Resources
Preparing for my future classroom fills me with excitement, and I’m grateful for the families who will be part of this journey. I can’t wait to create with your kids!
Dear Future Families,
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my classroom and teaching philosophy. As I prepare for my future art room, I’m filled with excitement and gratitude. Teaching and creating have always been deeply meaningful parts of my life, and I look forward to sharing that joy with your children.
I believe that every child is an artist, just as Picasso said. My goal is to create a warm, supportive, and engaging environment where students feel empowered to imagine, explore, and express themselves. I want my classroom to be a space where creativity thrives - a place where students feel at home, free to play, make mistakes, try new things, and grow.
In our classroom, the learning process matters more than the final product. Through experimentation, problem-solving, and guided practice, students will discover how to think creatively and confidently. I incorporate foundational warm-ups and bell ringers, integrate art history and culture into lessons, and find ways to connect art to the world your children live in. I’ll always strive to use examples and explanations that make sense to them and meet them where they are.
I also believe that art is meaningful beyond the classroom walls. I want students to see how creativity impacts their community, their school, and their everyday lives. Skills like critical thinking, perseverance, and problem solving can strengthen every academic subject - and far beyond that, they help shape lifelong learners filled with curiosity and wonder.
My teaching approach is flexible and student-centered. While there will be structure, there will also be plenty of room for exploration, collaboration, and personal expression. I encourage students to develop their own ideas, learn from one another, and work together as a team. I emphasize positive reinforcement, celebrating effort and improvement over perfection. In art, there is no failing - we simply learn and keep going.
I aim to create a relaxed and inviting classroom atmosphere. You won’t find silence or stiffness here. Students are encouraged to move around, observe each other’s work, engage in conversation, and enjoy music while they create. I use lighting, read-alouds, and an intentionally warm environment to make the art room feel different from any other space in the school - a place where they truly belong.
While I use technology to enhance lessons through slides and videos, I prefer to keep student work hands-on. With so much time spent on computers during the school day, I want the art room to be a refreshing break where their minds and hands can work together.
As someone who built an entire career through creativity - before following the call to teach - I know firsthand how art can shape a life. My mission is to show students what is possible, to help them discover beauty in the world around them, and to nurture a passion for the arts that can stay with them for years to come.
Thank you for trusting me to guide and encourage your young artists. I can’t wait to partner with you and watch your children learn, create, imagine, and shine.
With excitement and gratitude,
Mrs. Holman
Arts Advocacy
Learn more about why the arts matter.
Teaching Inspiration
As a future art teacher, I am always looking for fun and engaging ideas for students. Check out some of my favorite sites to see the kinds of projects our class will doing!
Books That Spark Creativity
These are the stories that light up imaginations, inspire curiosity, and encourage young artists to explore the world of color, texture, and possibilities. These are the kinds of books I look forward to sharing in my future classroom - stories that make art feel magical.
Why the Arts Matter
Art is far more than drawing, painting, or crafting - it’s a powerful part of how children learn to think, feel, and understand the world. Educational scholar Elliot Eisner identified ten essential lessons that the arts uniquely teach, and they beautifully explain why art education is so important for kids.
The arts teach children to make thoughtful judgments, not just follow rules. In art, there isn’t always one correct answer - problems can have many solutions, and questions can have multiple interpretations. Students learn to value different perspectives and discover that there are countless ways to see and understand the world.
Art encourages flexible thinking. As students create, they learn that ideas evolve and change with new circumstances, teaching them to stay open to unexpected possibilities. The arts also make vivid the truth that not everything worth knowing can be expressed through words or numbers - creativity expands how we think.
Through art, students begin to understand that small differences can make big impacts. They develop sensitivity to detail, learning to think within a material and bring their ideas into reality. The arts give children a way to express feelings and experiences that are difficult to put into words, helping them grow in emotional intelligence and empathy.
Most importantly, art provides experiences that no other subject can offer. It helps students discover what they are capable of feeling, imagining, and creating. And by making space for the arts in schools, we show children that creativity, expression, and beauty are things we truly value.
The arts don’t just enrich education - they shape confident, curious, compassionate thinkers. That is why arts advocacy matters.
Teaching Inspiration
These incredible educators inspire my teaching style and the creative experiences I want to bring into my future art room. Their lessons, ideas, and approaches help shape the way I think about creativity, curiosity, and hands-on learning. As I prepare for my own classroom, I’m grateful for their influence - and excited to share the kinds of meaningful, engaging projects their work inspires.
Books That Spark Creativity
These are the stories that light up imaginations, inspire curiosity, and encourage young artists to explore the world of color, texture, and possibilities. These are the kinds of books I look forward to sharing in my future classroom - stories that make art feel magical.
