Teaching young children can be both rewarding and challenging. Recently, I had the opportunity to conduct drawing classes for a group of kids aged 7-11, and it was a truly enriching experience. At the beginning of the classes, I noticed that some of the children were shy and hesitant to participate. To break the ice, I started with a simple warm-up exercise that involved drawing basic shapes such as circles and squares. This helped the children get comfortable with their drawing materials and gave them a chance to practice their skills without feeling overwhelmed.

LO1: “Identify your own strengths and develop areas for growth.”

Areas for growth include keeping up with current trends and techniques in the art world, improving communication skills to better convey concepts to children, and being open to learning new approaches to teaching. Additionally, it was beneficial to expand my own artistic skills by trying new mediums and techniques.

LO2: “Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills.”

Of course, teaching young children can also be challenging at times. I had to constantly find new ways to engage them and keep them interested. One approach that worked well was to incorporate popular culture references such as cartoons and movies into the lessons. This helped make the classes more relatable and fun for the kids. This experience also allowed me to work on my organizational skills and develop patience. 

LO4: “Show perseverance and commitment in CAS experience.”

I demonstrated perseverance and commitment while teaching kids drawing by creating a structured lesson plan and sticking to it. This helped ensure that each child receives a consistent and thorough learning experience, and also help me to stay motivated and focused throughout the teaching process. Additionally, by setting goals and milestones for the children to achieve, I was able to encourage them to persevere and stay committed to their own artistic growth.

LO6: “Engagement with issues of global significance.”

I incorporated issues of global significance into drawing lessons by focusing on educational themes, such as the importance of literacy and access to education. I was also able to encourage children to create drawings that showcase the power of education, or highlight the challenges faced by children who do not have access to quality education. Through these activities, children can develop an understanding of the ways in which education can empower individuals and improve communities.

LO7: “Recognise and consider the ethics of choices and actions.”

In considering the ethics of my teaching choices and actions, I aimed to ensure that every child felt included, valued, and capable of expressing themselves creatively. The warm-up exercise served not only as an icebreaker but also as a thoughtful and ethical strategy to accommodate varying comfort levels within the group. This approach aligned with the ethical responsibility of creating an environment that promotes learning, growth, and self-expression while respecting each child’s individual pace and preferences.