How have you grown as a teacher from this experience so far (skills, understanding, or knowledge gained) (lesson planning, classroom management, demonstrations, etc…)?
From this experience I have grown. My skills with making student/teacher relationships are growing for sure. Building rapport is something I will cherish wherever I go. I will also know how to continue to build relationships with people I will work with. This experience also has had a positive impact on my students and myself. The students respect me as a teacher and I respect them as students. The knowledge that I have gained from this experience is that I will work with anyone’s needs in any way possible. Making accommodations for my students is key because they are the ones learning. Helping them succeed is my ultimate goal. For classroom management, it is easier to know how to apply certain theories in the classroom. Rather than knowing about the theories, how to make them work, and not applying them. I set up my classroom every day before class and it helps the students see what they are working with. As well as make more time for art production to happen. Lesson planning, I understand how to make a lesson plan short. Short is helpful because everything still will get completed with what I want the students to do. This experience has taught me so much about teaching and students. I enjoy my time being at the Leisure Center.
What new understandings do you have about children/education/your role in the classroom?
New understandings I have of my students are they value art. They want to come to class. It doesn't always seem like it because they talk about how they want to go to free time. They still come and finish the project.
New understandings about Education
I usually get 10 children that want to come to Art. There are students that come to class and are open about how they come to art every time. It makes me feel good as an educator. It makes me hopeful about our Art Education program. I want to believe that more students will get into Art and see the value it has.
Some students have said to me that I am a helpful art teacher. So it makes me believe that my role is important. I once had a student come up to me and say that she was glad we were learning about primary and secondary colors. Since they had started learning about it in school, she told me it was confusing in school but I helped her understand. My role is important I want to do whatever I can to help these children learn about art.
Has this experience made you more confident as a teacher? What made you happy about teaching this semester? Are you finding joy in this experience? (describe/explain)
This experience has made me more confident about teaching. Being alone in my internship has made this experience so memorable. I learned how to be a teacher and to make my classroom how I would want it to be. I am lucky this way. I made tweaks to where I thought needed some work and took advice when needed. It made me realize that teaching is hard but working to improve is always possible.
There are a lot of things that have made me happy about teaching Arts and Crafts at the Leisure Center. Some of those things are respect, the children, and the staff. The students, staff, and even parents respect me as an art teacher. The students choose to raise their hands for coming to art. The staff respect me because they see how I interact with the students and want me to come back the next semester. The parents talk to me about who I am as a college student. It makes me feel good about what I am doing.
I am finding joy in working with Jumpstart and working with the Leisure Center. For all the reasons above. If I could make a job with only doing art with children after school I would. I am hopeful to work with them next semester. It might not be possible but I will prepare for them anyway.