What’s Happening in the Art Room?!

My Educational Philosophy

The arts teach children that problems can have more than one solution and that questions can have more than one answer.” – Elliot Eisner

     As an educator, I have the opportunity to inspire and nurture young minds. The Art room is a place that provides students with the opportunity to learn and explore the world’s different cultures as well as the communities around them. The Visual Arts introduces students to the practices of artists and their thoughts, and I hope that my classroom will foster a greater appreciation of creativity. Artists are always searching for new and innovative ways to think, plan, and build, which is the spark of curiosity. Curiosity is something of great value. It is that strong desire to learn that led me to become an educator, and this love of learning is something that I will instill in my students.

  This being said, I feel that the value of the Visual Arts is often times overlooked in schools. There is a disconnect and a belief that Art is separate from all other subjects, but I believe that Art is present in all subjects. Students can incorporate ideas and concepts that they learn in an Art room and apply them to any other subject. The Visual Arts promote the development of skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, reasoning, analysis, interpretation, self-direction, planning, adaptability, communication, collaboration, and cooperation. All of these valuable skills can be applied in any realistic or classroom setting, which I will always emphasize in my classroom.

Maria Cardaris

Art Teacher