Michelle Jong

My philosophical approach to art education is centered around social emotional and choice-based learning. My goal is to provide my classroom space to students to exercise critical thinking skills and empathy, to explore and to understand different perspectives and emotions through variety of art mediums. My goal is to create a classroom space where children can feel safe, comfortable, valued, and respected. I treasure relationships with students. I cherish the small moments that comes from building strong foundations with the students. I believe relationships play a powerful role in student’s education, especially in art studios, where students are given space to explore their own ideas and perspectives through art. I love to create opportunities for students to create meaningful mistakes through responsible risks. Targeting students interests for students to use art as communication tool helps student’s engagement within the art studio. Witnessing students growing emotionally and intellectually as little artists gives me joy and reason to be an art teacher.