SUZANNE WARD
ART & DESIGN TEACHER
ABOUT
SECONDARY SCHOOL ART AND DESIGN TEACHER.
I believe that Art and DT offer the pupil's a wide range of skills, confidence and knowledge in all their lessons and in the wider world. They gain life skills, they learn to problem solve and improve their communication.
Learning to learn
It is important to create a learning environment where pupil's gain a broad range of practical experience, reflecting wider knowledge of artists and world events. This must be done in appropriate and bit-size ways so as not to overwhelm the students. Too many children decide they ‘can’t do Art’ and don’t realise the wide variety of skills and media available to them. My goal is to teach them to love Art.
The way a pupil learns is very individual and it is important to understand their abilities and strengths to make sure the goals are not only attainable but they can enjoy the journey to get there. I can help each pupil by tailoring my instructions to each group and doing demonstrations to help, I also use their peer support structure when giving instructions and during summative, informative and peer assessment. They sometimes use language that just ‘makes sense’ to them. I believe this assessment also enables me to continue my professional development.
They will also learn that they don’t always come to the conclusion immediately and sometimes a change of direction may not be failure but could lead them somewhere amazing –that they never anticipated. So many pupil's are striving for perfection but the accidents are sometimes even better.
One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.
Carl Jung
My History
I came into teaching after 6 years working as an interior designer, a job which I loved doing and I believe gives me a broad knowledge of managing a team of people and projects. I decided to join the teaching profession after running my own business for 3 years to experience a wider range of creative techniques and to spend quality time with my own 3 children during the holidays. I have had the opportunity to use clay, oil paints, screen printing, laser cutting, wire sculptures, pewter casting and many more. What other profession can I have this much fun while working?
As a lifelong learner I will continue to develop myself professionally, attending courses and altering my projects to keep them fresh and up to date. I am about to embark on more computer based learning as this is very prominent in today’s society and as teachers it is our duty to teach students the life skills they will need when the leave school.
I have been lucky enough to travel throughout my life, living in America as a child, Cambridge, Loughborough and Mexico (where my father still lives) and now Leeds. Not only living in a variety of countries but also being lucky enough to travel extensively has opened my eyes to amazing architecture and different cultures, museums and art galleries and capsule hotels and other amazing gadgets from Japan. Seeing different cultures first hand has broadened my out-look on life and made me more curious about what is out there within our own society and heratige. I try to encourage the pupils’ curiosity so they want to find out more. I find if you’re having fun while you’re learning you don’t even realise how much new information you brain has accepted.
…Young people must take it upon themselves to ensure that they receive the highest education possible so that they can represent us well in the future as leaders.
Nelson Mandela – Young people 1999-2008