Teaching Philosophy  
 
Art is a wonderful form of self-expression and is a window into the world of endless exploration. It allows you the freedom to discover who you are without fear of judgment. Art is a means to express, communicate, and explore your imagination free of boundaries. It is crucial to understanding cultural, behavioral and historical events of the world. Art has been around since the beginning of time. All cultures express themselves through art. As we study various cultures, we open ourselves up to new ideas, acceptance, tolerance, and certainly a new appreciation of one another. Art enhances cultural appreciation and awareness. I welcome diversity in all students. I will encourage students to discover their interests, expand their imagination, and use practical skills to become a better problem solver. I will meet each student's special needs with patience and genuine kindness. Every child is special; every child is unique. Art class becomes a creative outlet for students with special needs. They become uninhibited through artistic expression and tend to become more relaxed and trusting, as a result of their newly found self-confidence. Reinforcing their efforts with praise and extra attention gives them a sense of accomplishment.  
 
I have always set high goals for myself, as well as high goals for my students. I feel it is important to strive to be the best you can be and not allow anything to get in your way. By encouraging students to perform to the best of their ability will allow them to learn that there are no boundaries. I know art education is the right path for me. As a child who struggled throughout school in all subjects, art class was the only place I felt comfortable and could excel. As a visual learner, I know that there are many students who also may struggle in academics, yet find solace in art class.  As quoted by author Guy Hubbard, “Art is thus a way of learning, and some children learn better in one way of learning than in another” (Hubbard, 1982). My goal is to help children find something inside themselves that excites them into believing learning is fun. I want to create an environment for these students to gain confidence and realize they are capable of anything they put their mind to.   I will be the teacher who will change a child's life, whom he or she will remember for having a positive impact on their life, simply because I care. I will instill a love of learning in each student by planting the seed for artistic expression that they will carry through their lives forever. The road to success in my classroom will always have a rainbow of color at the end.