Teaching Beyond the Curriculum: A Bracelet, A Reminder

Teaching Beyond the Curriculum: A Bracelet, A Reminder

As the SchoolNova academic year comes to a close, I find myself in the familiar position of looking ahead—drafting new ideas, shaping a fresh curriculum, and imagining new possibilities for my students. Planning a new course is never truly easy, but it’s not the most difficult part either.

The real challenge lies in creating lessons tailored to each individual student.
Every child learns at their own pace. Each comes to class with a different level of prior knowledge, motivation, passion, and artistic sensibility. If I try to fit them all into a single, uniform mold, the class loses its rhythm. Teaching, for me, is not about applying a fixed formula. It’s about listening, observing, and designing instruction that fits the unique shape of every learner.

I’m deeply thankful that my time at Adelphi University’s graduate program prepared me well for this. There, I didn’t just learn how to teach—I learned how to see my students. And those lessons have proven invaluable not only at SchoolNova but also in my personal studio classes.

Crafting an individualized approach takes effort—long nights spent researching, brainstorming, revising. I read articles, revisit books, comb through online platforms, and reflect deeply. Sometimes, I wonder: do my students see this invisible labor? Do they know how much thought I pour into their growth?

Then, something extraordinary happens—a small gesture that says everything.

Recently, I received a handmade bracelet from one of my students. Each bead carefully chosen, the entire piece strung together with care and affection. This wasn't just a gift. It was a message. As the student created it, they were thinking of me—remembering something I said, a moment we shared, a lesson that resonated. In that simple, beautiful offering, I felt seen.

Moments like these remind me why I teach. They renew my commitment to never let down the sincere and generous hearts of my students. Their purity, their kindness, their belief in me—it fuels the very best in my teaching.
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As I prepare for the next semester, I do so with gratitude and renewed purpose. I carry their trust with me, like the bracelet around my wrist: a quiet circle of color and love, reminding me of the bond between a teacher and their students.

​A heartfelt reflection on the challenges and joys of personalized teaching, inspired by a handmade bracelet from a student. Discover how a simple gift affirmed a teacher’s dedication and renewed her purpose.