Novia Perkins

EDU 202
#19

As an aspiring teacher, I feel that the necessity of listening is very important. Personally,

I know what a difference listening can make to a kid. My highschool art teacher listened to all of

his kids, and it made such a difference to many of us. Having somebody listen to you is one of

the most meaningful things for a teenager. This being said, I feel that every student should

express their feelings, whether it be through words or music or art. I also feel that teachers and

administrators should be willing to listen to their students. Creativity is such a strong talent that

needs to be fostered in young children.

Creativity is essential in teaching and learning, and this can be associated with the

existentialism style of teaching. Personally, I believe that kids should focus on themselves and

what they would like to do and how they can harness certain skills to reach their goals. However,

I do not think kids should be on their own in the classroom. They should have a guide, a mentor,

to help them find and reach their goals.

I feel that I am more on the side of progressivism when it comes to teaching styles.

Students should develop their own style and interests, whether it be in art, music, writing, or their

chosen topic of study in other core classes. Students should not have to take things that will not

be vital to them later in life. If children cannot develop their own style early on, then choosing

something they would like to do later on will be very difficult for them. That is why teachers are

there for their kids, to help them learn about themselves and develop who they are.

Within the next five years, I hope to be done with college (for the time being, at least)

and to have started my teaching career. I can’t imagine that being an art teacher will be

incredibly easy, but I feel that it will be easier than most other subjects. I will have my own

highschool classroom, with long tables and students’ artwork on the walls. It will be a safe space
for kids to be who they are, and I will help them develop their own styles, as well as helping

them realise what they are interested in and if art is something they would really like to pursue in

the future. It will be a tough option for some of them, but that is why I’m there; to help them

think through what would be a good option for them. I will have art critic days after most big

projects, where they can complement each other's art and give each other things to reflect on

about their work. I would like to have a day twice a month where, if they would like to, the kid

who has the most initiative can come up to the front and work on their painting or drawing or

sculpture. It wouldn’t necessarily be based on talent, but on who really wants to be there, who

would like to continue art in the future, and those who show their love for the creativity it takes

to be an artist. I have this vision because personally, I know how important it is to be

appreciated, even if you don’t feel like you’re doing the absolute best you can. If a child doesn’t

feel that appreciation for creativity and their work at home, or they feel like their work is being

undermined due to lack of people caring about their passion, then it can really take a toll on

them. That is why I would like to focus my classroom on the kids who come into my room, not

necessarily on every type of style I can make them learn and replicate.

Personally, I learn best with somebody there to teach me the subject. I need a full

explanation and somebody to be able to show me the technique if I get lost. However, my

learning style becomes skewed when it comes to things that can be interpreted. Things such as

literature and art, I feel it is best to come up with an opinion on your own, and then refer to

another resource for another opinion. Then, after that, maybe ask the author or artist (if it is

somebody who you are able to contact and speak to) their thoughts and meaning behind the

work. It is a great way to establish your own mindset while also seeing other views on a certain

subject.
 I do not think my learning style will affect the way that I teach my class in any major

way. Of course, I would develop my own ideas and opinions about a student’s work first. Then I

may discuss it with a student if they ask for my opinion, how they are doing, what their work

means to me, and then what their work really means to them. I may end up changing my opinion

or my ideas on the subject after hearing them explain it to me. I do feel, however, that my

learning style can be beneficial in my classroom. Based on what I said earlier, it is important for

kids to feel like somebody cares. My ability to learn through explanation and demonstration is

perfect for kids. Paying attention to what they have to say shows care.

As shown, I plan to be a very tentative teacher, paying close attention to the needs of my

students. I hope that some of them will look up to me one day as a helpful guide, as I did with

my art teacher. I am very excited to help kids with what they personally need, not what the

school curriculum decides that they need.