Creative expression holds no bounds. So often, educators dismiss a child's opinions because they provide the incorrect answer, but the arts allow students to find several solutions to an issue. The arts is not a fixed state where one is limited to one solution but it creates an opportunity for an endless list of possibilities.  It also allows children to express themselves through any means, where their thoughts and concerns are not dismissed. Elliot Eisner, who was one of the leading theorists in art education, once stated that we need to “require activities that slow down perception rather than speed it up.” (Eisner, 2002, p. 10)  Teaching is a space where children from the youngest to the oldest should be free to explore their curiosity and not be afraid to ask questions about the subject because it doesn’t fit into the day's objective. As human beings, we are naturally inquisitive and have an urge to learn more, and that spark should not be extinguished because the need to learn more allows one to continue to pursue their education.

Within my classroom, I will ensure that all students feel seen and heard, especially those new to the English language, because the arts contribute to improving their language skills.  A few summers ago,  I was part of an art program teaching children at a historic Venice charity, Istituto Santa Maria della Pietà (or La Pieta) and San Dona. To bridge the language barrier between my students and I, we relied heavily on the act of art-making to express ourselves. Granted, I was still learning the Italian language and could converse with the children; the act of creating allowed me to forge relationships with my students where they felt comfortable sharing how their experiences within their own lives helped shape their work of art.  I am a strong advocate for teaching with visual elements. Since not all students can listen to and comprehend what is being discussed, visuals can help them understand what is being addressed fully. I felt like sometimes, as adults, we tend to silence a child’s creativity because it is too bizarre or out of the box, but we should allow them to express themselves in any way they choose to, and we shouldn’t limit their creativity. 

The most important thing I can impart to my students is to use the act of art making, whether that be through painting, drawing, and many other ways, as a means to communicate one’s thoughts and to use it as a tool when interpreting the world around us. The arts can foster conservation with diverse groups of people, enabling one to change their views of themselves, others, and society. In my classroom, I would also encourage my students to self-reflect on their artistic choices because if we can't step back and reflect on our artistic process, we will not be able to evolve as artists, and therefore, we will stagnate. I believe this will also counteract any students placing their teacher’s interpretation of their work on a higher pedestal than their own.

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