Rogers, Dana

Teaching Philosophy
My teaching philosophy is obtained from my experiences in both fieldwork and student
teaching. As an art educator, I find it vital to not only teach art concepts, but I also believe it is my role
to teach students life lessons and to set them up to be active, responsible members of society. I believe
the classroom is an excellent place to instill this in students, as it gives them a safe space where I can
provide for students' well-being and for lifelong learning. My goal in the classroom is to not only teach
students about art, but to teach them lessons about themselves while connecting their lives to education.
To achieve this goal, I believe in the whole child approach to education. I believe in the
importance of getting to know my students on a personal level. Not only can I create lessons that are
more relevant to their interests, but it also helps me address each individual students' needs. In order to
teach my subject correctly, I not only have to be knowledgeable about art content, but I have to know
how to successfully teach my students. I agree with Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences
in other words, that all students learn differently and have different weaknesses and strengths.
Whether it's trying a new instructional strategy or expanding my range of skills, it is my job to
monitor students and make changes to lessons and management in my classroom. Throughout this
process I find it imperative to seek outside help, including guidance from parents as well as other
professionals. Teachers need to be active members not only inside the classroom, but also build a
strong rapport with parents, faculty, and the community.