www.theresafontana.com

Getting to know Mrs. Fontana

EMAIL: theresa.fontana@bps101.net

WEBSITE: http://www.theresafontana.com

Favorite past times: Teaching, creating art, running, volunteering, and wakeboarding

Favorite book: I Aint Gonna Paint No More,by Karen Beaumont , David Catrow (Illustrator) (I met the illustrator!)

Favorite Artist: Erin Furimsky (She was also one of my teachers in college)

Favorite Artists' sayings: "Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." ~Pablo Picasso

"Art is what you can get away with." ~ Andy Warhol

"Art does not reproduce what we see; rather, it makes us see." Paul Klee

Favorite Music: Country, but I love all music

Favorite Movie: Any Disney movie

Favorite Food: French Fries dipped in a Wendy's Frosty

Favorite Color: Anything I get to mix myself

Schools I've taught at: Grant Community High School, and Hoover-Wood Elementary School

Philosophy of Education :

Art has always been my passion, but being able to enrich other’s lives with art education has become my destiny. I believe visual art is essential in every child’s education. It is a form of communication for students to express themselves creatively. Art education challenges student’s minds to see, create, question, and make judgments. Art enhances other disciplines, and helps foster an appreciation for all of the arts. As an art educator, I not only aim to teach art, but life skills and the importance of education as a whole.

As a teacher, I believe I must help students develop a drive for learning through motivational and enthusiastic energy. I consider it a great success when a student demonstrates and shares with me their own moments of accomplishment and excitement. I also believe it necessary, as an educator, to adapt lessons, materials, and the environments to teach to individual student’s learning styles, cultural backgrounds, and special needs. This contributes to a positive impact on each individual student, which helps to maximize each student’s full learning potential and educational experience. In order to achieve this objective it is crucial to know student’s abilities and personal attributes, to use innovative teaching methods for all abilities. It is also important to maintain a strong sense of creativity to implement age appropriate, rich lesson plans that use a wide range of physical environments, teaching methods, and assessments for high expectation classes.

Art education is a part of a curriculum, school, and community. As the educator, it is crucial to join efforts with students, faculty, families, and members of the community in a joint effort to promote and facilitate learning. Every student has the ability to gain knowledge as an individual and it is my mission to inspire and nurture the growth of their knowledge.

~Mrs. Fontana