Guest post by Tiffany Cavicchia, English/Language Arts Teacher
Guest post by Jamie Lord, Instructional Technology Facilitator
by Jamie Lord
Thank you for viewing,
#LNCPride
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The opinions shared in this blog belong to Craig Smith and do not represent the school or district in which he works.
The two reflection questions we are asking every teacher during our end-of-year conferences:
— Craig Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) May 19, 2021
Share something you are proud of from this year.
What is something you have learned/incorporated/done this year that you will benefit from continuing next year?#GrowthMindset #edchat
Guest post by Cara Matocha, Visual Arts Teacher
My personal beliefs about teaching began to develop before I started working towards a degree in education. Over the years I would reflect on teachers who had the most impact on me personally both positively and negatively. Thankfully my first grade teacher recognized that I had vision problems and needed glasses. It was soon discovered that not being able to see had affected my reading fluency and comprehension which had to be supplemented in order to meet grade level requirements. My second and fifth grade teachers made school interactive and fun. My fourth and fifth grade teachers were masters at classroom management. They were fair, firm, and consistent which created a safe learning environment. All of my 7th grade classes were hands-on yet rigorous. By high school I was fascinated with the medical field but loved art and spanish. My softball coach pushed me to be my best while praising my character and integrity. I had aspirations of being a heart surgeon until my guidance counselor made me believe that I would not make it in that field. My art teacher told me that I had the talent to pursue art so that was the direction I took at the displeasure of my father. I thought I would become a graphic designer until a college professor encouraged me to pursue a teaching degree after observing my work with children in the community. The influence teachers have had on my life is immeasurable and so my teaching career began. What an enormous responsibility knowing you can impact a child so much.
Reflecting on the teachers in my life, helps me to always be present with my students and understand that what I say and do can have a life changing impact on them daily. I make it a point to observe and get to know each of them as they develop their personal voice. I am fortunate to teach at a school that requires a fine arts credit for graduation, therefore, I have students who may not have taken an art class otherwise. Inevitably I have students that enter my Art I class and say, “I can’t draw. Am I going to fail this class?” Drawing from my education experiences I make sure that my classroom environment is safe yet interactive and fun. Once trust is established, I can impart a level of rigor which urges students to be their best while encouraging a growth mindset. Some of the learning is at my direction while some learning is through exploration, experimentation, and risk taking. Learning what won’t work, is as important in an art room as learning what will. Since trust is developed early on in the year my students aren’t afraid of exploring. So in the words of Denzel Washington, I encourage my students to “fail big” and then teach the rest of us what they learned so that we can use the lesson as a catalyst to take an idea or concept in a new direction. My art room produces creative critical thinkers, who can solve problems, adapt to adverse situations, and collaborate with their peers. These are top skills that businesses look for in employees today. Inspiration Fridays encourage students to search for, collect, document, and share what inspires them so that they don’t rely on others to entertain them or become victims of boredom. I don’t believe that it is my job to tell them what they can and cannot pursue, but give them as many opportunities to learn and explore various topics, subjects, and skills so that they can make their own informed decisions. The beauty of teaching art is that it touches every subject so I can make connections for students and encourage their interests to become a part of their artwork. Had my guidance counselor or art teacher told me about the field of medical illustration, which combines art and medicine, I may have pursued that as a career. Once discovered, I began incorporating biology into my own artwork. As I enter my 34th year teaching, it is apparent however, that I was steered in the right direction regarding my profession. I have spent my entire career sharing my passion for learning with students and colleagues and look forward to continuing to do so for many years to come.
LNCharter encourages teachers to have a growth mindset. This allows me to be a great example for my students and model what it means to be a lifelong learner. When I started teaching 33 years ago, we didn’t have computers. Today, technology is an ever changing tool that plays a major role in the education of our kids. While I have tried to stay one step ahead of them, it is sometimes difficult since many have devices in their hands at a very young age. My experience allows me to balance learning opportunities for my students. While they use technology as a tool, they equally experience other hands-on activities and create high quality, successful artwork. Too often I see students frustrated, defeated, and lost when technology doesn’t work. Utilizing a variety of tools not only maintains the students’ dexterity but also allows for a multitude of successful solutions. I learn from and am inspired by students and colleagues everyday as well as others in my life. Nurturing healthy relationships within the school community is imperative for student success. Not a year goes by that I don’t have a conversation with a concerned parent regarding their child pursuing a degree in the visual arts and the fear of them becoming a “starving artist”. My parents shared the same concerns many years ago and fortunately my mother stood behind my decision. Part of my opening statement to students and parents at the beginning of the year is that art touches our lives 365 days a year from the day we’re born til the day we die, 24/7. Buildings, houses, fabric, clothing, furniture, dishes, vehicles, etc… are all designed by artists from varied backgrounds. My hope is that students and parents gain an understanding that careers in the visual arts are endless when you consider that they play such a vital role in our everyday lives. Regardless of their career choice, I want my students to take away an appreciation of how art touches their lives, connects to all subject areas, and has contributed to them being creative problem solvers that can adapt to adverse situations and collaborate with others. It is rewarding knowing that I have contributed to developing future leaders who are inspired to serve and have a passion for life-long learning.
Congratulations to @kczamiara for her recognition as the 2020 @LKNChamber Charter Teacher of the Year!! She was honored during today’s LKN Chamber Education Power Luncheon.— Craig Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) February 20, 2020
We also had the opportunity to meet & speak w/ @MarkRJohnsonNC, who was a special guest.#LNCPride pic.twitter.com/oOyKDhind8
What we expect from our TEACHERS should be no different than what we expect from ourselves as PRINCIPALS.— Craig Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) August 4, 2018
What we expect form our STUDENTS should no different than what we expect from ourselves as TEACHERS.
Always remember this accountability.#leadupchat #edchat #ncadmin pic.twitter.com/eqxgmwSLPC
While you cannot control most circumstances, you can control your choice in P-E-A-R:— Craig Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) July 17, 2018
Preparation
Enthusiasm
Attitude
Response#leadership #ncadmin #leadupchat #edchat
What we expect from our TEACHERS should be no different than what we expect from ourselves as PRINCIPALS.— Craig Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) August 4, 2018
What we expect form our STUDENTS should no different than what we expect from ourselves as TEACHERS.
Always remember this accountability.#leadupchat #edchat #ncadmin pic.twitter.com/eqxgmwSLPC
A2 The support, fellowship, & friendship shared w/ my peer BT's allowed us all to survive. We were fortunate to have each other. #ncbtchat— Craig Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) April 23, 2018
Hey #LRUedu, just popping in.— Craig Smith (@CSmithGoBlue) April 6, 2017
A1) Purpose of assessment is to gauge what students know and what they have learned, not solely for a grade.
