, students begin to understand that certain things that are similar, and can grasp onto new concepts with ease, if they have something to compare it to.

Giving students choices is another important part of my teaching- I believe it is imperative to education. Whether it is a choice of what format an assignment is, what rules should be followed in the classroom, or which topic they would like to research, students always take more from the experience if they are actually interested in it, and may even enjoy it! In the end I truly want students to find their passion and run away with it! With a little guided exploration and choice, they might just do so!

Lastly, a necessary part of my teaching philosophy is to understand my own stance on whatever I am teaching, and to always allow for difference in opinion. Students must be able to explore their own ideas/opinions without fear of being put down. This must carry through to all subjects, and all educational experiences. If we as educators can see the bigger picture instead of only ourselves, we can develop well-rounded, educated students!