How to Teach Painting
I learned many of my best methods for how to teach painting when I had an art room without a sink and when I was teaching on a cart. This forced me to get organized with supply distribution, clean up, work habits and finding the right painting experience for my students. Here’s how to get […]
Bookmaking 101: How to add literacy to your art class with accordion books
Bookmaking has become a popular educational tool. My favorite type of book is the accordion book because they are relatively easy to make and don’t require a lot of materials. Here’s how I make simple accordion books with my students and how I integrate them into my curriculum. Why bookmaking? Bookmaking has many advantages. I […]
Back to School Tips for Art Teachers
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 […]
50 Free Short Art Activities
50 Free Short Art Activities I have compiled a list of 50 free short art activities. These are my favorite and most engaging activities I have used over the past 20 years when I just need a short and simple art activity. I use them for the beginning of the school year, the end of […]
How to Make Art Awards for Students
Here’s how to make art awards for students. I have found that giving awards to my art students is a great way to build relationships. I also create an awards slide presentation and make the awards inspired by real artists so that we can review their work during the ‘awards ceremony’. It started when I […]
The Beauty of Bell Work: How to Use Bell Work in Art Class
Bell ringer, bell work or do now are all essentially the same thing. Bell work is a short activity that students can complete independently and quietly after the bell rings. The main purpose is to get students on task and in the mindset for my class. Here’s how to use bell work in art class. […]
Simple Emergency Art Sub Plans
Making emergency art sub plans is never fun. But if you plan ahead, you can be prepared when the time comes. I have learned that simplicity is best. The tips below will help you create emergency sub plans for all your classes in very little time, with very little effort. Start your emergency art sub […]
How to Make Polymer Clay Dragon Eyes
For the past few years I have taught an oil pastel dragon eye lesson to my 6th grade students. My kiddos always love the lesson so much that this year, I decided to add a polymer clay dragon eyes lesson. I ordered the supplies from Amazon and created some dragon eyes of my own. I […]
How to Teach Grid Drawing Technique
Knowing how to teach grid drawing is important for the development of our young artists. It is an excellent way to teach proportion and scale. In my opinion it is one of the best ways to enlarge an image with accurate proportions. With that being said, it can be daunting and exhausting to teach for […]
How I Survive Clay Day: Tips on How to Teach Clay Art
How to teach clay is a common question I get. Clay day is often the one art day kids have waited for all year. Kids ask me all the time, when are we having clay day? With all that hype and excitement, you want to feel prepared and have the best lessons and experience for […]