About Lydia
Hi! My name is Lydia Berndt. I am currently the art teacher at Ernest Stapleton Elementary school in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. This is my 3rd year teaching and I am loving every minute of it. I graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor in Fine Arts with a concentration in Art Education. I had the privilege of completing my student teaching in San Antonio, Texas in the Alamo Heights School District. I love traveling, crocheting, hanging with friends, and creating art. I grew up moving all over, my dad was in the military, and I have lived in places like Hawaii, Japan, South Carolina, Florida, just to name a few! I have loved creating and teaching, and it is something that I am extremely passionate about. I am so excited to work with everyone, and explore mediums.
Teaching Philosophy
Art is a process not outcome - just like learning.Art reveals growth in creative thinking and self-reflection. A student develops a capacity to solve problems and expresses deeper understanding through artistic expression. I believe that art begins with fundamentals, but then probes into nuanced thinking. I want my students to be able to take what they learned in my art classes into their future careers, and schooling.
As an educator, I am passionate about educating our future leaders and community members, and I believe that can start in an art classroom.
In high school, I frequently had issues with learning in different subject areas. I struggled with test taking, and focusing in the classroom. I had to adapt and grow in this type of environment to be successful as a student, I mostly did this because of my teachers. I had teachers who understood the way that I was learning and created lessons that I could understand and be successful. As an educator, I will be creating my lessons around my students' different learning styles. I will create pre-assessments and post-assessments. For example, exit tickets and “I understand, and I know,” are some teaching strategies that I will bring to the classroom. This is a way for me to see how the students are absorbing the information. Since students learn in their own way, my teaching style will accommodate a broad group, and together we will excite a culture of curiosity and imagination.
Learning based on student choice is the type of philosophy that I intend to bring into my classroom. Together we can learn and grow with each other. Throughout my college career, I have seen the positive aspects of having a student choice type of atmosphere, where students can bring their ideas, and problem solve together. The hallmark of my teaching methods will draw upon creating a welcoming space for students to be themselves while observing their world through the artist’s process. My students will learn to create work that they are passionate about. The classroom will become a brave forum where I will foster a space where students can talk about issues that are affecting them in their local community. This can only happen if students feel welcome and have the freedom to express. We can only do this by creating respect for ourselves, and others.