"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up."-Pablo Picasso
This statement has never had more meaning to me than it does right now, in my current role as a K-2 art educator. I have spent several years teaching art at the high school level and found myself teaching elementary school this past school year, causing me to understand what I really love- teaching art. Regardless of the grade level, I find joy in teaching art and helping students find that same love of art. To be effective in this pursuit, there are many factors that I must consider, such as planning and preparation, classroom environment and my responsibilities as a professional art educator.
Planning is one of my favorite elements of teaching and I take great care to plan both long range and short-term goals within my curriculum. I look to the Visual Arts section of the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, focusing on grades K-2, as the foundation for my lessons and my planning. I plan for diverse populations by thinking ahead of modifications that I can make to my lessons so that they are more effective. However, all of my planning is in vain if I do not adequately prepare. To prepare for my lessons, I take a variety of approaches. First, I gather my resources, which range from prints, to technology such as PowerPoints and on-line art tours to bringing in books from the school library and ECU library. I also collaborate with the other encore teachers, classroom teachers and my colleagues within the art education community. I always start with a six-point lesson plan to organize myself and then focus on preparing the materials for my lesson. I also try to think about possible questions or problems that my students may encounter and plan ways to counteract these situations. In addition, one thing that I must be prepared to do is assess my students to make sure that all of my planning and preparation are aiding in student learning. At the K-2 level, I engage in assessment throughout the year. I keep notes regarding the progress of various students and also have benchmarks that I assess throughout the year to compare the student’s understanding of the various art concepts at the beginning of the year, the middle of the year and at the end of the year.
I strive to have a positive learning environment. My classroom is a colorful, welcoming place. It is my personal goal to make my students look forward to the time spent in my classroom and to look forward to the time that we spend together. This was my approach as a high school teacher and remains my focus as a K-2 art educator that only sees the student once a week. I have displays of student artwork, prints from art history, art vocabulary words and my positive reinforcement charts all over my walls. I believe that my walls should reflect my teaching style- so I try to make the learning environment visual and intellectually stimulating. Fostering a positive learning environment does not begin and end in my classroom- I add to the overall environment within my school by displaying student work in the halls, and also by being a smiling face both in an outside of my classroom.
I have many roles as a professional art educator. One role that I am currently very immersed in is that of a lifelong learner. I am currently pursuing my MAEd and also National Board Certification. Furthering my own learning will allow me to better serve my students and also my own love for my craft.
In addition to my teaching responsibilities I take great pride in being a part of the larger learning community. I am active in my grade level (Encore) meetings and actively seek out collaboration with other educators in my school and community. I collaborate with my former professors at East Carolina University- fostering relationships condusive to collaboration. In addition, I actively seek out community outlets, such as Emerge Gallery and Pitt County Community Schools And Recreation. Teaching is a service, and to better service my school and community I have found that more that I give of myself the more rewarding and satisfying my experience as a professional art educator becomes.
-Jennifer Love Gironda
Picasso Quote retrieved from http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/p/pablo_picasso.html on July 22, 2008.