Miss. Groh's Teaching Philosophy
From a very young age, I have admired my teachers for always putting their students first. I particularly appreciated their patience and willingness to be there for their students. I have been very lucky to have teachers over the years that I learned to trust. I would like to reflect this same loyalty and trust in my own teaching; I want to be someone my students can count on. My passion for art began when I became fully engaged in the art classroom. As I continued my education, I participated in a pre-college program at the Cleveland Institute of Art and enrolled in my high school’s studio art program. Both of these programs allowed me to strengthen my skills and become a better artist. It is my desire to combine my passion for art and education to teach students how to learn visually.
I want to continue to advocate for the arts, plan ways to collaborate within the community I teach, and develop lesson plans that are integrated with other subject areas. I believe that being creative sparks innovation and using your imagination can offer many solutions to a lot of problem solving situations. Many current problems in education are related to art being cut from school districts’ budgets, but as with any subject, students need to learn how art can influence the world. I want to advocate for STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) and plan to do lesson plans based on this idea. I believe the integration of art and science can provide a more well-rounded learning experience by introducing multiple methods together. I have actually had the opportunity to teach a science and art integrated lesson, in which students made three dimensional flowers out of colored construction paper while learning about each part of the plant and its function. In all my lesson plans, I typically include some type of historical and multicultural component as well as to utilize contemporary artists as examples to support my lesson objectives. Everyone approaches new material differently, which is why this cross-curricular approach is beneficial for all. When I am out in the field observing other art classes or assisting other art teachers, it is a pleasure to see how excited the younger students get when they see me—or when I’m at the high school level, to give advice to the older students on ways to prepare for college. I want to be a teacher who is a positive influence on my students by emphasizing ways they can persevere and be effective leaders in the classroom. It is important for me to have my students know that I believe in them. I want my students to know that they have the potential for bright futures if they work hard. I want them to realize that their thoughts and actions determine what their futures will hold. I want my students to learn ways to overcome hardships, tackle their insecurities, and think critically. I want to be a teacher who helps them prepare for their futures, much like my teachers helped me. As an educator, it is important to remind students that I am here to help and support them; it is crucial that they know we are on the same team. Click on the button below to view my art. |