Jennifer Burkin has been teaching art most of her adult life — with more than 30 years of experience — and she’s one of the Teachers We Love in 2021. You can learn more about her in the interview below, and at The Teacher Marketplace.
Why did you become a teacher?
I love connecting with children and creating projects that are fun and exciting for them.
How has the last year affected your students and your teaching approach?
I have mostly been teaching remotely so the challenge has been to connect with students online, and it has been a challenge. I find that I have to allow for young children to take more breaks and wander away from the computer as needed. Sometimes they come back with a snack or a toy that they want to show me.
They have distractions at home and I have found that I just have to roll with it.
What’s a creative solution you use to keep kids engaged or motivated during COVID?
I find that keeping a constant conversation going online is helpful whereas in person I allow for more silence.
What resources do you like to use in the classroom or in teaching remotely?
As an art teacher, I like to show students examples of work from major museums that inspire me and their lessons.
How do you gauge if your students are succeeding?
As long as my students are focused and giving their best effort they are successful.
What’s a fun thing students don’t know about you?
I love to travel to museums and used to live in New York City where I went to a different museum almost every weekend.
What’s the one book you wish all students would read?
Young, Gifted and Black by Jamis Wilson.
What are you most proud of as a teacher?
I am most proud of students when they use their creativity to accomplish what they didn’t think they could.
Meet More Teachers We Love in 2021
“Teachers We Love” in 2021 is a co-production between Parentology and The Teacher Marketplace. To meet more amazing teachers, visit the Teachers We Love section.
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Teachers We Love in 2021. You can learn more about him in the interview below, and at The Teacher Marketplace.
