How have you grown as a teacher from this experience so far (skills, understanding, or knowledge gained) (lesson planning, classroom management, demonstrations, etc…)?

I have grown as a teacher from this experience by gaining an increased understanding of the preschool developmental level. Learning about the students’ interests really helped me gear my lessons in that direction. Of course, with increased teaching time in the classroom I was able to increase my classroom management skills. The most valuable classroom management trick I learned this semester is how important it is to establish rules before I begin a project.

What new understandings do you have about children/education/your role in the classroom?

I understood how much students, even as young as 3, can appreciate art. I saw that their art was a way for them to express themselves during a time in their life when they are learning about themselves and the social rules and expectations they need to follow. Art has been a great creative outlet for them and a great way for me to learn more about them as well.

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)

Just by being able to consistently go into a classroom twice a week, I have become a more confident and experienced teacher. I now know what kind of art activities students this age would enjoy, and ones that might be too easy or too complex. It made me happy to go into the classroom in the mornings, start setting up my supplies, and have 1-2 students start asking me what we were going to be doing that day. I loved how inquisitive and enthusiastic they were about art!