Note: Be sure to review all resources and preview all artists before determining if they are appropriate to share with your students. A great work of art can greatly impact the viewer. When this impact is challenging to put into words, poetry can be a powerful tool! Poetry is an organic way for all students to capture thoughts and feelings with a high level of success. One lesser-known form of poetry is ekphrasis, Greek for description. Ekphrasis is a literary tradition describing and commenting on a work of art and it most commonly comes in the form of poetry. The vivid detail in ekphrastic p ..read more

Stepping into the world of the secondary art classroom is an exciting transition for elementary art teachers. However, it can also be nerve-wracking! As a high school art teacher, you probably have more students and preps per class period. Plus, you may be struggling with how to manage students who are physically bigger than you! If you’re wondering why the rainbows and glitter are no longer cutting it, don’t worry. There are tons of strategies and tips you can employ to foster respect in the art room and cultivate amazing artmaking.  Start with these words of wisdom about stepping into t ..read more

Students love working with clay because the process is tactile and seeing the form develop is satisfying. When students begin making their first pinch pots, they often wonder if they can make cups or mugs they can actually drink out of. Of course, the short answer (with food-safe glazes) is yes! However, the initial excitement to touch clay can quickly disappear once students realize how challenging handbuilding can be. If you’re looking for ways to increase the success factor for your students, stay tuned for several tips and project ideas that don’t require a pottery wheel or special tools ..read more

As art educators, we have mixed emotions when we return to school after spring break. On one hand, it’s exciting to start new lessons and see our students again. But on the other hand, we need to get back into the swing of things and reestablish routines and structures. We may discover dried gluesticks, watercolor palettes with missing colors, and an empty pencil cup. Sometimes, we have to create new systems that will work better for our art room. Wherever you fall on the spectrum of spring break emotions, breaks are a great opportunity to refresh and rejuvenate our mental health and our studi ..read more

Art teachers love Piet Mondrian! His pieces are some of the most recognizable works of modern painting. Draw in students of all ages with his simple use of geometric shapes, bold lines, and primary colors. Mondrian is also the perfect artist to reinforce foundational color theory and design principles. But did you know that you and your students can go deeper? Try the STEAM idea below to inspire innovation in your students. They’ll light up as they transform flat shapes into three-dimensional forms! Join us as we rediscover the iconic artist, Piet Mondrian. Then, add a fresh STEAM twist to li ..read more

Two heads may be better than one, but are two schools? Imagine stepping into multiple school environments on a daily or weekly basis. This is exactly what you get as a traveling art teacher. The challenges of this job situation are real—but so is the opportunity for impact. The traveling art teacher gig requires adaptability, creativity, and a willingness to embrace diversity as you deal with different school cultures, staff, students, and environments. The practical tips below will help traveling art teachers navigate the intricacies of different classrooms and turn the challenge of splitting ..read more

It can be challenging to get the secondary art class into a creative groove, particularly with technology distractions. The default for many students is to scroll social media after they have completed their artwork. How can we redirect students and motivate them to dive deeper into their artistic practice? One way to do this is to introduce the Studio Habits of Mind (SHoM.) The SHoM is a framework that guides an artistic way of thinking and provides a set of routines, or habits, to support a consistent learning process. This encourages students to spend time and energy on their work.  Ha ..read more

“I’m done! What do I do now?” You’ve heard it more times than you’d like to count. Around this eager, expectant learner is a sea of busy artists. You have another early finisher so you start racking your brain for extra things they can do. You need a system in place to keep the learning going without losing your sanity! Art teachers are constantly navigating how to work with students who learn and create at different paces. Developing a system for early finishers in the art room is crucial to making every minute in the art room as creative as possible. Whether you’re looking to refine your exi ..read more

There’s a month to celebrate and recognize all sorts of causes including things like jazz, ice cream, and even bikes. Did you know there’s a month to celebrate art education too? Youth Art Month (YAM) is the advocacy platform you didn’t know you needed. Intentionally focus this month on fostering a community that recognizes the profound impact of visual art on student development, including the 21st-century skills students need to thrive today. There are so many creative ways to highlight what you are already doing in your classroom to advocate for the visual arts and your program. Celeb ..read more

Are you a general education teacher thinking about leaping into the world of art education? Or are you a newly crowned art teacher with a non-traditional art background? Taking on this journey requires support and a willingness to embrace a hands-on curriculum. Even if you do not have formal art education training, you can harness your previous classroom experiences in the art room. Entering the world of art education is a colorful journey with endless possibilities! We asked for your best advice and you delivered! (1, 2, 3) If you’re not already, follow along on social media so you don’t miss ..read more