"Creativity is especially expressed in the ability to make connections, to make associations, to turn things around and express them in a new way." --Tim Hansen
Teaching can happen anywhere and student engagement usually increases with a new perspective. I have had numerous opportunities to teach a wide variety of subjects to students in grades kindergarten through college.
This is first winning photograph for the Office Display Contest. A large print of this photo can be seen in the office entry of Menifee Valley Middle School. Photo Cred: Tyler G. | 6th grade
Middle School Digital Photography
My professional teaching career began with the Menifee Union School District at Menifee Valley Middle School. The first year of the newly created Digital Photography program was offered to only incoming 6th grade students. These 6th grade students and I were all new to middle school life and together we grew in knowledge, understanding, classroom structure and behaviors, and we created important student/teacher relationships.
Some of lessons included:
The Elements of Art & Principals of Design
Learning the history of the camera and how they work
Editing photos using Adobe Elements
Creating composition with photography
How to properly care for equipment
Famous photographers and their artwork
Great Days
This is me and my 6th period art class while student teaching. These students allowed me to: practice all of my strategies, video record lessons, photograph their work, speak broken Spanish, ask silly questions, and genuinely become their teacher.
English & American Culture Classes
One of my favorite teaching assignments happens every summer. Since opening the school site in Riverside, CA, administrator Cecilia Wong, has entrusted me in teaching multiple groups of middle school students each summer. After my second year of teaching, Ms. Wong asked me to create a universal curriculum to be used at all of the school sites. Depending on the student’s ages and English abilities, I differentiate the curriculum to best engage students in unique and creative experiences. The usual topic of conversation is the United States and modern American culture. Throughout the weeks, students improve their English writing and speaking while participating in American holidays, music, dance, shopping, schools, sports, and more.
Cake Wars / 1st place winners
Cake Wars / 2nd place winners
1st Group / Summer 2018
Elementary Science with Charter Schools
While working towards my teaching credential I was able to teach part-time at several charter schools. Classes consisted of students ranging from kindergarten to 6th grade. The large variation in student abilities required me to use multiple strategies within each lesson taught. These strategies facilitated classroom management, appropriate activities, and more learning for everyone. The hands-on approach I used, helped students to enjoy each class and retain the knowledge to be built upon and recalled in future lessons.
Edible Molecules / the older you are the harder they get / 2018
Snail Races / lured by cornstarch and water / 2017
Monthly Character Lessons
Several years ago I began teaching monthly lessons under an alter-ego named, “Verna.” Verna is a an older gal from the East Coast, has a thick Brooklyn accent, and horrible taste in clothing. She brings the students exciting lessons and crazy activities that help them remember and recall knowledge from previous months.
In class teaching / preparing students for an outside learning activity / 2017
Closing the lesson / 2017
Adobe Illustrator with Charter Schools
Several charter schools wanted to provide their middle and high school students with options for digital art classes. I was reluctant to accept when I received the initial offer but it soon became one of my favorite classes I have taught. I chose to begin the semester with teaching Design Basics and took a more traditional approach to teaching composition, color, and drawing. Students were able to easily transfer these skills in to the digital world and enjoyed both aspects.
Final logo created by the students / 2018
Silly Day with several students from an Adobe Illustrator class / Anaheim Campus
Inland Christian Academic Program
The beginning stages of teaching art. More to come…