1.23.2011

How
 do 
you
 think 
your 
practices 
as 
an 
artist 
will 
help 
you 
in 
the 
classroom? 
What
 skills 
do 
artists
 develop
 that
 also 
lend 
themselves 
to
 the 
art
 of
 teaching? 
How
 will
 you 
incorporate
 your
 work
 as
 an 
artist
 into
 your 
teaching?
 How
 will
 you 
continue 
to 
make 
art
 while
 you 
teach?
 Why
 is
 this
 important?

I think that being a practicing artist will help in the classroom for a number of reasons. I think that students will have more respect for an art teacher that actually makes art than one who doesn't. I also think that you need to know about what you're teaching and the more you know about it the better you'll be able to teach it. The best thing about making art to me is that I am constantly learning new and improving upon existing skills, making me a better artist but also expanding my understanding.

Being an artist is partly about problem-solving and looking at things from different angles. I think that both of these skills are applicable and important to being a teacher.

I hope that I will continue to make art throughout the school year, and especially in the summers. I think that being involved with or exhibit at art shows throughout the year will be a motivating factor to make my own art outside of the classroom. This is important for many reasons, among them: the aforementioned continuing education of myself, keeping things fresh and new, and not letting the grind of day to day politics in education keeping me from doing what I truly love.