Teaching Philosophies :: Education Teaching Teachers Essays

Teaching Philosophies When everyone always asked the question, what do you want to be when you grow up? I replied; I want to be a teacher. I said this because teaching was the only occupation that was familiar to me. Now, when people ask me that question I answer, I am striving to become an art educator, not because it is familiar, but because of the difference I could make. The greatest rewards of being and educator are those that are intrinsic. What I enjoy the most about teaching someone something new, even now, is the look on their face after they have mastered the technique. Being and art teacher makes this reward a common one, because of the variety of media one works with. Although this, and other reactions are common, I will never get sick of their repetition, or the content area that I am teaching. I would use an eclectic approach to my teaching philosophy. It would be composed of the popular method of pragmatism, mixed with idealism. I believe that all students should have the right to make positive contributions to the class and society, and that learning should be both a group and an individual activity. I personally feel that one of my jobs as a teacher, is to act as a mentor to students, and lead by example. I enjoy teaching, and am knowledgeable in the content area that I am responsible for. I feel that students would enjoy learning the history, theories, and techniques of art when I present the material to them. I am a firm believer in Plato’s theory â€Å"Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.† If a child is putting forth maximum effort, I find no reason to enforce faster working habits negatively upon them. Children with slower working speeds should be encouraged, and nurtured, while being worked with on a one to one b asis occasionally. My ideal classroom would have large tables arranged in several horseshoe or incomplete circles. This would give the students a maximum area to work, and myself a place to stand and give advice and directions. The ceramics section would be in the back corner of the room to prevent clay dust on everything. My bulletin boards would be decorated with famous works of artists of the past. One would be reserved for especially for an assignment outline for each media the class would cover.