Art Ed Radio

The fight to keep the art room clean and organized can sometimes seem like a never-ending battle. But is it worth all of the time and effort? Andrew tries to convince Tim about the benefits of letting the mess happen, and Tim takes a shot at convincing Andrew he can actually learn to be organized. They discuss how the right routines can lead to a clean classroom (10:00), and why the projects you teach sometimes force you to keep a mess (12:30). They finish the show with some of their best tips and tricks to keep the mess and the chaos of their worst projects under control (16:30).

• Sometimes it can be a beautiful mess
• You can manage the mess of printmaking
• Tim's favorite tip on keeping clay clean
• How to cope, no matter your art room organization style

Art teachers are always concerned about teaching students how to think more creatively. But no one ever talks about how to teach for creativity? Tim has a conversation with high school and online art teacher, Amber Kane, about the concrete, manageable, actionable ways we can get students on the path toward more creativity. Check out the discussion about helping kids appreciate the creative process (8:00), new strategies for classroom and individual critiques (13:30), and how to find the balance between procrastination and creativity (15:30).

• Tim and Andrew debated one of these topics before in 'Does Creativity Require Procrastination?'
• Check out Amber's Blog, The Unstandardized Standard
• Learn more about AOE's Creativity in Crisis course

The Radio Guys bring former AOE writer, Alecia Kaczmarek, on the show to answer listeners' questions about those projects that never seem to run as smoothly as you would like. The "Project Doctors" dip into the listener mailbag to take on papier mâché projects, printmaking, perspective drawing, and even some classroom management. Listen for Andrew's amazing sculpture ideas (6:00), Alecia's best ways to teach routines (13:15), and why Tim and Andrew both quit teaching perspective drawing a long time ago (18:30).

• Alecia mentioned AOE writer Matt Christenson's article on how to begin your class
• Tim mentioned Ian Sands when he talked about some alternative approaches to teaching perspective. Here are 3 of Ian's awesome ideas:
  • https://www.theartofed.com/2014/04/25/new-ideas-in-art-perspective/
  • https://www.theartofed.com/2014/11/11/5-ways-to-teach-architecture-without-linear-perspective/
  • https://www.theartofed.com/lesson-plans/forced-perspective-photos-free-lesson-plan/
• And one great article on how to manage the mess of printmaking

Are we finally moving away from standardization and the Common Core? Could we possibly be headed toward an educational world that values innovation, collaboration, and creativity? We hope this is the case, and if so, art is the perfect subject to help shape students for a creative world. Andrew brings on Kasey McCurdy, VP of Engineering for a company called BunchBall, to discuss innovation and motivation. Their discussion focuses on a lot of great topics, including students' disengagement in the current educational system (6:15), the most important skills we can teach (13:00), and specific ideas to start improving the educational system (16:00).

• See some innovation in action
• What Makes Leaders Innovative?
• Check out AOE's Project Based Art Room course

Art teachers everywhere face the fact that many students struggle with creativity. Call it a crisis in creativity or spend your time looking for culprits, it is what is. This struggle manifests itself in the art room as copied Disney characters and anime sketches. But what if fan art isn't the scourge we've made it out to be? What if fan art is actually a way for a number of students to get and stay engaged with the arts outside of class. Andrew brings on Tim to hash out the debate.

Listen to Tim rant about anime (4:00), and check out the guys' discussion on the importance of originality (13:00) and keeping kids interested in art once they move beyond our classrooms (21:00).

• Check out Andrew's article about originality that he mentioned
• Take a listen to the episode that originally brought this conversation about
• AOE writer Melissa Purtee also shared her thoughts on Originality and Plagiarism

It is always difficult when you transition into a new teaching situation. Whether you are moving to a different grade level, or changing districts altogether, you can come to find out that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Andrew talks to AOE Instructor Molly Wiste about why you shouldn't be afraid to ask for help, and why you need to be patient as you go through the rocky parts that happen with every transition. Make sure you listen for the comparison between your first year of teaching and your first year someplace new (6:00), how you can differentiate yourself from the previous teacher (16:30), and the best advice to make the most of that less-than-ideal situation (23:00).

Check out the AOE series on your first year of teaching art at each level:

• Elementary
• Middle School
• High School
• The Differences When You Switch Levels
• Transitioning from Elementary to Middle School
• Things to Think About Before You Switch Positions

A week after Tim and Andrew worked through their frustrations with terrible art teachers, they are back to celebrate the things amazing art teachers do! The guys dive into a discussion regarding teaching with breadth, making learning transparent, and creating a positive and comfortable environment in which students can thrive. Listen for why we should always reflect on what we can do better (8:15), how you can improve every year (10:45), and what teachers in other subject areas can learn from amazing art teachers (21:00).

• Check out the article Tim talked about during the episode.
• When Andrew was talking about inspiring teachers in other subject areas, he referenced this article.
• 7 Ways to Hit Your Stride in the Art Room
• 10 Projects to Help You Continue to be Amazing

There are incredible art teachers all over the country, working every day to improve their craft. These teachers care about their students, their subject, and their profession. And then there are the rest of them. They are ineffective, disinterested, and to put it bluntly, terrible art teachers, and they give the rest of us a bad name. Tim and Andrew work through their frustrations with those terrible art teachers and talk about what you can do if you find yourself slipping into these bad habits. Listen for their advice on why you need to explore new things (8:30), why you should stand up for yourself (10:00), and how to avoid the negativity that leads to terrible teaching (11:45).

• Why it's Okay to Feel Teacher Burnout
• 7 Ways to Hit Your Stride in the Art Room
• Confessions of a Not-So-Perfect Art Teacher
• 10 Things to Stop Doing Now as an Art Teacher

The first year of teaching is, well, kind of an adventure. This episode highlights the trial by fire that is your first year and shares some incredible stories from listeners and AOE writers. You will definitely laugh, you might cry, and you will undoubtedly be inspired as Tim and Andrew share stories to help you navigate your first year of teaching art. Listen for reasons why you can't expect to be perfect (8:30), advice for effective classroom management (17:30), and why we all come back to teaching after a difficult first year (28:30). Make sure you visit theartofed.comall week for more articles, advice, and information for first-year art teachers.

• 5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before this School Year Starts
• 12 Ways To Make the Beginning of Your School Year Run Smoothly
• 20 Tips For Your 1st (or 10th!) School Year
• Start the Year Off with a Classroom Mantra

Dealing with a long-term absence is a complicated situation and one rarely dealt with in art education. This week, Tim talks to Kelly Parvin, an art teacher from Alabama, about her fight with cancer and how she handles being gone for significant amounts of time. They discuss ways to prepare for time away (06:00), how to adapt lesson plans to help the sub fill your shoes (09:00), and the potential benefits of a different "voice" in your classroom (15:00).

• How to Plan for a Long-Term Sub
• Long Term Subs: Before, During, and After
• Coming Back From a Leave of Absence