Finding Arts in Teaching, Finding Teaching in Arts

Education is an Art of endless possibilities for exploring, expressing and experiencing teaching and learning. A space where any learning environment becomes the canvass, the students are the focus of learning, and the method of teaching are the tools to paint. The threefold part in education: the setting, the method and the child.

The Child

“ With all my stuffed toys and dolls seated, I used to pretend to speak before a large crowd. My younger cousins and siblings were among my captive audience. They loved the tea party after my so-called speech. The passion for teaching carried and enjoyed from my own childhood. "

Learning is a process. A journey to finding what we are capable of doing and meaning in our ability to create. Childhood is a golden time when children are much more open to learning. Nourishing the unique capabilities helps to develop fully what they can do best and eventually what they can share in the community – to the world.

Nurturing the artistic nature of the child brings out the ability to communicate, to connect and to interact and collaborate with the world they are in. It is an essential part of the developing child who will one day hopefully become compassionate builders of the world they are part of.

Positive reinforcement acknowledges and provides assurance, acceptance, affirmation, and appreciation of the child’s capabilities as an individual, within the context of and in relation to the whole. Positive reinforcement is an effective process that improves social learning experience.

Effect change by focusing on the strengths first then balancing the weakness after. When a child knows what he is good at working with, the learning difficulty is much easier to handle and resolve. Learning is a discovery and can be fun.

An effective educational system is one that recognizes and understands the learner and is able to translate its potential capacities into tangible skills.

The Learning Canvass

The material for painting can be a wall, a panel, paper, cardboard or the conventional canvass. What matters is a venue where the artistic expression is imprinted. Something somewhere where it is applicable at the present moment.

Create the space for the child to experience meaningful learning. Schooling is a transformative space, breathes in flexibility and breathes out freedom. Openness in Classroom Life creates endless possibilities. Revolutionizing the concept of classroom teaching means selecting activities, experiences, and environment that facilitate learning best. Bridging the gap between classroom and off campus is making use of any medium or place conducive for learning, can be a possible venue.

Connectivity between Classroom and the off campus experiences allows finding synchronicity in real life circumstances in an integrated view and approach.

Learning is an experience, learning by doing and mastery of skills. Fostering a non-competitive environment focuses on Appreciation of the individual child, Affirmation of abilities, Mastery of existing and Acquisition of new skills that are approached on a personalized basis. Transforming them into relational and performance based competence.

Excellence, Efficiency and Fulfillment arises from utilizing the natural talents of the child – the source of creative spirit. Every child is unique.

Each child within the class is part of the greater whole. It is a matter of social consciousness better experienced than imposed.

Painting the tools for teaching

The use of a brush is no different from using all the methods of teaching. It refers to the manner by which the palette of color is used and how you combine to bring an image. Teaching and learning is a process that calls for the sum total of the child - thinking, feeling and willing.

Education as a catalyst for positive change caters to a developmental and humanistic approach. Children are governed by the same principles of growth and development. Education is a right every child deserves. Presenting schooling in an interactive, participative and individualized path is an ongoing challenge to curriculum innovation. To be able to respond to the changing times and to effectively deliver education and efficiently provide quality learning remains a dynamic and continuous process.

A globally adherent curriculum recognizes the basic and universal need of every child. It is responsive, interactive and inclusive. Responsive in looking at and building upon similarities rather than accentuating the gaping world of differences.

The classroom interaction appreciates uniqueness and is celebrated as a collective venue to share skills and talents. Established classroom management supports an understanding of and promotes cohesion in the context of diversity.

Interactive in focusing more on collaborative skills of how systems interact. Of how people work together. It seeks to integrate balance and values as a venue for collaboration emphasizing harmony within community building.

Every class is unique and diverse in composition. It is always a new discovery and a fresh beginning. Classroom learning supports a meaningful journey by integrating life values to everyday school activities. Experiments and adapting to different ways of communicating to find those which are most suitable and effective to every class.

Reinforce an affirmative view of the world to a growing child first. An expression of beauty that will support a child in the midst of a challenging world in adulthood. The common good, beautiful and true collectively shared. It is a matter of finding balance and harmony. Inclusion is the experience of essentiality.

The practice of inclusive leadership in school and classroom activities is an essential ambiance that facilitates harmony. It is not the dissolution of identity, rather the social inclusion of diversity.

No child is left out. Developing talents and skills in a diverse class composition includes sensitivity for and compassion necessary for every child in the relation to the greater whole; The class. It understands and can empathize with differences in people and cultures. An equal opportunity to all children. Thus reducing polarities and instead build connection.

“ The cause for teaching children whether they are special needs children or the exceptional ones, has always given me a meaningful working space. ”

Ensuring childhood development in the light of the child’s well-being and interest contributes in making learning significant and effective. A child is cared for and loved from the home, to school and the community.

To awaken the possibility in another human being is to nurture and nourish the purple seed within every child. Purple the color of the future and seed refers to the innate abilities of a child.

Education is an Art that draws from within the child all of future humanity. To educate is an art of healing what cannot be easily mended. It is also a way to reconnect.

**************************************************************************Maria Lourdes de Vera was among the ten distinguished Educators in their own field of practice who shared their experience in teaching during the celebration of the National Teachers’ Month and the World Teachers’ Day. The 2015 Lecture Series celebrating Teaching and Learning Across Disciplines was sponsored by the Metrobank Foundation, Incorporated, Network of Outstanding Teachers and Educators (NOTED) in cooperation with University of Santo Tomas, Espana, Metro Manila. Philippines.

Marielou was invited to give a lecture on “Finding Arts in Teaching, Finding Teaching in Arts” at University of Sto. Tomas, College of Education.