ARED 2110: Reflection

This class has been very helpful in helping me to affirm my decision to major in art education. I think it has been a well rounded course in many ways and helped me to see what being an art teacher would really be like. There are many field-trips in this class that I enjoyed but one particular comes to mind: the visit to Cedar Shoals High School. I have thought for a long time that I was better suited for secondary education but the visit to cedar shoals was reassuring. I loved the classroom and the program Mrs. Johnson has built there. I also really liked the way she discussed not being a mother to the kids like in elementary but instead being a mentor and friend. One other thing that Mrs. Johnson said that I hope to always keep with me in my teaching career is the realization that not every student will go on to be an artist, infant most will not. But every student will be a thinker in their life so how can an art class help to effect and drive that.

Other enjoyable days throughout this semester were the day we made our journals as well as reading circle days. I loved the experience of getting to make my own journal and then write in it throughout the semester. It was encouraging each time I opened it to think "wow I made this myself." I also enjoyed using it not only for writing but also for collection. Now every page is filled with the things I have made throughout the semester. I also really enjoyed the reading circles and being able to have such critical and deep discussions with my classmates. I think the format of having a role for the reading circle was very successful in preparing us all to speak in different ways throughout the discussion.

In terms of pedagogy, I feel that this class has been well rounded and introduced many different ways of teaching. An important one to me is community-based art education(CBAE) which is why I chose to do my research paper on CBAE. Through research and reading I have learned so much about community-driven curriculum and cannot wait to see if it is as successful in practice as it is theory.

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Teaching Philosophy Flag Books

I enjoyed making these which really encouraged me too think about what I want students to gain from my classroom. I also think it is such an awesome book design that when completed really has a huge wow factor.

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Environmental Project