Educational Philosophy

Participating in the arts through a practice of inquiry and discovery provides students with kinesthetic, cognitive, affective and aesthetic experiences that are essential to human development. Innovation, risk-taking and creative problem-solving in the arts teach students new ways of seeing, thinking, understanding and living in the world. Through the arts, students learn to reflect critically, going beyond the technical skills of simple craft to building the foundation for their own aesthetic based on their perceptions and interpretations of their experience.

Teaching artists bring unique artistic perspectives into the classroom to inspire, guide and mentor students. They can serve as professional role models for students to discover their own life’s work through concentration, effort and commitment. Like the classroom teacher, teaching artists respect their students and meet them at their levels of skills, knowledge, ability and understanding. Teaching artists help students to experience the joy of learning in and through the arts.

At ArtsConnection, Teaching artists and classroom teachers work collaboratively to develop a learning environment that will nurture creativity and curiosity. They engage in a continuous process of reflection and assessment of student work to inform their teaching practices and enhance student learning.