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Cherish Sabers
Mrs. DeBock
English 4
7 November 2014
Being a Pottery Teacher
Becoming a pottery teacher takes some time, but it is well worth it. Being a teacher over all is
probably a great feeling because you get to help kids and see them do creative stuff while having
creative thinking and creative problem solving. In ceramics you get to watch students art pieces
grow outstandingly over time. They become well known to what they are supposed to do and
what tools they are supposed to use. Eventually they move over to the wheel after sculpting and
building pieces. To be a great ceramics teacher you need to have creativity, as well as a critical
standard of thinking. Pottery teachers need to be able to solve problems with creativity. Also
pottery teachers need to be able to help students realize their abilitys. To become a pottery
teacher you should not only have intelligence, but an open mind and a creative way of problem
solving as well as being a critical thinker.
First off, when becoming a pottery teacher a person is going to need creative problem
solving .You cant just use ordinary problem solving skills. In the article, Skills and dispositions
for creative problem solving during the art making process it states that critical thinking should
not be confused with intelligence, anybody can gain these skills. Some skills are understanding
meanings, cause and effect, making predictions, analyzing assumptions, and identifying points of
view. Kids do not start off with advanced art skills. With time, they begin to learn and grow with
art. In Skills and Dispositions For Creative Problem Solving DuringThe Art Making Process it
is said that They need a teacher to start helping them think outside the box. Also it is noted that
kids should have a teacher who is going to help them think more intellectually about the picture
and or project they intend to make.
Today, Ceramics teachers and educators in general are not grading as they should and
they are making it way too easy for the students. . Credit is given to students that simply do not
deserve it on their own ability. The students are not getting a chance to see the true excellence in
art and ceramics. I have never felt comfortable giving high praise or high marks merely because I
happen to like a students project (Leuthold). It does not set the kids goals or standards high

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enough. Pottery teachers need to set a better standard goal for these kids so they make something
they actually can feel proud of and work hard at. It seems unfair to the students and undermines
their goal of finding their individual artist voice. (Leuthold) Also Educators have the duty to
teach a critical. (Leuthold) Also to be a pottery teacher you are going to need to teach critical
criteria in order for students to work the hardest on their projects.
Ceramic teachers who teach all ages have to know that adults learn at different rates.
Adults have more experience and more hands on. Whereas children have to have be prompted to
think creatively. According to Oconnor, goal oriented adults who want to know where they are
going often appreciate a written schedule and course description of how they will spend there
next several weeks. Pottery teachers need to have a set schedule on what projects they intend on
doing. Adults, are more reliable and more motivated than children and college students.
(Oconnor) pottery teachers have to be creative and critical thinkers in order to deal with adults,
children, or teenagers. . It is important for teachers to have students who are comfortable in
different situations. Encouraging students to ask questions is possibly one of the more powerful
teaching strategies. (Oconnor) In order to become a pottery teacher you should not only have
intelligence, but also a creative way of problem solving as well as being a critical thinker.

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Work cited
Leuthold, Marc. From Average to Excellent. Ceramics Monthly. 1 Mar. 2008:104. Print
OConnor, Claire. Teaching Pottery To Adults. Pottery Making Illustrated 15.4 (2012): 39.
MasterFILE Primer. Web. 8 Oct. 2014
Skills and Dispositions for Creative Problem Solving during the Artmaking Process. Art
Education. 1 Mar. 2013: 54. Print.