ANN S. W. MILLER

Educational Philosophy

Teaching art, my goal is to have each student discover the creative muse within. Art is not about innate talent, it’s about taking risks, thinking sideways, solving problems, and practicing, practicing, practicing. When students leave my classes, I hope they feel surprised and proud of what they’ve created and empowered to take on new challenges.

As a cross-curricular teacher, I know that growth can be a frightening process. I believe my role is to understand students as individuals and use this knowledge to engage and empower their academic and social growth in a safe and supportive environment.  

It is critical to recognize the uniqueness of each individual student and their specific educational and emotional needs. In addition to traditional assessments, I believe in building strong relationships with students, parents, and other faculty to help identify strengths and weaknesses. Once identified, we work together to provide appropriate challenges and nurture each student’s development. 

Creativity, energy, enthusiasm, and humor are techniques I frequently use to motivate students. I believe strongly that mistakes and necessary to develop stronger individuals and more-effective problem solvers. I address issues proactively, with encouragement, a positive attitude, and a results-oriented approach. I am a warm and accessible person who actively invites students to share their needs and concerns whenever they arise.

In the classroom, I try to give students many different ways to process and practice concepts. I provide direct instruction, whole-class exercises, small-group exploration, individual practice and kinesthetic, auditory, and visual activities to help students become comfortable with new knowledge. I also believe in the power of project-based and team-based learning, which allows students to explore, share ideas, and strengthen relationships with one another while learning. 

For me, the bottom line in education is caring and communication. Caring for students, parents, and co-workers means striving to understand their unique needs and challenges and providing support wherever I can. Communicating means ensuring everyone understands what happens in the classroom and has the information they need to help students succeed. Working together as an informed and supportive community provides children with the best path to reaching their goals and dreams.