Meet the Teacher: Sylvia Karastathi | LANGUAGECERT

Sylvia reflects on how creating space for her students, shaping the classroom atmosphere, and protecting her energy have reshaped her ways of teaching.

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

My teacher training pushed me to think about how I can step back and allow more room for my students to take ownership. I found it easy to assert control and guide the group, so learning to step back and create that space was a moment that changed the dynamic for me and allowed me to co-create and be open and responsive to students’ wishes and their mood.

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

At moments when I crave a change of atmosphere, I try to bring a feeling of whimsical openings to my lessons. This is facilitated through music in the classroom, a virtual desktop to mark the seasons, a candle, some flowers, or a favourite object. It is not a student activity as such, but rather an alignment with how I want to feel in that particular lesson, and it gives me a sense of grounding.

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

Working with large groups who do not have the discipline or the motivation were hard moments. Difficult cohorts really require all our skill set: problem solving, imagination, motivation, constant reminders, relentless energy and enthusiasm to counter their indifference. It was exhausting, but as experience gave me more options, I learned to protect myself by avoiding such environments.

What does ‘The artist in the teacher’ phrase mean for you?

For me, connecting with the unexpected, the emerging, going with the student flow, mirrors how one could function as an artist in the classroom; it is not about throwing away the lesson plan, but about connecting with the energy in the room, being ready to experiment, and embracing emerging needs, which is often where learning really happens.

Register for Sylvia’s upcoming webinar: Beyond the Classroom: Learning in and through the Art Museum