Marlene Kramer
I am an AACPS: Art Teacher, Southern High School | 2018 Teacher of the Year Finalist
Classroom culture and environment directly impacts student success. My philosophy of teaching is built around this statement and begins by creating a home away from home for my students. To make my students feel at home, I greet them with a big smile and positive energy. Having fun and smiling a lot goes a long way in a student’s day. I believe that laughter is contagious and students can feel the vibes you send out. I strive to get each student to smile at least once a class (usually at my own expense). It is important to me that I model a positive attitude to my students no matter how stressed I may be and show them that I genuinely care about their well-being. I take the time to ask students about their day, other class grades, after school jobs and sports to name a few. By creating a positive classroom culture and positive daily experiences, I am able to individually reach each of my students through my content. 3-D Design allows students the opportunity to work with challenging materials. At times these materials (clay) can be frustrating, but students work through the challenges knowing that I am there for them and supporting them through the artistic process. They feel comfortable enough to take artistic risks and push themselves in order to create their absolute best artwork. I believe the reason they push themselves artistically is because they feel comfortable in my classroom and connected to me. One of my greatest joys is when I see previous students who tell me how much they miss my class and that they still have the artwork that they created. Providing opportunities for success in a positive classroom environment helps me make these connections to my students. The positive daily experiences that I create in my classroom are what I believe make me an outstanding educator. I am genuinely happy to be around my students each day!
