Hana Buttles: Blog II

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

In the beginning of this internship I was worried about classroom management and working with a new type of people. I feel that through this internship I have become much more confident and comfortable working with a more intimidating group of individuals. I have been able to adapt my way of teaching to work with inmates in a way that encourages their growth while respecting them as adults. I have learned when to put my foot down for classroom management and when to let some things slide, picking your battles is very important.

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

Every day in this internship I am reminded that my job is not to assign projects and keep control, it is to guide in creativity. A lot of the times I get caught up in what I am teaching as far as skills but in this format of class there is such a wide range of skill level that I need to think more of the overall lesson as far as emotional growth in the project. I can then take time to work with small groups or individuals to build fundamental skills of art where it is needed. I am much less a teacher of skills but a facilitator of growth.

What has made you happy about teaching this quarter?

Honestly I could have never expected this level of respect that I get from inmates. I came into this internship intimidated and found something that I am so passionate about. I want to look into this as a possible career in the future. This experience rekindled my excitement for teaching and gave me a wider view of possible futures.

What is something that you would like to work on improving by the end of the semester?

I would like to work on improving some of the participation in my class. There are some students who come in and simply refuse to do anything and I want this program to be available to people who actually want to grow. I want to create a way to monitor progress and to also give more of a significant recognition for completing the program.

Hana Buttles: Blog I

What is your teaching experience so far?

Today I had my first day of teaching at the jail and it went better than I expected. Sara was very relaxed and flexible with her work style which makes me feel more comfortable coming in later in the semester and also seems to make the inmates more comfortable to express themselves rather than trying to do a project “right”. I got to take part in the inmates creating a group project on canvas and watch the flow of the class. I loved the conversations that were had and the general feel in the classroom. It felt like an open environment and a safe space.

What are you looking forward to about the class you will be teaching?

I look forward to creating new and exciting art projects to help the inmates to express themselves. I want to give these people an outlet to express themselves with what gives them a sort of purpose and helps them see that they can be productive members of society. From talking with the inmates that were in this class I could really tell how the art helped them see their past, present, and future.

What do you hope to learn/gain from this experience?

I would like to learn more about how to work with unconventional classrooms. This will give me an experience to become comfortable working with people that I have little familiarity with and learn how to talk with people from a wider range of backgrounds. I mostly would like to learn more about how I can help others and figure out if working in a jail rehabilitation environment would be a good setting for me in the future.