My Educational Philosophy

The arts teach children that problems can have more than one solution and that questions can have more than one answer.- Elliot Eisner

 As an educator, I have the opportunity to inspire and nurture young minds. The Art room is a place that provides students with the opportunity to learn and explore the world’s different cultures as well as the communities around them. The Visual Arts introduces students to the practices of artists and their thoughts, and I hope that my classroom will foster a greater appreciation of creativity. Artists are always searching for new and innovative ways to think, plan, and build, which is the spark of curiosity. Curiosity is something of great value. It is that strong desire to learn that led me to become an educator, and this love of learning is something that I will instill in my students.

 This being said, I feel that the value of the Visual Arts is often times overlooked in schools. There is a disconnect and a belief that Art is separate from all other subjects, but I believe that Art is present in all subjects. Students can incorporate ideas and concepts that they learn in an Art room and apply them to any other subject. The Visual Arts promote the development of skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, reasoning, analysis, interpretation, self-direction, planning, adaptability, communication, collaboration, and cooperation. All of these valuable skills can be applied in any realistic or classroom setting, which I will always emphasize in my classroom.

 Art is a place for all types of diverse learners to succeed because it is a place where inquiry is encouraged. I believe in giving students various choices when it comes to art-making, which places them into the role as the artist. When students think through their problems and achieve their goals, they experience authentic learning. My classroom will always be a safe environment and community for students to grow and collaborate with their peers. The Visual Arts is an ideal place to support the students’ emotions, beliefs, and ideas and I look forward to learning and growing alongside my students.

Maria Cardaris

Art Teacher

About Me: Miss Cardaris

Hello and Welcome to the world of Immanuel Art! I’m Miss Cardaris and I am so blessed to be the Art teacher here at Immanuel. This is my seventh year at Immanuel and I cannot wait to see what creativity is in store for us this year. I absolutely love creating alongside of all of my students. Along with teaching K-8th grade Art, I also teach two different sections of Advanced Art for 7th and 8th graders. It is always a privilege watching my students grow into budding, young artists. Aside from teaching Art, I am the co-director of our weekly broadcast, the Charger Cast, which I run with Mr. Ryan Avery. I also oversee our script writing team for the Charger Cast where I get to share my passion of creative writing with students.