Tristen Adkins

1. Tristen Adkins Teaching Portfolio

2. About Me My name is Tristen Adkins. I was born in Sikeston Missouri on July 13, 1989. My parents moved to Fairview, TN when I was two and I have lived here since. Growing up I participated in 14 years of dance classes and several of my summers were spent at Watkins Art Institute taking art classes for younger children. I have always loved art, dancing, music, and had a passion for creativity and self-expression. I graduated in 2008 from Houston County High School. I started college in the Fall of 2008 at Austin Peay State University. I met my husband while in college, we had our first and only son on August 29, 2010 and then my husband and I married each other on August 13, 2011. I am in my fifth year at Austin Peay State University with one year left. I am a Art Education major with a minor in Professional Education. Once I graduate with my Bachelor’s Degree I will be certified to teach art to K-12th. My next goal will be to advance my education to a Master’s Degree in Art Education. I have such a strong passion for learning, teaching, art and creativity, art history, and encouraging others. I hope to influence children to express themselves, gain a respect for art, and create an inviting environment for students to have fun, create, and gain self-confidence and self-discipline.

3. Personal Statement: The importance of art comes from the value of creativity and ambition that we put worth in our work. The imagination of our work shares endless dreams and possibilities to the world.

4. Philosophy of Education Education is the key to a successful future in our society. You must have the right education for any career or steady job. Education gives every individual the reassurance that they will have the chance of a better future, and the opportunity to accomplish their dreams. Schools focus on an environment for every student to accomplish success. To keep the focus of every student, teachers need to be prepared to teach students with all learning styles, to cope with all learning disabilities, and to handle daily challenges that can occur within the classroom. Teaching isn’t just a job, it’s a privilege and a career meant only for the people who mentor others. Teaching can be a challenge. The teacher must be up to par with any situation that is given to them within the classroom. A teacher must be a natural leader, one with responses in handling every situation with quick reactions in making the best decisions. Teaching art has been a passion of mine ever since I was a child. It all started with an ambition of learning, drawing and painting, helping others, and a dream of changing lives with those interested in art. My dream is to let creativity be an expressive influence in the lives of our future students. I was the child that taught my dolls and stuffed animals to draw and paint. Art changed my life; it challenged me to try harder and allowed me to express myself. As a future teacher, I want to teach children and young adults the freedom and creativity of art. With teaching, I will build a foundation with my students. I plan to use every method of teaching so that every student will learn with their fullest potential. I will create an environment of building blocks for every student to learn the required curriculum of art while mixing in fundamental art projects to grasp a better understanding. I want students to gain knowledge of art, seek their creative side, and possibly gain an appreciate for art. I hope to open a new door for some students and create life changing opportunities for others. Through Standard One I have thoroughly developed an understanding of a teachers’ environment. I was able obtain “a broad knowledge of legal and ethical responsibilities” (1.5) which helped with my experience inside the classroom. With the proper communication (1.8) and interaction (1.9) a classroom is able to function between the teacher and the student. All of the points to Standard One are important to bring into practice of teaching to show effectiveness. In conclusion, I want to change the lives of others. I want to give my students the respect they deserve and allow them to see that art isn’t just a subject but is a form of expression. I want these future students to be able to take art and retain it on a personal level. I want to give every child the best of opportunities for success. As a dream of teaching others, I want to witness success in students, and I want to be a positive influence in children. I hope to be an encouragement to others and help influence students towards success in life.

5. Personal Goals I plan to graduate by the end of 2014 with a degree in Art Education and a certification to teach art to K-12th. After I graduate, my immediate plans will be to job search for the perfect teaching opportunity for myself. Once I teach for a few years I want to do an online Master’s Degree program for Art Education either through Florida State University or Ohio State University. Once I have completed the Master’s Degree Program I would love to find a part time job at either a University or Community College teaching Art or Art History, and/or I would like to open my own Art Studio to the public that would be accessible for art lessons for all ages and workshops would be taught over all art mediums.

6. “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” -Albert Einstein

7. Resume Home Address XXX XXXXXXXX Rd. XXXXX XXXXX, TN 37XXX Objective: To obtain a desired position as a high school art teacher at Central High School. Education: Houston County High School -2008 Austin Peay State University 2008-2012 Nashville State Community College 2012-2013 Austin Peay State University 2013-present Major: Art Education XXX Cumulative GPA Honors: Dean’s List (2012-2013) National Art Education Association APSU Student Art League Pre-Professional Educational Experience: Child Care Provider 2004-2006 Student Teaching 2014 Volunteer Experience: Youth Leadership (2007-2008) Commodities Volunteer Angel Food Ministries Volunteer References: Available Upon Request

8. Lesson Plan Pop Culture Lesson Plan Lesson Description This lesson is to discuss to students the impact of today’s social media and what impacts it has on civilization. Students will be given examples, talk about spoofs that make fun of certain media, and will discuss some of their favorite articles and commercials and as to why they like this. The teacher should ask what brands students like and why they like them; as well as what influences them to spend money on what they buy. This project will also introduce popular cultured artist such as Andy Warhol. This is for 9-12 grade. Public schools. This project will last three class periods and will end with a critique. Standards Standard 1.0 Media, Techniques, and Processes Students will demonstrate the use of knowledge and technical skills in at least one specific medium. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the safe and responsible use of art media and tools. Standard 3.0 Evaluation 3.1 Analyze and interpret symbols and their origins. 3.2 Research the choices of subject, themes, and/or symbols used by artists/architects. 3.3 Identify the repetitive use of subject, themes, and/or symbols by a culture, time period, or individual artist/architect Objectives • Students will need to learn about the impact of popular culture. • Students will create an image at least 16 x 20” big. • Students should cover the whole plane. • Students will need to create some form of work that contains an image that displays an entertainment piece of some sort. (This may include a CD cover, magazine ad or cover, an article, or a movie poster.) • Students are allowed to use any sort of medium on this project.

9. Lesson Plan Assessment Assessment Class Participation Excellent Good Average Bad _____/20 Drawing/Design Excellent Good Average Bad _____/20 Student has plane of 16x20” paper covered. Excellent Good Average Bad _____/20 Proper Use of Tools Excellent Good Average Bad _____/20 Work Demonstrates Pop Culture. Excellent Good Average Bad _____/20 = _____/100

10. Lesson Plan (cont.) Instructions Part A: Introduction Students will create their own work of a pop culture advertisement or media cover. The poster will be shared during a critique with the rest of the class, after everyone is finished. Part B: Instruction Students will be given a piece of poster board Students will need to make for sure their poster is cut down to at least 16 x20.” Students will be given the option to any media with this project. Students will also need to come up with their own choice of topic of show, brand, movie, book, music, or anything else media related to create an image of. Students will have three class periods to work on this assignment. Students will have approximately two weeks of class to finish this assignment. Part C: Closure In conclusion, the teacher will collect every poster and the class will then meet with a class critique. At this point each student should discuss what their work means to them, why they chose the topic they did, what they like or dislike about it, and then students should follow with other comments. Part D: Modifications to Instructions Modifications can include helping students by giving them a magazine to look at for influence on an idea. Students can also be given help with sizing their board.

11. Observation Reports Over the course of five years spent at Austin Peay State University I have experienced a number of observations in the art classroom and been given opportunities to sit with every grade level, K-12th and SPED. Each classroom has had its own personal environment that the teacher created for the students. Some classrooms were very relaxing and students remained quite and focus while other classes were more of a free space, time is limited but students are more mobile in the class and are more susceptible to creativity with their freedom. Each observation is an informative way for preparation and what expectations should be used in the classroom. The experience gives me a view of how teachers operate in the art classroom, visuals of classroom management, and how to prepare for lesson plans and how to monitor and adjust for students with needs of accommodation.

12. Classroom Experience This classroom experience has been wonderful and challenging. This was my first summer semester to have classes and Instructional Technology in Education has given me the opportunities and experiences to research, read, write, and explore about the differences technology makes in our society and education. There are so many benefits and strengths to students’ education the more technology is present. This class consisted of writing papers over research and scholarly journals and articles, weekly discussion boards with participation from fellow students, weekly activities and analysis papers. The topics of this class covered instructional design, computers and their uses in instructional technology, tools to use for aids, presentations, and collaborations, communication tools used in the classroom for individual and group efforts, and technology advancements from social networking, apps, mobile devices, and future classroom technologies. Lessons extended to tell the truths of where technology fits into the curriculum, its strengths and weaknesses, and its purpose as a whole.

13. Miscellaneous I have learned a lot in this class and overall I learned the importance of technology and the roles it plays in the classroom, for our teachers, and the opportunities it provides for students to get to have a better learning experience. With many technological advancements and things always changing, students are able to learn in different ways and still have their learning styles accommodated for.  "Real success is finding your lifework in the work that you love."   -David McCullough