Philosophy

Taryn McKeeth
Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy is based on three beliefs; the first belief is that art can be taught, the second is to keep a positive attitude in the classroom, and the third is in my class, students will be introduced to the many aspects that art has to offer.
The first part of my philosophy is that art can be taught. Art is not necessarily a talent, as many tend to believe. Art is something everyone can learn. A student only knows what they have been taught; if they have only been taught to draw a football shape for an eye then that’s what they will do. It is my job to introduce the importance of observation in art, which will allow them to look closer at the positive and negative shapes of the subject matter. Practice and knowledge of the subject allows anyone to be able to create aesthetically pleasing works of art. We must start with the basics and go from there. From there we can increase their knowledge and skills in art that they will keep with them the rest of their lives. I want my students to be able to draw what they see not what they know! Drawing takes practice, just like any other subject does. The more you work at it the better you get.
The second part of my philosophy is attitude. Keeping a positive attitude is one of the most important things I feel a person should have. A positive attitude helps us to stay motivated and increase our creatively because we are able to keep an open mind. A negative attitude can bring everyone down but a positive attitude can turn a bad day into a good one. It is my job as a teacher to make sure that I bring this attitude to my class everyday. I feel that Positive encouragement and reinforcement is the most effective way to get my message across to my students. It is important to notice their achievements and not just their failures. I believe with a positive attitude you can go further in life and with your art.
The third belief in my philosophy is: helping my class to gain a lifelong appreciation for art and art history. There is more to art then what people may think and it is important for me to show my students the endless possibilities a career in art can do for them. Art is something they can take with them for the rest of their life. Everything we see in day-to-day life is because of art (things like billboards, CD/DVD cover, food labels and so on). Everything we see has been developed by an artist at some point in the process. It is always nice to be a well-rounded person and being able to recognize something from art history is important. You can learn from the past through art and art can make you think in new innovative ways.        Students can learn from the past and come up with their own unique style that a famous artist may have inspired them to create. It is always a nice starting point to look at other works of art to help come up with a new idea.

 

 

 

Part II

To teach is one of the greatest gifts that I can give. I want to help my students gain knowledge of art and its importance. I feel that art is something that can be taught to everyone who wishes to learn. I feel that my students need the best education in art in order to broaden their horizons and to teach them that everyone can do art in their own way for their own reasons.  I want to encourage positive attitudes to help my student think openly so they can be open to new and creative ideas.  I feel that art is not so much a talent as it is something that can be taught and learned by anyone who wishes to obtain this knowledge.

I like to start each lesson with handouts and with something visual such as a PowerPoint presentation, or another inspirational introduction to really get the attention of my students. Then I will show examples along with new materials and equipment, and demonstrate how to do the project so that those students who are visual learners can better grasp the concept.  I feel that some of the most important parts of the lessons that my students should learn is new vocabulary, concepts and techniques of art and proper uses and materials. I wish to incorporate history and popular culture into each lesson.  When giving the lesson I will include past student examples of the project as well as related famous works of art so that students can grasp the concept of the project and truly learn from the lesson.

I intend to maintain a professional relationship between my staff, students, and community by participation in any extra-curricular activities I can.  Being seen outside the classroom and knowing students in other ways will also help me be a better teacher.  I feel preparation, punctuation, positive attitude, and constant progression is key to a successful classroom.  You only get as much as you give, so the more time, effort, and attention I give to my students and my school, the more successful my program will be.