AboutHi! I'm Mrs. Abbas.
I studied at the University of Iowa, receiving a B.A. degree in both Psychology and Studio Arts in May 2016. Immediately following, I continued taking classes at the University of Iowa in the Teacher Education Program studying Art Education. I student taught in Tiffin, IA, for the Clear Creek Amana Community School District, teaching 6-8 grade art for 8 weeks. In the following 7 weeks, I student taught in North Liberty, IA, at Buford Garner Elementary in the Iowa City Community School District, teaching K-6 grade art. I received my teaching certificate from the University of Iowa in May 2018. In May 2019, I received an M.A. degree in Art Education and a Talented & Gifted Education endorsement from the U of I. Go Hawks! During the 2019-2020 school year, I taught 7-12th Art in my first year of teaching in Greene, IA, for North Butler Community School District. In 2020, I moved to Northwood with my husband to teach together at Northwood-Kensett. |
Teaching Philosophy
My teaching philosophy is centered on the belief that I, as an educator, hold the power to influence numerous minds of the next generation. As a teacher, I hold the responsibility of taking my students to their next level by providing the guidance and support necessary to make sense of new information as it relates to students’ prior knowledge. My aim is to teach in a way that improves students’ critical thinking skills. I strive to know my students well, providing learning experiences that cater to their individual needs, interests, and learning styles. Regardless of where students’ artistic abilities lie as they enter my classroom, I believe every child has the potential to learn at high levels and that it is my responsibility to help them achieve success.
For students to be their best, I structure a learning environment that is safe, inviting, and fun. For students to feel free to express themselves honestly, I model a sincere respect for individuality and creativity, identifying for my students the behavior I expect of them. Students understand that in my classroom mistakes are not to be feared in terms of grades. Making mistakes is embraced in my classroom because it is integral to the creative process. Mistakes challenge students to problem solve, make judgments, and consider multiple perspectives. I strive to support, encourage, and instill confidence within my students, so they feel comfortable taking risks and embracing new challenges.
Embracing the digital age, I incorporate technology in my classroom because of its many benefits for students. Video instruction, for example, allows demonstrations to be displayed at an angle where all students can see much better than they would be able to if it were live. Video instruction also allows students to work at their own pace; they can pause to take notes or rewind to watch again. Technology affords excellent opportunities for collaboration. When students collaborate, they benefit from the strengths and insights of other individuals, which leads to increased learning and better understanding. Students prefer technology, because it’s what they know. I embed technology into my instruction and assignments to best equip my students with the 21st century skills they need to succeed outside of the classroom and in the professional world.
As an art educator, I believe creative expression is an integral component of a fundamental education. The arts provide students opportunities to solve problems, make judgments, consider different perspectives, and expressively exceed the limits of language. Everything about my teaching, from the projects I assign to the environment I create, will continue to evolve as I reflect on my experiences and adapt to the ways education will progress throughout my teaching journey.
For students to be their best, I structure a learning environment that is safe, inviting, and fun. For students to feel free to express themselves honestly, I model a sincere respect for individuality and creativity, identifying for my students the behavior I expect of them. Students understand that in my classroom mistakes are not to be feared in terms of grades. Making mistakes is embraced in my classroom because it is integral to the creative process. Mistakes challenge students to problem solve, make judgments, and consider multiple perspectives. I strive to support, encourage, and instill confidence within my students, so they feel comfortable taking risks and embracing new challenges.
Embracing the digital age, I incorporate technology in my classroom because of its many benefits for students. Video instruction, for example, allows demonstrations to be displayed at an angle where all students can see much better than they would be able to if it were live. Video instruction also allows students to work at their own pace; they can pause to take notes or rewind to watch again. Technology affords excellent opportunities for collaboration. When students collaborate, they benefit from the strengths and insights of other individuals, which leads to increased learning and better understanding. Students prefer technology, because it’s what they know. I embed technology into my instruction and assignments to best equip my students with the 21st century skills they need to succeed outside of the classroom and in the professional world.
As an art educator, I believe creative expression is an integral component of a fundamental education. The arts provide students opportunities to solve problems, make judgments, consider different perspectives, and expressively exceed the limits of language. Everything about my teaching, from the projects I assign to the environment I create, will continue to evolve as I reflect on my experiences and adapt to the ways education will progress throughout my teaching journey.
Darkness
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A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts degree in Teaching and Learning in the Graduate College of The University of Iowa.
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