TLS 403

Spring 2019
Vision Statement & Plan For Incorporating Leadership, Advocacy, & Professional Development

 Name: Gabi Cohen

1. Advocacy Statement/Plan for Children and Families

 What early childhood issue do you have interest in working on as an advocate?

The early childhood issue that I have an interest in working on as an advocate is incorporating
more art into early childhood curriculum. I believe children at a young age need to be exposed to
art and have the opportunity to show their free expression and it is an important part of a child’s
education.

 Who are the targeting group of children?

The targeting group of children is anywhere from Kindergarten up to 3rd grade. I believe most
preschools do a good job of incorporating art into their classroom and that once they move on to
Kindergarten and primary grades, teachers forget to add art and some schools do not even have
an art specialist for the classes to go to.

 Why does the issue matter? What do we have to pay attention to the group of children?

This issue matters because children need to enjoy school and not see it as a place of too much
work and not enough fun and exploration. As portrayed in my poster, children need creativity,
inspiration, self-expression, compassion, encouragement, nature, love, balance, patience,
motivation, and ART. Balance is one that is important to my advocacy statement, because their
schedules need to have a balance of science, math, literacy, social studies and art. We need to
pay attention to the group of children and show them that school can be enjoyable and that us as
teachers can find ways to incorporate art into other content areas as well. The more art the better.

 In what ways do you advocate the children?

I will advocate the children by choosing a school to work at that has an art specialist and I will
also make sure to incorporate art into my daily schedule and curriculum that I am given to work
with.

2. Leadership Statement/Plan
 What kind of leader would you be in your classroom, school, and community?

I will be a leader in the sense that I will be working towards adding more art into our school and
finding ways to hang up their work to share with the community which is a great way of bringing
everyone together and gives the children a sense of confidence.

 How would you provide the leadership in your classroom, school, and community?

I would provide the leadership by either bringing in an art specialist into my classroom, adding
art myself and showing the children the importance and meaning behind it, or getting them
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Spring 2019
excited to go to art if there is a specialist available. I would also take them on a fieldtrip to a
museum of art or something where they can make meaning of the arts.

3. Plan for Professional Development

 How would you continue your professional development?

I would continue my professional development by going to seminars and other speakers to learn
more about ways I can be an advocate for this topic and for ways to continuously be adding more
art into my classroom.