Field Reflection

What new insights about teaching and learning have your gleaned from the students, teachers and schools that you visited? How have your observations impacted your view of students and art teaching and your own art teaching philosophy? What ideas will you adopt or modify and make your own when you have your own classroom? What did you learn that you will do differently? Why? During my time at Gentry Middle School working with 7th grade students, I was given a wonderful teacher to work under as well as a wonderful group of kids to work with. I had such a positive experience. I learned many strategies and aspects of teaching I hope to carry with me to my classroom.

The first aspect of teaching I observed from day one is the attitude the host teacher has towards her students. She treats them like adults. She pushes them to be hard working, creative, problem-solving artists. She encourages them to have fun, while also maintaining high expectations that they meet in the classroom.

Secondly, the host teacher creates lessons that are fun and have meaning to them as well. She introduces a project by discussing its cultural implications, uses, she shows examples, and does demos so that each students is prepared to start, not only with the medium, but they are thinking about the meaning of the project as well.

Lastly, I learned the importance of patience from my host teacher. It seems that nothing throws her off guard in the classroom. No matter what a student does, she keeps calm and handles the situation. She is always on the student’s side and wants what is best for them, even when they are disrespectful to her.

After spending time with middle school students in an art classroom, I have learned more about their characteristics and classroom dynamic. Students of that age are very talkative, have high energy, and have a hard time focusing. At the same time, middle school students are excited about art, they are sweet, funny, smart, and capable artists. I really enjoyed working with this age for the semester. It may be an age I can see myself teaching in the future! Hopefully, I can take everything I learned from my host teacher with me to my classroom.