TEACHER and LIFE-LONG LEARNER
Jessica Pia
Studio Volunteer
In-Definite Arts Society
February 17th, 2015
Recently I had the opportunity to join an art class at In-Definite Arts Studio here in Calgary as part of a project that I have been working on about diversity, social justice and teacher-student relationship in learning environments. The member artists at In-Definite Arts are developing diverse artistic skills, from sculpting and weaving to painting and mixed media art. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn about these forms from the artists and the welcoming aritst instructors, and it was wonderful to hear all the different stories that they shared about their lives and their passion for art.
Teacher's Assistant
Western Academy of Beijing
November 2009
In 2009 I volunteered as a Teacher's Assistant for two Grade 2 classes in Western Academy of Beijing. It was the first time that I had spent in a primary school setting since my own K-12 education. Through this experience, I gained invaluable insights to what everyday life is like in schools. I worked with groups of students and individual students throughout the day when needed.
I also assisted students in an after-school cooking club. It was very cute (and the results were delicious)! The club is open to all elementary students, so there was a mix of students from all grades, from 1-6. The older students really stepped up to assist the younger ones.
Since this experience, I have always wanted to start a cooking club one day that is similiar to this setup, as I believe it has the potential to stimulate cross-grade relationships. I also think that it is a great way to reinforce learning: it is active and students take on the role of teachers. With my passion for food and my background in culinary arts, I would definitely love to have the opportunity to do this at some point in my teaching career.
