Nanette Younan
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My interest in becoming a teacher first occurred to me as a Bridgewater-Raritan Middle
School student. Those were some of the toughest years for me. I battled with self doubt daily. So
many thoughts running through my mind, constantly reminding me that I was not good enough. I
struggled with my weight and compared myself to others. I used my art to express the darkness I
held on to for so long. And all it took was for my Art teacher to say, “If you fail you tried, but
you’ll never know if you don’t try. You just might surprise yourself.” and that I did! Life is never
perfect, but given the choices we make, we can work towards a lifetime of self love and care.
I will teach any grade from K-12, with a preference for the high school level. I relate best
to this age group having been in their shoes not so long ago. As a high school student I was
passionate about creating art. I was curious, filled with wonderment, and a bit confused about my
future endeavors. Possessing the confidence to pursue my love of teaching has filled me with a
strong conviction to reach every young adult through art making activities.
I believe I can make a difference in the lives of many children and young adults. The
purpose of education is a journey of self discovery. Learning to set goals, overcoming failure,
and striving to become a productive member of a larger community is the right of everyone. The
experience of life includes overcoming many obstacles we may face. This is a shared human
experience that connects us to each other. No one is immune from this reality. My role as an
educator is to model compassion, kindness, and empathy for my students and peers. By teaching
coping strategies for overcoming obstacles, and the skills necessary to set and achieve goals, I
enable children to learn from their failures and develop as positive productive citizens of a larger
community. I believe this will enable them to pursue their interests and future career paths with
confidence and success.
Art courses, as a whole, are perceived in a variety of ways by different people. Often,
they are viewed as unimportant but necessary to fulfill graduation requirements. Others, view art
as an important outlet suggesting freedom and choice. Some students have a natural talent for art
enjoying the process, while other students subscribe to a self-limiting belief system thinking they
are not creative, nor proficient at art making activities. My personal philosophy of art education
is quite simple. Art can be taught, if we can lead students to understand their self limiting beliefs
and inspire them to try. My goal as educator is to reach all students and provide an environment
that is positive, safe and nurturing. Modeling for students how to take ownership for their
classroom, and motivating them to take risks will enable them to develop the life long skills of
perseverance and grit! Students need a safe environment to become self-reliant. Failure is not
necessarily a bad thing. It is a fact of life that at times we will fail. Failure in a safe environment
offers us the opportunity to overcome obstacles and achieve greatness.
My role as educator is to motivate my students to try to do their very best everyday. Just
as the research in John Hattie’s, "Teachers Make a Difference: What is the research evidence?",
teachers account for about 30% of the variance of achievement, while students account for about
50%. Part of the student’s success relies on the teacher’s success and effectiveness as an
instructor and role model. What the student brings to the table is just as important as the effort
put forth by the teacher. My ability to build a strong, and trusting relationship with my students is
an important part of my role as a teacher.
My philosophy of education is to instill an appreciation of art and world cultures in my
students. This includes teaching a variety of creative projects, filled with innovative techniques
that have evolved from a diversity of cultures. To this end I will utilize technology as well as a
variety of teaching techniques including silent signals, visual demonstrations, handouts,
assessments, and group activities. The objective is to ensure all students understand, learn, retain,
and enjoy the lessons.
Children learn through daily interactions with their peers, teachers, and assigned tasks.
Consistent and timely feedback is crucial for students to learn what is expected of them and how
to improve or continue to progress. As a teacher, I will be able to anticipate, strategize, and
constantly adapt to new situations. I will engage with the students providing support as they
embark on a journey of self-discovery. I will develop art projects based on the extent of their
knowledge and background. I will have students help with daily tasks such as taking out
materials for assignments and cleaning up after themselves. The class will work as a team during
set up and breakdown of every class.
Global awareness creates empathetic citizens. I will include a 5-10 minute discussion that
will be part of the 'Do Now' for every class. It will cover a study of up and coming artists' that
will inspire some aspect of the artwork being developed. Staying up to date with rising artists is
important to the fundamental elements of art as it changes quickly and shapes new techniques.
Field trips to museums will give students a new perspective on art and how it has evolved
throughout centuries.
Community is a great way to showcase the student’s work. As a current member of
AENJ, Art Educators of New Jersey and NAEA, National Art Education Association, I will
showcase student artwork at every opportunity. Parents will be able to see their children’s talent
and progress through these shows. I will seek opportunities that will benefit my students for the
future.
In conclusion, effective teaching will be my primary goal everyday I walk into the
classroom. My priority for my students’ well being and their effort put forth in the presence of
my classroom, together, we will learn, experiment, and create meaningful art, filling them with
pride.
