Meet the teacher: Artemis on building confidence and growing as a teacher

Artemis takes us through defining moments in her teaching journey and reflects on why confidence, in what you know and in admitting what you don’t, is one of a teacher’s most important traits.

Thinking back on your teaching journey, what was a defining moment for your teacher identity?

While studying for my BA in English and Creative Writing, I had the opportunity to participate in a project where a few fellow students and I taught Creative Writing seminars in schools across the area. I had never taught before, but I felt very proud when the kids read their creative pieces to me, which they had produced in response to my prompts. Even if they never engage in CW again, I feel that they will carry their participation over into other aspects of their learning and their lives.

Is there a routine or technique that you use to hone a feeling of power or efficacy?

For me, the teacher archetype has always embodied one particular trait: confidence. This includes both confidence in one’s knowledge, and the confidence to say, “I don’t know, but I will find out”.

As a teacher, every time a student asks me something I know the answer to, I emphatically show my confidence in this knowledge, not because I want to seem arrogant or like a know-it-all, but because in the past I very often doubted myself, even when I shouldn’t have. So, I decided this: even if you don’t feel confident, show that you do. And it will come.

At the same time, this line of thinking does not push me to pretend to know something when I don’t. Instead, it supports me when I need the courage to admit that I don’t know, but that I will expand my knowledge and come back with an answer.

Do you recall a moment when you felt disempowered as a teacher?

I was working at a school and there was a student who consistently did not hand in her essays. I reminded her many times and formally informed the school as well, but their response was “We’ll inform the parents during the parent-teacher meeting."

When the meeting took place and I informed the mom, she did two things: 1) brought her daughter into the meeting and shamed her in front of me and the school principal, and 2) asked me why she had not been informed before. Apart from the guilt I felt about the student being put on the spot, although it was not my fault, I was also put on the spot. Before I could get a word in, the principal said, “Yes, Ms. Artemis, we should have known earlier”.

At that moment, I should’ve spoken up, but I was very young and inexperienced, and I did not. Even though it was a minor incident, I felt that the institution I was working for was not willing to stand behind me. Today, I would definitely feel more confident defending my ability to do my job and speaking my mind, but it has taken a few years of experience to build that confidence. However, a lack of formal experience does not give others the right to disrespect your work, and I don't think you need experience to feel confident in that knowledge.

What does “The artist in the teacher” phrase mean for you?

Being a teacher involves being intuitive, spontaneous, creative. Figuring some things out as you go. Seeing how a style works and adapting if it doesn’t. Sometimes you have to be a bit of a clown, sometimes a bit of an actor, and at all times a person in touch with your emotions. These are all the ways a teacher is also an artist.

What would you tell yourself in your first year of teaching?

“You’re allowed to be tired. You’re allowed to make mistakes sometimes. The kids are also allowed to be tired and make mistakes sometimes. Show them you won’t be angry when they aren’t perfect.”