It has been a semester of many challenges, and many new experiences. Experiencing first-hand what it takes to be a teaching artist, by planning lessons, practicing and rehearsing teaching methods, and self-assessments, has given me confidence in my own capabilities. I have enjoyed working at my residencies and placements, where I got to observe different styles of teaching, and interact with students in classroom environments. I became familiar with set-up and clean-up routines, with lesson structures, and comfortable in dealing with any conflicts.
To me, being a teaching artist, means sharing a particular skill set that I have with a group of people, and being able to build a connection with them through it. I see teaching as a two-way process, as I too learn from my students. I am a teaching artist because I am interested in facilitating art as a method of expression, a shared language, and also something to have some fun doing.
Through this course I made personal connections with experienced and wonderful teachers and by observing their methods, I was able to refine my own skills as a teaching artist.