Teaching Practice
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My teaching practice is rooted in creating inclusive, student-centered environments that encourage critical thinking, creative risk-taking, and meaningful engagement with visual culture. I prioritise differentiated learning strategies to meet a diverse range of student needs and aim to foster a classroom atmosphere where all voices are valued. My lessons are scaffolded to promote skill development through process-driven exploration, linking contemporary and historical references to students’ lived experiences. I integrate digital tools, observational drawing, collaborative activities, and reflective writing to enrich learning and assessment. Across both years of school placement, I have grown in confidence as a reflective practitioner—continually adapting my approach in response to student feedback, curriculum demands, and my own evolving understanding of what it means to teach through art.
Oatlands College
Stillorgan, Co. Dublin
During my first year of school placement, I taught at Oatlands College, an all-boys secondary school in South Dublin. This experience provided a strong foundation for developing my classroom management skills and understanding the dynamics of a single-gender learning environment. I planned and delivered lessons across Junior Cycle Visual Art, focusing on observational drawing, 2D media, and introductory sculpture. My approach emphasised process and experimentation, encouraging students to take creative risks while developing technical confidence.
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Throughout the placement, I integrated digital tools for research and visual analysis, and designed formative assessment strategies that supported reflection and peer learning. I also engaged with students' varying abilities by adapting tasks and offering individual feedback, creating a supportive and inclusive classroom culture. This placement was instrumental in shaping my confidence and reflective teaching style, reinforcing the value of clear communication, scaffolded learning, and mutual respect.
Changing Landscapes
1st Year Logotype Design project which focuses students on developing typography inspired Notans as part of their visual environmental awareness design composition informed through observational drawing
Submerged
2nd Year Lino Print project which focused students on drawing natural fish forms and ocean based material such as seaweed while developing their observational drawings into two colour Lino prints
St David's Holy Faith
Greystones, Co. Wicklow
In my final year of placement, I taught at St. David’s Holy Faith Secondary School, a co-educational school located in Greystones, County Wicklow. Building on the experience gained in my first placement, I approached this setting with a deeper pedagogical awareness and greater confidence in facilitating student-led, inquiry-based learning. I taught both Junior and Senior Cycle Visual Art, delivering lessons that ranged from observational drawing and painting to sculptural design and Visual Studies.
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A key focus during this placement was encouraging critical engagement with contemporary issues through art, particularly in senior cycle classrooms. I integrated Visual Culture and history of art into studio-based projects to support deeper thematic development and cross-curricular links. I also placed strong emphasis on inclusive assessment, offering multiple modes for students to demonstrate understanding and creativity.
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This placement allowed me to further refine my reflective practice and differentiate more effectively across ability levels. I collaborated closely with my cooperating teacher, participated in staff meetings, and contributed to the wider school community—experiences that reinforced my professional identity and preparedness for full-time teaching.
Marks of The Sea
5th Year Clay UoL that focused on students completing a site specific installation of a smoke fired ceramic sculpture they've created in response to the coastal environment
Preservation
2nd Year Clay UoL that focuses on students creating a coil built memory jug inspired by their developing identities and the theme of preservation