Dream Job…

I would say that my dream job does not really have an age group, for example elementary or secondary, because I enjoy working with all ages. I think that they both have positives and negatives. But, I do think it is important to get a job in a school/ a community that is supportive of the arts. So really, for me, any school that is supportive of the art community. Clearly, working at a school with a large budget would be nice, but I do not believe it is necessary. And, if I do not get a job in a school that is supportive of the arts, hopefully I could help turn that around :)

I believe a successful teacher is primarily a matter of…

Being a friendly support system, for students. Of course there are other factors to take into account, like organization and time management, but I feel that being a positive support system for students is what is most important. Students need to know that they have a trusted adult in their school life, and I hope that I can be that for a lot of my students. 

In what ways do you foresee a necessity for support in your first year of teaching? From where and how do you expect this support to come? i.e. district, school, fellow teachers…

I believe that the area I will need support in the most my first year of teaching is lesson planning. I also believe I will need support in classroom management, but I feel I have a better hold on that than lesson planning. I am worried I will not be able to create interesting enough lessons that hold the students interest/ fit into the curriculum. I am also afraid that some of the lessons I would want to teach will not be supported by administration.

I feel that a support system in necessary for beginning teachers. It is always good to be thinking about what you can improve upon, and hearing ideas about improvement from fellow peers would be great. 

I feel that fellow art teacher, whether in the same school or in the district, will be my biggest support for this worry of mine. I also believe that other fellow teachers, regardless of subject, will be a strong support system for my classroom management worries. Perhaps one teacher is having success with a student I am having problems with, getting tips and idea from that teacher would be nice.