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

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

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

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

We know collaborative projects have so many positive benefits for our art students. They build skills like patience, empathy, cooperation, communication, and humility. Working collaboratively encourages students to consider different points of view and diverse perspectives. It also gives them an opportunity to practice problem-solving skills in a safe, controlled environment. Teamwork makes the dream work! Collaboration is a win but how do we group our students so they are challenged, feel comfortable, and are set up for success? Do you need to shake things up in the classroom? Below are 10 wa ..read more

Note: Follow district and school policies regarding absenteeism and grading. Have you ever had a student who was absent from class more often than present? If the answer is a resounding “yes,” you’ve got yourself a student with chronic absenteeism! According to the Department of Education, students are chronically absent when they miss 15 days or more per school year. With one in six students across the United States chronically absent, most teachers in the U.S. encounter this issue every year. When students are chronically absent, it can be very difficult for them to catch up and succeed in a ..read more

Have you ever had a student get discouraged about smudging their drawing or struggle with getting the proportions just right? These first signs of challenge or resistance often follow with students quickly giving up. Getting students to persist through the artmaking process is particularly challenging in light of the pandemic and increased social media use. Students expect to learn everything in the span of a minute-long (or less) video instead of through hard work and effort. We want our students to persevere not only so they can improve their artistic skills, but also because resilience is a ..read more

Forget Gen Z—let’s talk Gen Alpha! Generation Alpha takes up the seats in your elementary and middle school art room now and in the foreseeable future. While they are a generation that demands attention, their influence on the global stage only continues to grow.  Assigning the first letter of the Greek alphabet to the first generation born entirely in the 21st Century is fitting. Born from late 2010 to somewhere near 2025 and also known as Generation Glass, Generation COVID, mini-millennials, or Screenagers, the first Gen Alphas just became teenagers this year. Their values and character ..read more