Welcome to part two of my Guide to Creative Gift Giving! In this series, I'm sharing some not-so-obvious gift ideas that encourage creativity and develop habits and skills for success in art. I've loved art ever since I was a kid. Experiencing some early success with art helped to give me the enjoyment and confidence I needed to keep pursuing it to this day. One of those … [Read more...]
Puzzled About Creative Gift Ideas?
With the holiday season coming up fast, I'll be sharing some art-related gift ideas you might not have thought of! These gifts will encourage creative problem solving, divergent thinking, and all kinds of skills that are necessary for art and life! This is part one in a series of posts for creative gift giving. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss discovering a perfect … [Read more...]
Rock Babies – A Creative Activity for Preschoolers
Get your littlest ones outside, looking closely at nature, and thinking creatively... and you might even brighten someone's day with the result! Our son, Adam, made these adorable "Rock Babies" (his name for them!) when he was a prescho0ler. He's in his 30's now, and I still have them! I keep them in a kitchen drawer that I get into daily, and they still put a smile on my … [Read more...]
How to Have Time for What Matters Most
Summer is officially here and if you’re a teacher, you may feel like I used to…. that your time away from the classroom is precious…. almost too precious. You want to use this time in the best possible way, and not reach the end of your summer with regret about that thing you really wanted to accomplish but never got around to doing. Teachers are not alone in having a … [Read more...]
5 Steps to Improving Your Teaching Skills This Summer
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...]
Prevent Summer Learning Loss with a ‘Retro’ Flash Card Flipper
'Summer Learning Loss', or 'Summer Slide' as it’s also known, is not just an issue for ‘at risk’ students. All students need to practice their academic skills to keep from falling behind over summer vacation. The year I taught 2nd grade I experienced firsthand how much students can forget over the summer. We wasted much valuable time that fall doing remedial work…. re-learning … [Read more...]
