What Was All of That?

The last four posts were all pieces I have done for my Foundations of Education portfolio. I posted them to give you an idea of what work I have done and how I think. The first is an interview with one of the teachers who made me want to be a teacher. I think it is important for anyone reading this to understand what inspired me and who I am influenced by. The second is on Existentialist philosophy of teaching. I found it to be interesting and it became another part of my portfolio. The third post is what my ideal school would be. I feel like it is most likely impossible to find a school like the one I described, but I will keep dreaming about it. The fourth post is one that I struggled with when I originally wrote it, mostly because I didn't think it would be good enough, but turns out, I over think things and I feel like it is a pretty decent beginning to many years of creating curriculum and lesson plans.

Curriculum Outline for Visual Arts: 8th Grade

1. Sketching

*Vocabulary- Line, Contour Line, Shading, Form, View Point, Perspective, Line of Sight, Still Life, Portrait, Landscape.

*Mediums- Pencil, Charcoal, Marker, Colored Pencil

*Projects- Portraits of others in the class, Portraits form pictures, Still life contour line, Still life with form and shading, Series of subject from multiple viewpoints and perspectives.

2. Color

*Vocabulary- Hue, Primary Colors, Secondary Colors, Tertiary Colors, Tints, Shades, Complimentary Colors, Blending.

*Mediums- Paint, Colored Pencils, Markers, Crayons, Oil Pastels, Pastels, Tiles, Magazines, Papers, Yarn.

*Projects- Create your own Color Wheel, Object Study in color(medium of choice), Still life in Colored pencils or either type of pastels, Painting of either landscape or portrait, Abstract landscape using yarn on canvas paper, mosaic with magazine scrapes and/or colored paper, Mosaic with tile(for more advanced groups)

3. 3-Dimensional Art

*Vocabulary- Sculpture, Pottery, Clay, Plaster, Kiln.

*Mediums- Clay, Plaster, Wood, Scrap Material, Fabric.

*Projects- Plaster facemasks, Modeling clay scenes or landscapes, Ceramics.

4. Printmaking

*Vocabulary- Ink, Carving Tools, Cork Board, Plexi Plate, Printing Press, Relief Printing.

*Mediums- Cork and Plexi plates

*Projects- Two or three prints using both types of printing plates.

I plan to give vocabulary tests with each new unit of study while also handing out packets on famous artists and works that coincide with each subject we cover. Although it is not likely that all projects will be finished by all students, I know that some students work more quickly than others so providing a multitude of projects is better than not enough.

Classes will mostly be studio time as these students are still in middle school and this class is seen as an extracurricular class, meaning that it may not be held at regular times every week or may vary as the school year progresses. After instruction, students will be given the opportunity to work on whatever project they have going at that time, though there will be a time limit seeing as much needs to be covered in the time I have with them.

Students will be graded on their participation in class and the effort they put into each project. Throughout the year I will display their work as it is completed. Hopefully there will be space around the school, if not their work will be displayed about the room as much as possible.

This curriculum is based on a curriculum overview from the state of Massachusetts that loosely states that middle school visual arts curriculum should provide a wide variety of styles and mediums to the students and ensure that they have a good understanding of all of them before they leave the course. All of the projects are my ideas either of my own conception or based on those I have done in art classes in my past.

Ideal School

I haven’t been to many other schools so reading and my personal experiences are what I am basing my ideal school on. I like the Charter Schools because they didn’t seem to be hindered by the Public school system’s rules and regulations but were still open to the public because of their use of tax dollars. In my ideal setting, there would be a Charter school that had a direct feed into a Magnet school. This way, the students who show a talent in a certain area could go to the Magnet school to have that talent expanded upon. It would be even better if there was a way that funding could be provided for the students who wanted to go into a more specialized program to attend the Magnet school without the cost of attending a private school.

I plan to teach at the middle school level. The school I went to housed Kindergarten through Eighth grade in one building. I liked having the different levels in one school because there was a mentor system that was set up. During the holidays the middle school students would team up with the Third through Fifth grade students for games and crafts, and had a great time. The younger kids would look up to us and we could help them when they needed someone closer to their level. For this reason, I think having a school that has all of these grades together, in one building, would be ideal. I suppose this could also work in a campus setting where different buildings house different levels of students, but I think that keeping them all together helps create a sense of community.

Of course every school needs to have a system of Administrators and workers to keep the school running efficiently. My ideal school would have a system like the ones used by most public schools, but it would be great if there was more of a democracy when it came to decisions being made about classrooms and teaching styles. In this way, the teachers can teach in the ways that are comfortable to their personal style, but still have certain stipulations that must be adhered to; all of which is come to through discussion rather than one head person making rules and enforcing them. I also feel that the workers for the school, such as maintenance, cafeteria, and office staff should be allowed in on the discussions as well so that they are being treated fairly. Without them to look after their parts of the school, it wouldn’t run very well if at all.

I’m sure that as teachers or prospective teachers we all pray for well behaved students who will be interested in what we are there to teach them. Unfortunately this isn’t always the case and I think it is something that should be accepted ahead of time. With that said, my ideal school would have a diverse community of students and teachers. I like having a group of people with different mindsets and backgrounds when it comes to discussions. I plan to teach both English and Art and feel that discussion is a tool I will be using frequently in my teaching methods. With many diverse opinions there is more opportunity for students (and sometimes teachers) to see a perspective that was otherwise hidden from them.

To add to the experience of having a diverse group of students, this ideal school would also have access to many resources. Since we are in the age of technology it seems appropriate to have a fully stocked technical center in the school. This will provide students access to a plethora of resources during their studies. I’m not sure that it has been done yet, but a teacher I talked with not that long ago had thought of bringing virtual technologies into the classroom, so they could show there students a better representation of what was being discussed in class. I think it would be neat if this actually began to happen in schools. It may prove to be a great tool in the future of learning.

On the other side of the technological spectrum, I would also like to have a well stocked library for students and teachers to access. Just because we are in the age of technology does not mean that there should be a loss of how to look things up in a book and use texts as research material. I may be biased, being a future English teacher and all, but I don’t think you can have a school without having a library, so why not make it a great one.

Overall, the ideal school would be one that provided a great experience for students and teachers alike. There is never going to be a perfect school, perfect doesn’t exist, but I feel that the school I described above, would be a great one to work at.

Existentialist Teaching

Being a teacher isn’t easy. With each new group of students, there are new obstacles. Everybody learns in a different way, and they each have a teaching style that works best for their learning style. Because of this, teachers over the years have developed teaching philosophies that they believe work best for teaching this wide variety of learners. These philosophies are based on how the teacher believes that students get the most out of their education. For instance, the Essentialists, believe that the best way to achieve the highest academic potential is by learning from the great Classics and keeping to a strict and rigorous curriculum. These philosophies are little other than beliefs on how teaching and learning work the best, but the philosophy that stuck out to me was the Existentialist philosophy.

In the Existentialist philosophy of teaching, it is firmly believed that students learn differently and that their education is personal to them. I was familiar with the concept of Existentialism from an ethics course I took prior to this one, and can see the direct connection between the belief that each individual has their own moral code designed for their life and their own personal feelings, and the educational concept that learning is specific to the individual.

Because these teachers believe so firmly that students learn in the way that best suits them, the lesson plans are usually very individualized for the needs of each student. This creates more work for the teacher, but is better suited for the students because of the attention to the way they learn the best. Unfortunately this may become a problem with larger classes because the teacher won’t have the time to focus on all of the students at a personal level, at least not the degree necessary for their highest academic achievement, but for smaller classrooms this personalized curriculum seems to be very beneficial to the student.

Another possible limitation to this philosophy is a potential loss in socialization. If the teacher is producing lessons that are specific to each student, then there may not be many opportunities for group work. Although I much prefer working alone, I see the benefit of having to work with peers. It creates a learning environment that is full of multiple perspectives and the students learn how to work with others which is a necessary life skill.

Limitations aside, I like that the Existentialist teachers tend to use many tools for learning. The Arts, films, literature are all tools used for learning and discussion in the existentialist perspective. I think that using many forms of visual aids and tools for teaching gives a wide range of perspectives on whatever subject is being taught. From these perspectives, students can choose for themselves what works for them and what doesn’t.

I believe that my teaching style will become more eclectic over the years, but from my stand point now, I feel myself gravitating towards the Existentialist philosophy. I believe that there is not one teaching method that works for everyone. Each student is different, from different backgrounds and walks of life, and may need different things from their education that one standardized method cannot provide. I believe that learning is a constant part of life, therefore, education in schools is not just a stepping stone towards the future, it is the present and future. I also believe that the only way to achieve the ability to teach successfully and have the students learn successfully is to create a learning environment that is respectful and nurturing. Gaining the respect and trust of your students is vital in ensuring that they positively receive the knowledge and information your are presenting to them.

Interview with my Middle School English Teacher

For this interview I chose to go back to my middle school and talk to my 8^th grade English teacher. I decided this because that is the age group and subject that I want to teach. I was hoping that she could give me more insight into the job that I am in the process of getting my degree for and hopefully doing for the rest of my working life.

I asked this teacher about her background and how she got into teaching. She originally wanted to become a writer so she earned a B.A. of Art in English. With this degree she taught English as a Second Language(ESL) for three years. This was partly because her husband at the time did not have English as his first language. She taught at a local Catholic school for three years before teaching two more years of ESL. She has been teaching at the Town School for eight years now.

I asked her about some of the parts about teaching that she likes and much of her joy came from her students and watching them as they begin to understand what it is she is teaching and then watchi9ng as the students apply that knowledge elsewhere. She believes that each age group you teach needs something a little different. For instance, she said that the most important part of middle school is socialization. Students are at school to learn the curriculum but they are there to build their friendships and social networks as well. This teacher believes in forming relationships with her students so that they understand that they can trust her and trust her to understand their situations at that time in their life. When I was her student she helped me and my friends on a frequent basis deal with our friendship issues. She knew that they would all pass and she would tell us that, but she would listen to it all and let us vent even if it was really not the end of the world like we thought it was.

We also talked about some of the issues that are dealt with in the teaching profession. For instance, the school board and administration have a lot of say in what you can and cannot do in your classroom. I remember this teacher having a reading corner in her room that had bean bags and comfy chairs. She also had scarves on some of the lights to soften the florescent glare. The school administration has told her she can no longer do that. This surprised because the way she did things worked for her students and made learning better. They have also told her to adjust her style of teaching so that all of the classes she teaches are all at the same point in the curriculum at the same time. However this last request doesn’t work very well because each class learns at a different pace and some students need more time with a book than others. She has decided that regardless of this request, she is not going to jeopardize the education her students are getting because the administration wants things done a certain way. I give major points for it.

She also told me that working with the students can be just as tough as it is rewarding. Her favorite moment is when a student finally understands something that they couldn’t before or gets inspired to read something or write in a way they wouldn’t beforehand. When I asked her what three things she would have me keep in mind for when I become a teacher she told me that loving them all (the students) is okay; to not take any of it personally, you will always have a student or two who will hate you no matter what you say or do; and push your high students. She and I discussed that the schooling system today focuses greatly the students who aren’t making it and are forgetting to push the students who are making it and even exceeding the goals set for them. I agree with her. If we don’t push those students, they may never reach their full potential. They may get board and stop trying and that would be such a waste.

I think that this interview really helped me to see the reality in teaching. I am the type of person who likes to know what I am getting myself into. I don’t really like surprises when it involves something like a career choice or something that could be a big deal if it went wrong. Now that I have talked to a teacher who has been teaching for a while and gave me the uncut truth of what this job really entails, I feel more secure about my decision to become a teacher. I know what to look for and expect from those I will have to work with, at least to a degree. I will still have to apply all of the things we discussed once I am a teacher, and that won’t be easy, but I will at least know that they are coming.

My Position on Teaching and My Role as a Teacher

I believe that teaching is not something that everyone can do, I wasn't sure that I could do it until many friends and family encouraged me and told me I would be great at it. I suppose time will tell on that one. I believe that teaching is about guiding students, and helping them to reach their own goals. It is true that there is a required curriculum, but I would like to encourage my students to learn about what interests them, so I will have to learn about them so I can incorporate what is interesting to them into the curriculum I am required to teach. I also feel that teaching is about letting students find themselves as they learn. My hope is that by the time they leave my classroom, they have a greater sense of who they are, who they want to be, what it means to take responsibility for their actions and how to positively react to whatever comes their way in life. I realize these are some heavy expectations, but I also feel that people are capable of doing amazing things so accomplishing these goals, even on a small level, is possible.

Like many educators, I am eclectic in my teaching styles so I will be using some of the classics, some modern works, current events, student interests and as many sources of information as I find fit for what I am teaching. I will also put an emphasis on discussion and student participation. I will assign homework as I see fit and there will be a trust between myself and the students. I will trust them to get their work done and they can trust me to grade them fairly according to the quality of work they have done. I am still not sure if I will allow make up work with points deducted or not. I think that at a High school level students should be capable of doing their work on time. I will have to figure this out before I start teaching.

This Profile and What it is all About

I created this profile as part of an education class I'm taking this semester. The objective is to create a profile about my views on teaching, the styles I plan to use when I teach and my progress through the process of becoming a teacher and how I develop as a teacher once I am licensed. To document all of this I will be posting on a bi-weekly to monthly basis on what classes I am taking to get to my teaching licensor and and bumps in the road during my process. I also wanted to keep this more as a journal of thoughts so that I can look back and see how I have developed personally not just professionally.

So far these are my plans for my future in teaching.

I would like to work in Secondary Education(high school) teaching both Art and English. I originally wanted to teach Middle School because I remember how difficult that time was for me and I wanted to help out some of the students who may feel now the way I did then. However, that is a very specific age group and it is less likely that I will find a job by just teaching in that specific age group so after discussing the matter with my Grandmother, a teacher of many years, she suggested Secondary Education which has more job availability and if I was so inclined, would allow me to teach Middle School if I couldn't handle High School.

I want to teach in Western Massachusetts so that is where I plan to attend the rest of my college experience. I am transferring to UMass-Amherst this coming fall.