Reflections on Pedagogy and Paint

Welcome to my personal blog space for my Art Education master's program. Here, I'll be sharing my thoughts, research, and experiences as I explore the world of art education. Stay tuned for posts on theory, teaching practices, and reflections on my journey.

Observation and Reflection

Apr 19, 2026 6:13 PM

For the rest of this school year, I am a building sub for a local Montessori school. I have been able to cover grades Kindergarten through 9th grade. It has been a great experience meeting a lot of teachers, staff, and students along the way. For this observation, I was able to observe a mixed age class with grades 1-3. The teacher I was observing has been at the school for six years now and has been a teacher for much longer. This last week, I was able to be in this teachers' class for the day to help out and observe. We will call her "teacher one". During the middle of the day, I went over to another 1-3 class and observed for 20 minutes to just observe any differences in teaching style, methods, etc. This short 20-minute observation was with a new teacher who had just completed her residency and has taken over this class from another teacher that left. We will call this teacher, "teacher two".

Big Idea Project Plan

Apr 5, 2026 9:58 PM

The big idea for this project was work vs play. What kind of art could be created with different parameters set for the project idea? For the "work" sample, I made a social media post asking my friends to commission an art piece from me. I gave them no limits or parameters and got a lot of really fun ideas and requests. I was given ideas such as a portrait of a friends horse, a pottery bowl thrown on the wheel, a birth painting, a painting of a whale, and even tattooing leather. Out of all of the requests, I chose one that felt like it would be more of a "work" piece for me. Not that I did not like the idea or the subject but that I knew it would need to be done well and I would need to put a lot more detail and work into it. For the "play" piece, I chose whatever I wanted to do. Which is usually the fun part. As an artist, I'm sure we can all agree on the "usually" part.

Bid Idea Part 1

Mar 15, 2026 9:58 PM

The Big Idea for my project I chose is - Work and Play. I will be evaluating the relationship between work and play and how creativity changes when tied to expectations vs creating for enjoyment. I will be doing this project on my own as I am not in a permanent position for teaching yet. I will complete this project and inform you all on how it goes.

Practice Context

Mar 8, 2026 6:42 PM

Teaching Identity and Philosophy

Feb 22, 2026 12:04 PM

When I think about how my teaching identity has been created and where my teaching philosophies have started, I think of my children. I am a single mother of 5 amazing children. I have kiddos that have been diagnosed adhd, autistic, and ocd. I have two children that have needed speech therapy services. I have two children with 504 plans at their schools I have had to advocate for them and collaborate with their teachers for many years. I believe that my experience as a mother has given me a unique experience as a teacher.

Introduction / Identity

Feb 8, 2026 2:22 PM

Hello! My name is Tarrin Pippin. I just completed my teaching residency in Secondary English Education back in December of 2025. Shortly after my residency was completed, I graduated from University of Wyoming with my graduate certificate in Secondary Education focusing in English. Right now, I am in the process of licensing. I have received my teaching license for the state of Wyoming and am now waiting on my teaching license for the state of Utah. As I wait for that process to complete and to (hopefully) get a permanent teaching position in August, I am busy substitute teaching while also catching babies as a licensed midwife.

Observation and Reflection

Apr 19, 2026 6:13 PM

For the rest of this school year, I am a building sub for a local Montessori school. I have been able to cover grades Kindergarten through 9th grade. It has been a great experience meeting a lot of teachers, staff, and students along the way. For this observation, I was able to observe a mixed age class with grades 1-3. The teacher I was observing has been at the school for six years now and has been a teacher for much longer. This last week, I was able to be in this teachers' class for the day to help out and observe. We will call her "teacher one". During the middle of the day, I went over to another 1-3 class and observed for 20 minutes to just observe any differences in teaching style, methods, etc. This short 20-minute observation was with a new teacher who had just completed her residency and has taken over this class from another teacher that left. We will call this teacher, "teacher two".

Big Idea Project Plan

Apr 5, 2026 9:58 PM

The big idea for this project was work vs play. What kind of art could be created with different parameters set for the project idea? For the "work" sample, I made a social media post asking my friends to commission an art piece from me. I gave them no limits or parameters and got a lot of really fun ideas and requests. I was given ideas such as a portrait of a friends horse, a pottery bowl thrown on the wheel, a birth painting, a painting of a whale, and even tattooing leather. Out of all of the requests, I chose one that felt like it would be more of a "work" piece for me. Not that I did not like the idea or the subject but that I knew it would need to be done well and I would need to put a lot more detail and work into it. For the "play" piece, I chose whatever I wanted to do. Which is usually the fun part. As an artist, I'm sure we can all agree on the "usually" part.

Bid Idea Part 1

Mar 15, 2026 9:58 PM

The Big Idea for my project I chose is - Work and Play. I will be evaluating the relationship between work and play and how creativity changes when tied to expectations vs creating for enjoyment. I will be doing this project on my own as I am not in a permanent position for teaching yet. I will complete this project and inform you all on how it goes.

Practice Context

Mar 8, 2026 6:42 PM

Teaching Identity and Philosophy

Feb 22, 2026 12:04 PM

When I think about how my teaching identity has been created and where my teaching philosophies have started, I think of my children. I am a single mother of 5 amazing children. I have kiddos that have been diagnosed adhd, autistic, and ocd. I have two children that have needed speech therapy services. I have two children with 504 plans at their schools I have had to advocate for them and collaborate with their teachers for many years. I believe that my experience as a mother has given me a unique experience as a teacher.

Introduction / Identity

Feb 8, 2026 2:22 PM

Hello! My name is Tarrin Pippin. I just completed my teaching residency in Secondary English Education back in December of 2025. Shortly after my residency was completed, I graduated from University of Wyoming with my graduate certificate in Secondary Education focusing in English. Right now, I am in the process of licensing. I have received my teaching license for the state of Wyoming and am now waiting on my teaching license for the state of Utah. As I wait for that process to complete and to (hopefully) get a permanent teaching position in August, I am busy substitute teaching while also catching babies as a licensed midwife.

Observation and Reflection

Apr 19, 2026 6:13 PM

For the rest of this school year, I am a building sub for a local Montessori school. I have been able to cover grades Kindergarten through 9th grade. It has been a great experience meeting a lot of teachers, staff, and students along the way. For this observation, I was able to observe a mixed age class with grades 1-3. The teacher I was observing has been at the school for six years now and has been a teacher for much longer. This last week, I was able to be in this teachers' class for the day to help out and observe. We will call her "teacher one". During the middle of the day, I went over to another 1-3 class and observed for 20 minutes to just observe any differences in teaching style, methods, etc. This short 20-minute observation was with a new teacher who had just completed her residency and has taken over this class from another teacher that left. We will call this teacher, "teacher two".

Big Idea Project Plan

Apr 5, 2026 9:58 PM

The big idea for this project was work vs play. What kind of art could be created with different parameters set for the project idea? For the "work" sample, I made a social media post asking my friends to commission an art piece from me. I gave them no limits or parameters and got a lot of really fun ideas and requests. I was given ideas such as a portrait of a friends horse, a pottery bowl thrown on the wheel, a birth painting, a painting of a whale, and even tattooing leather. Out of all of the requests, I chose one that felt like it would be more of a "work" piece for me. Not that I did not like the idea or the subject but that I knew it would need to be done well and I would need to put a lot more detail and work into it. For the "play" piece, I chose whatever I wanted to do. Which is usually the fun part. As an artist, I'm sure we can all agree on the "usually" part.

Bid Idea Part 1

Mar 15, 2026 9:58 PM

The Big Idea for my project I chose is - Work and Play. I will be evaluating the relationship between work and play and how creativity changes when tied to expectations vs creating for enjoyment. I will be doing this project on my own as I am not in a permanent position for teaching yet. I will complete this project and inform you all on how it goes.

Practice Context

Mar 8, 2026 6:42 PM

Teaching Identity and Philosophy

Feb 22, 2026 12:04 PM

When I think about how my teaching identity has been created and where my teaching philosophies have started, I think of my children. I am a single mother of 5 amazing children. I have kiddos that have been diagnosed adhd, autistic, and ocd. I have two children that have needed speech therapy services. I have two children with 504 plans at their schools I have had to advocate for them and collaborate with their teachers for many years. I believe that my experience as a mother has given me a unique experience as a teacher.

Introduction / Identity

Feb 8, 2026 2:22 PM

Hello! My name is Tarrin Pippin. I just completed my teaching residency in Secondary English Education back in December of 2025. Shortly after my residency was completed, I graduated from University of Wyoming with my graduate certificate in Secondary Education focusing in English. Right now, I am in the process of licensing. I have received my teaching license for the state of Wyoming and am now waiting on my teaching license for the state of Utah. As I wait for that process to complete and to (hopefully) get a permanent teaching position in August, I am busy substitute teaching while also catching babies as a licensed midwife.

Observation and Reflection

Apr 19, 2026 6:13 PM

For the rest of this school year, I am a building sub for a local Montessori school. I have been able to cover grades Kindergarten through 9th grade. It has been a great experience meeting a lot of teachers, staff, and students along the way. For this observation, I was able to observe a mixed age class with grades 1-3. The teacher I was observing has been at the school for six years now and has been a teacher for much longer. This last week, I was able to be in this teachers' class for the day to help out and observe. We will call her "teacher one". During the middle of the day, I went over to another 1-3 class and observed for 20 minutes to just observe any differences in teaching style, methods, etc. This short 20-minute observation was with a new teacher who had just completed her residency and has taken over this class from another teacher that left. We will call this teacher, "teacher two".

Big Idea Project Plan

Apr 5, 2026 9:58 PM

The big idea for this project was work vs play. What kind of art could be created with different parameters set for the project idea? For the "work" sample, I made a social media post asking my friends to commission an art piece from me. I gave them no limits or parameters and got a lot of really fun ideas and requests. I was given ideas such as a portrait of a friends horse, a pottery bowl thrown on the wheel, a birth painting, a painting of a whale, and even tattooing leather. Out of all of the requests, I chose one that felt like it would be more of a "work" piece for me. Not that I did not like the idea or the subject but that I knew it would need to be done well and I would need to put a lot more detail and work into it. For the "play" piece, I chose whatever I wanted to do. Which is usually the fun part. As an artist, I'm sure we can all agree on the "usually" part.

Bid Idea Part 1

Mar 15, 2026 9:58 PM

The Big Idea for my project I chose is - Work and Play. I will be evaluating the relationship between work and play and how creativity changes when tied to expectations vs creating for enjoyment. I will be doing this project on my own as I am not in a permanent position for teaching yet. I will complete this project and inform you all on how it goes.

Practice Context

Mar 8, 2026 6:42 PM

Teaching Identity and Philosophy

Feb 22, 2026 12:04 PM

When I think about how my teaching identity has been created and where my teaching philosophies have started, I think of my children. I am a single mother of 5 amazing children. I have kiddos that have been diagnosed adhd, autistic, and ocd. I have two children that have needed speech therapy services. I have two children with 504 plans at their schools I have had to advocate for them and collaborate with their teachers for many years. I believe that my experience as a mother has given me a unique experience as a teacher.

Introduction / Identity

Feb 8, 2026 2:22 PM

Hello! My name is Tarrin Pippin. I just completed my teaching residency in Secondary English Education back in December of 2025. Shortly after my residency was completed, I graduated from University of Wyoming with my graduate certificate in Secondary Education focusing in English. Right now, I am in the process of licensing. I have received my teaching license for the state of Wyoming and am now waiting on my teaching license for the state of Utah. As I wait for that process to complete and to (hopefully) get a permanent teaching position in August, I am busy substitute teaching while also catching babies as a licensed midwife.

Latest blog posts

Check back regularly for my latest blog posts. I'll be diving into various topics related to art education, from exploring different teaching methodologies to reflecting on my own growth as an educator.

Topics i'll be exploring

My blog will cover a range of topics, including art education research, teaching theories, practical teaching strategies, and personal reflections on my experiences. I hope to create a valuable resource for fellow art educators and anyone interested in the intersection of art and education.

Future directions

In the future, I plan to expand this blog to include insights from my experiences teaching middle school or high school art. I'll also be showcasing my own artwork, including acrylic paintings and pottery, to further connect my artistic practice with my educational philosophy.

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