COVID-19 REFLECTION

Over the past year COVID-19 has affected almost every aspect of everyday life. Virtual learning in schools has become a major part of education. Throughout this semester, I have been with students fully in-person, fully remote, and hybrid. This has taught me the importance of adaptability in all situations. While I was at my elementary school placement, one grade was remote for 10 days. Due to this, I adapted and designed a virtual lesson plan that students could engage with from home with little or no standard art materials. Changing plans is a common aspect of teaching, and through these experiences I am prepared to face these changes. 

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COVID-19 has had an impact on students learning in terms of motivation. During my high school placement especially, I noticed that students were struggling with their mental health. Being a supportive and empathetic adult is an important part of teaching as a whole, and especially during a pandemic. A major part of this is being understanding when students are unable to finish an assignment on time, or need some extra help and support throughout my class. Access to resources has also been a struggle through the pandemic. Students may not have the resources they need at home in order to successfully come to class and learn. An important part of this is again doing everything in my power to help students who are going through a tough time, being forgiving and empathetic, and giving students a space to talk. 

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Art is an incredibly important method of healing through difficult times. Giving students the opportunity to create, express, and reflect on their emotions is what art is all about. One of the assignments I gave to high school students was to create a photograph that expressed their feelings about and throughout the year 2020. This allows for that reflection and can help students to understand that they have valuable things to say.