Topics of Choice:
Social emotional learning through art
Gaining self confidence in the art room
Exploring creativity outside of established norms
Accepting failure
Making a safe environment for experimentation
Dealing with emotions through art
Topic exploration:
My interest in teaching art is deeply rooted to my own experience of understanding my emotions and trauma through art. Having come from an immigrant family worrying about my loved ones one day being deported as well as struggling with a home life that was less than stable I had to use art as a tool to understand what I was going through. I hope to one day help my students better understand themselves through their art as well as the world around them.
I was unsure if the path of art therapy or art teaching was right for me, both felt effective to reaching my goals but ultimately I landed on art teaching. I understand not everyone can afford art therapy and for parents who already look down on things like therapy I figured it was a profession that I would not be able to reach the people I most want to help. I want to create a safe space in my classroom and let my students know that they can express themselves when they come through my door no matter what.
Interview Statement:
I would like to interview Karissa Lalima for my research topic. Karissa is the ceramics teacher for Centereach high school and attempts to include social emotional learning through her classroom.