Is anybody ever really ready for Back to School time? Each year as the fun and freedom of summer vacation winds down, I make a list of simple and manageable goals for the upcoming school year. Here’s eight back to school tips for art teachers that I use to get myself excited and prepare for a successful school year.

Do what is fun for you!

This is the biggest of my back to school tips for art teachers. My students have fun when I am having fun. I choose lessons I will find interesting. If I am not interested in the lesson, I cannot expect my students to be interested or engaged. I get excited about their artwork and I let them see it. It is contagious. It’s definitely important to teach basic art techniques, but I am always looking for new lessons and fresh ways to do it. This keeps things fresh and exciting for me, and a 1 point perspective drawing doesn’t always have to include a house or building, right?

Another thing I do to keep things fun is write a joke of the day on my whiteboard. It’s always a guaranteed laugh for someone! Lastly, I get silly! It seems most of us do! I joke with them, tell them silly stories, and wear odd things that I have to over explain sometimes. But we are having fun, including myself.

Find balance

One of my biggest goals with the start of a new school year is to remember balance. The school and home balance, balance between subject matters and techniques, balance between long and short lessons, etc. Sometimes when I am feeling overwhelmed, I stop and remind myself that tomorrow is another day. Some things can wait, take one day at a time. I often follow a long lesson with a short art activity to give myself extra time for grading.  I give a participation grade, so less stress is put on the students and myself. These short activities are highly engaging and make everyone happy. Many of the creativity challenges or brain breaks I use are listed in my “50 Short Art Activities” post.

I use a variety of mediums and teach many techniques but painting is my absolute favorite medium, followed by clay. So when I need to excite myself, I turn to either a painting or clay lesson. Lastly, I have a Q-Tip on my desk as a reminder to “Quit Taking It Personally”. I keep balanced by allowing some things to roll off my shoulders. Yes it is irritating to find your erasers with holes drilled through the center, but really the eraser cost 25 cents and it is still useful with a hole in the center. I try not to sweat the little things, laugh often and have fun with my students.

Promote the benefits of art

I think it is necessary to let your students know (as well as administration, parents and fellow teachers) the importance of art. Art allows students to be expressive and communicate their personal thoughts, culture and interests. Creating art can serve as an emotional release and generates joy and happiness. Creative thinking and art production allows for students to make decisions and solve problems. Most importantly, it is the balance students need and want in their school day. The opportunity to use a variety of mediums aids in fine motor skills. Creating art develops work habits and cleaning up messy supplies teaches students responsibility and appreciation for materials. As I am starting the school year, I find opportunities to remind my students why art is an important part of their education.

Sell your art program

At the beginning of the school year, I plan for ways I can sell my art program to my school and community. My goal is to make my program visible. I ask about bulletin boards, showcases, hallways or library space that looks like it would use a little fun and color. Then, I hang up student artwork throughout the school and always keep the artwork fresh and exciting. I make sure I am featuring all of my students’ artwork and giving each of them time to shine.

I work collaboratively with other teachers and disciplines and integrate art whenever possible. Making connections to what students are learning in science or history can make projects more meaningful and fun. I plan lessons around monthly observances and celebrations, such as holidays, Hispanic Heritage Month, Music in Our Schools Month, Black History Month, and Women’s History Month. I feel lessons that are relatable and meaningful often are the most engaging.

Create a classroom community

I believe a strong sense of community will yield more engagement and less discipline problems. I use the beginning of the school year to create our “art family” with a variety of different community building activities. There are so many options! One my favorite team building activities is the “Exquisite Corpse”. It has been a student favorite since I started teaching 22 years ago. It allows students to get to know each other by working on a collaborative drawing, with the result being a funny drawing. If you are interested in the lesson check out my YouTube video tutorial to see how it is done. 

Another favorite activity is ‘2 truths and 1 lie’. I have the students write 2 true things about themselves and 1 lie on a note card. For the next few class periods I read aloud the information as my students are working and we try to guess the lie while learning some interesting facts about one another. My students usually beg for a round 2.

Communicate clear expectations and routines

Back to school time is a great time to review expectations and set routines. I have a procedure for everything and I review them on the first day and continue to review them weekly, sometimes daily. Even with my students I have had in class before, I still remind them of the clean up procedure. I have learned never assume they know or remember what to do. Each art medium requires some introduction, care for tools, clean up, etc. It is worth the time spent reviewing procedures instead of being stuck with a messy room!

My students know how to enter the room, get their supplies and binders, sit in their assigned seats and begin bellwork once the bell rings. I am a firm believer in using bell work to calm students and prepare them for learning while giving myself a few minutes to prepare for class. My “The Beauty of Bellwork” post explains the benefits of bellwork in more depth.

Be prepared

I find the best way to reduce stress about back to school time is feeling like I’m prepared. I inventory my supplies, make sure everything is organized, order supplies I will be needing, and plan lessons for the first few weeks. Of course, emergencies can still happen and when they do the last think you want to be doing is getting ready for a sub. This is why I suggest the “Sub Tub”. Create a box, binder or files with copies of lessons, worksheets or activities that will keep your students busy while you are gone. Include seating charts, any important information and briefly explain routines that a substitute would need to know. I created a bundle of 12 simple, one-page sub plans that I have printed an in a folder in my room so I have peace of mind if something comes up. You can check out my Art Sub Plans here.

Make personal connections

I try to learn all of my students names as soon as possible. I use a seating chart to help learn their names and call them by name as often as possible. As a visual person I find it helpful for students to make an autobiographical artwork at the beginning of the year. My students write their name in a creative way and incorporate things about themselves in the design. They use this as their sketchbook/binder cover. It is a great way to learn about them and helps me remember their interests all year long.

I have a whole Back to School bundle of name art lessons, ice breakers, and collaborative art activities. Check it out here.

Enjoy your year, Trista

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