When I first watched this TEDx Talk a while back, I immediately saw the implications for teachers…. and not only for Art teachers. I believe any teacher of any grade or subject will benefit from following these steps. For that matter, anyone who wants to get better at anything could apply this strategy. Maybe that’s why this TEDx Talk is titled, “How to Get Better at the Things … [Read more...]
22 Ways to Combine Writing & Art to Encourage Creativity
I recently had the privilege of helping my adult daughter edit the manuscript for her first book. Her first real, published book. A book with an agent, a publisher, a release date (April 2017), and it’s own pre-order page on Amazon. A proud parenting milestone for sure! But this book of hers has been a long time in the making. In fact, we can trace its origin all the way back … [Read more...]
How to Take Great Photos of Kids’ Art Using Your iPhone
Whether you’re a parent wanting to document your child’s artistic journey or an art teacher/blogger in need of awesome photos of your students’ projects, the best camera to use is the one you have with you! And if you’re like me, that’s the iPhone in your back pocket. With an iPhone (or other smartphone), you can take photos that are high enough quality for most uses, from … [Read more...]
Your Child’s Art: What to Save, How to Save It
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about decluttering…. paring down all the stuff we've accumulated over the years and keeping only what’s truly important to us. So when one of my readers asked me what to do with the 'mountain of artwork' his kids were bringing home, it really struck a chord. After surveying friends, family, my own bookshelf, and the internet in general, I came to … [Read more...]
A Podcast Just for Art Teachers
When I discover something new that I really love, I have to share it! Whether it's my new YETI tumbler that keeps my tea hot (or cold) all day or my Pentel Water Brush that I'm currently having a blast with, I tell everyone. There's just something in me that has to share good things with others. So after listening to the first eight episodes of Patty Palmer's new podcast, … [Read more...]
The Cure for Dry Hands!
We art teachers probably wash our hands as often as doctors! When you combine this frequent hand-washing with cold winter weather, and whatever medium we've currently got our hands in, it takes a nasty toll on our skin. After so many years of trying different lotions and still having rough, dry hands, I had all but resigned myself to this fate! But when I started working … [Read more...]
4 Easy Ways to Sharpen Your Scissors
Scissors in the art room can get dull fast, with being shared by so many students, and cutting who-knows-what! But sharpening your inexpensive classroom scissors is easy to do and can add new life to dull scissors that you might otherwise just toss and replace. And the best part is that you probably already have all you need to do it! 1. Basic aluminum foil works great … [Read more...]
3 Tips for Keeping Colds and Flu Out of the Classroom
The cold and flu season has hit with a vengeance this year. Everywhere I look people are coughing, sniffling, and sneezing…. even here in California where we seem to have missed the whole 'winter weather' memo altogether. (It’s been in the 70’s here… sorry, east coast friends!) But an ounce of prevention may help slow the spread of germs, especially in a classroom environment … [Read more...]
Easy DIY Envelopes to Fit Any Size Card
With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I wanted to share this super-easy DIY envelope you can make to fit any size card! How many times have you or your students created a wonderful hand-made card for Valentine's Day (or Christmas, Birthday, Mother's Day, etc.) and then delivered it in an envelope that didn't fit correctly, or worse yet, no envelope at all??! An … [Read more...]
How to Draw Out the Very Best Artwork from Your Students
I first fell in love with kids’ art long before I ever became an art teacher…. I think I’ve always been attracted to it. Truth be told, I prefer kids’ art to most of the art that adults make! I love its spontaneity, its expressiveness, and its honesty. Kids’ art is charming, original, and delightful…. except when it’s not. We’ve all seen art made by kids that looks like a … [Read more...]
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