This Class Full of Experiences

This class had to have been the most influential class I've taken in my college career. Learning about Education in depth has opened my eyes to what I can really accomplish when I become a teacher. I have so many ideas now as to what I need to do and what I know I don't want to repeat.
I did my paper on breaking classes down into groups like reading levels and labeling the students at an early age. I don't feel I would ever do this in the classroom. I don't want the hierarchy in my class, I don't want any student to be able to hold favoritism over another student, and I don't want any student to feel as if they are useless and have no chance to succeed. I am not naive I know that every student learns differently and I will respect that. In an Art classroom setting I will have the ability to help each student individually as they work and I will give each student the attention that they will need. I don't see the use of labels that can just embarrass a child.
What I really want to accomplish as a teacher is showing the importance of the Arts in the schools. I know that I am an important asset to the school whether they believe it or not. A child needs motivation to come to school not just to go because they have to. A happy student who enjoys coming to school for whatever reason will learn better. My goal now is to get the parents involved so they fight for the arts too!

Community Service

One of my old professors got a grant last year to take a trip and then do an Art study on the trip. He chose to go to the Grande Canyon and then do a study on layers. He spents every Wednesday after school with his students putting a giant paper ball together, he has been doing so for almost a year now. The ball is covered in a full layer of paper than painted a different color every wednesday. When the class has decided it is big enough it will be cut in half and displayed all over town. The Library, Municipal building, and Theater have already requested its presence for a period of time. The ball right now is already 4.5-5 feet in diameter. I spent three Wednesdays help the students work on the ball when the other adults were unable to supervise. I even helped collect paper for it. I am very excited for when it is finished and I can see it opened up!!!!!

Field Work

I did my field work at my old highschool as an extra practice before I went to Arts. Now I still have not gone to Arts high but I will be this Thursday. In my experience at my old school I found being on the other end of learning is exctly where I want to be. The professor even allowed me to help teach some of the students and he observed me. It was so rewarding for the students to really be listening to what I had to say. The respect they gave to my knowledge was astounding. I was working in an Art class and those students who wished to persue Art in college were very interested to hear what a college class is like. I got to interview and just chat with the students all day. They were very welcoming in letting me just sit down at the table and ask about their experiences and about the tacher. I also got to observe how a teacher can maintian order but keep the environment friendly and open. The professor was not very strict but still required respect, and when someone didn't listen he called them out, or if they were not working they were told they would get a red dot for the day. The professor never raised his voice or sent anyone out, he is well liked and respect comes hand in hand with that. I learned alot simply by watching and I'm going to see if he will allow me to come back and observe a few more times.