Teaching Like an Artist

Teacher as an Artist

( I used an acrostic app to create this acrostic poem.)

A is for Alluring, so attractive

    Like artists, we as teachers create alluring designs to attract our learners’ likes and interests; be it in the physical environment of our classroom or the content of our lesson. I don’t know how to draw or paint but I find ways to create artistic designs for my classroom. I normally ask my 8-year-old daughter to draw or make a poster as an example for my students to follow on a certain activity. We make collages, we create art from found objects or no cost materials. We design print materials, we add drawings to our essays or made-up books.

R is for Ravishing, an entrancing beauty

    There is beauty in every art. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. We as teacher-artist create beautiful things and we learn to appreciate the little things. We use attractive places or persons to connect to our lessons or to encourage our visions. We have the power to transform spaces and objects to attract real experiences.

T is for Tantalizing, thrilling the senses

Thomas Merton states,  “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” I couldn’t agree more. As a teacher-artist, we design our lessons that would appeal to our senses and to our students’ sense. We learn to use our sensory details when trying to explain or write a story. We become aware of how others may react to what they hear, say, smell, taste or feel. We value our students’ senses and we learn to adjust accordingly. We learn to communicate in the way that we want our students to communicate to us. We develop a style and we learn to be observant and diligent at identifying our students’ needs.

I is for Interesting, truly fascinating

    An artist creates interesting, fascinating art that makes the audience puzzled sometimes. Teachers also build and discover activities that would foster the sense of discovery and exploration for our students. These activities would elicit problem-solving skills and discipline for our students.  

S is for Savvy, skilled with the know-how

    An artist learns how to use tools, materials or resources to be able to create a fascinating art. For us teachers, we do the same thing. We keep on researching, inventing, building, designing and weaving ideas to improve not only our teaching styles but to adapt to each of our students’ needs and interests.

T is for Tenacious, not one to give up

    We keep trying, as an artist. We keep exploring. We develop art-making skills. We don’t give up. We just keep experimenting. We keep thinking outside the box and beyond lectures. (Discussion Week 2)

Charmane Joy Belleza

01/16/2019