Occasionally, our efforts to make an impact show up in sweet love notes from a first-grader or a required essay to a favorite teacher. Sometimes it’s larger and grander in scale like your annual art show.  Other days, the monotony of daily routines, sassy kids and challenging schedules make it hard to tell if what we are doing is having any impact at all.

On this episode of Art Made Easy, Patty shares 5 likely ways you are making an impact without even being aware of it.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

• How many children our members are impacting worldwide

• Why you have to pay attention to how you are showing up each day

• The special challenges art specialists face, but how they can be turned into opportunities

• What really happens when you demonstrate your enthusiasm for art

• How sharing about your own life can open up a world of possibilities for your students

• My favorite quote and what it says about how I feel about being a creative person

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

LINKS & RESOURCES

Enrolling new Sparklers on January 3, 2018To learn more about The Sparklers Club

Videos on DSS Facebook Page

Quote by Martha Graham

You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram

FacebookInstagram

Bar Rucci grew up in a creative household. She was determined to go to art school despite her parent’s plea to become a computer programmer.  As a true creative, she compromised on the selection of her major,  attended Skidmore College and graduated with a degree in Art and a minor in Early Childhood Development.

What followed was a series of experiences: mural painting, clothing businesses, and finally, a long stint as a graphic designer. It was this last venture that became her calling, allowing her to stay home and raise her children.

Barbara’s journey has many elements that many Creative folks experience. This is what fascinated me throughout the interview: the constant yearning for a new experience, challenge or artistic pursuit. Can you relate?

Bar and I discuss the challenges and joys of teaching art at home and the magic of cardboard. Yes, cardboard…

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

• What Bar’s childhood was like and how she was introduced to art and creativity

• Why she decided to scale up her business and her life in general

• Why Bar never held a “real job”

• Her definition of what success

• What teaching art at home looks like for Bar, and her tips on keeping kids engaged until the very end of the day

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

DOWNLOAD THIS FREEBIE CLASSROOM POSTER FROM BAR RUCCI:

LINKS & RESOURCES

Bar's Poster

Artsy Emoji app Tutorial

For more inspiration, visit Bar’s blog and follow her on social media:

WebsiteInstagramFacebook PagePinterest

Today I’m talking to Laurie Police Short, author of When Changing Nothing Changes Everything.  In this episode we’re talking about how changing perspective can alter behavior and ultimately our life.

With the help of four different lenses, Laurie shows you how the way you see can have an impact on how you live. This is deeply personal to me as I truly believe that teachers have the power to have the biggest impact on so many lives but the daily grind can definitely get in the way of our purpose.

Laurie walks us through four lenses:

The Big View: Our life isn’t merely shaped by the things that happen to us, it is also shaped by the way we live.

The Present View: Keep our eyes focused on what is in front of us is the only way to see the path ahead.

The Rear View: We don’t look back to stay back, we look back so we can choose what to take into our future.  Otherwise stuff follows us without our vote.

The Higher View: Need is around us in every form, and when we allow it to be in front of us, something magical happens to our eyes.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

•The moment that changed Laurie’s own life - and planted the seed for her to write the book

•What are the four “lenses” that will change the way you see life and what happens when you look through each one

•The one movie that every teacher should watch and it can change your perspective on life

•What we can do if we’re getting caught up with focusing on the wrong things

•Why it’s so important to tune in to what’s happening around you

•How you can reframe the past to decide what you want to include in your future and change the story in your head

•How we can actually heal from our pain and why thinking of our lives as a “story” can be so hopeful

•Why taking the higher view can lead to you making the most of every single moment of your life

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

LINKS & RESOURCES

For more information about Laurie Short:

When Changing Nothing Changes Everything by Laurie Polich Short

Laurie Short Website

Laurie Short Book and Companion Guide *video series link to follow at end of month

Follow Laurie on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @lauriepshort

Eckhart Tolle:

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle 

Curt Thompson:

Being Unknown

Links on Oprah:

Super Soul Sunday

Carolyn Myss

Whenever I explore cultural art projects, I wonder if the lesson I plan will reflect on the values and traditions of the designated country. There have been so many times when I’m knee-deep in Google searches that I wish I could just call someone and have them tell me the most popular art styles in their country.

Today’s interview is that type of conversation. I spoke with Sparkler, Payal Wachhar, an art teacher from India who teaches in Australia. Payal and I talk about her passion for inquiry base learning and her favorite Indian art influences. Oh my goodness….the details, descriptions and her passion! So contagious.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 

All about Payal’s journey from India to Australia, and how she picked up so many different art skills along the way that she incorporates into her teaching today

Why she initially “hated” the idea of becoming a teacher (and what changed this)

Payal’s art philosophy and non-traditional ways of teaching art to her students

How customizing her teaching to her students needs is leading to a higher level of trust and more engagement from the kids

The ways she would design a curriculum around teaching the art of India

Why you should be paying attention to your own zone of genius and working the things you are good at into your lessons

How consistency in my lessons and being fair to everyone were keys to my teaching experience (and why I personally didn’t use any technology in my classrooms)

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

LINKS & RESOURCES

Payal's favorite DSS lessons:

Chinese Dragons

Chicken Little & Henny Penny Art Project

Metallic Robot Drawing

Videos and Freebies for the 10 year Deep Space Sparkle celebration can be found at:

Deep Space Sparkle Facebook Page

Deep Space Sparkle Party Page

Are you using literacy strategies in your art room? If you are, you know how effective they can be for engaging students, connecting content areas with your lessons and providing an opportunity for children to analyze art.

If you’re not sure, you might be surprised with how easy you can adapt simple literacy strategies in your art room—so easy in fact, that you might be using some without even knowing it!

My guest today is Marisa Gebert. If her name sounds familiar, that’s because she is chief curriculum creator at Team Sparkle. Marisa aligns Common Core, Visual Art Standards, plus assessments and writing exercises into our Sparklers Club lessons. And, she is the architect behind the done-for-you art curriculum inside the Sparklers Club.

She earned her Masters degree in education with an emphasis on literacy and is one smart cookie.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

Why books are a wonderful way to introduce an art lesson

How to have your students caption their artwork

You can support the skills students are learning in Language Arts by encouraging students to tell a story about their artwork

How to teach Elements of Art and Principles of Design through journaling in the art room.

Why you should incorporate a word wall into your art room

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

DOWNLOAD THIS ART RESOURCE GUIDE:

LINKS & RESOURCES

Art Made Easy 048  with Marisa Gebert

Deep Space Sparkle Facebook Page

The Three Musicians: A Children’s Book Inspired by Pablo Picasso by Veronique Massenot & Vanessa Hie

Gunslingers & Outlaws Lesson from DSS

Ashley Bryan Home Page

Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan

High Museum of Art, Atlanta

50 Early Childhood Literacy Strategies (Teaching Strategies Series) by Janice J. Beaty

Literacy and Learning in the Content Areas by Sharon Kane

Teaching art in a Title 1 school can be challenging. Often there is limited funding for art supplies, behavioral issues and lack of support. Although, depending on your perspective, teaching at a Title 1 school can be no different than any other school.

At least that’s how it was for me.

I taught in a Title 1 school for 6 years and loved it.

So why do some teachers thrive in challenging situations while others struggle?

In this episode of Art Made Easy, I’m answering a question that I have put aside for over a year. The question that came from a clearly frustrated teacher weighed on me until I felt I had enough perspective to answer her question.

I’ll share my best tips for how to manage the challenging logistics of teaching art in a Title 1 school.

Here are my top tips:

- Be super organized.

- Accept you might not have all the art supplies you need, so be creative.

- Learn all you can about management. This will be your ticket to success.

- Don’t underestimate the power of choosing engaging subjects for your art lessons.

- Take care of yourself.

- Join a supportive learning community.

- Practice positivity & know you are impacting children at a level you may not be aware of

Ready to have a listen?

SHOW NOTES:

James Wedmore’s Mind Your Business Podcast

When Changing Nothing Changes Everything: The Power of Reframing Your Life by Laurie Police Short

The Abundance Code: How to Bust the 7 Money Myths for a Rich Life Now by Julie Ann Cairns

AME 067 with Lynda Gordon How to Seek Funding for your Art Program

AME 012 Easy Management Tips with Michael Linsin

Smart Classroom Management

Go Fund Me Website

Teaching art at home to a few children is quite different than teaching 30 children in a classroom. It means you have more flexibility and freedom to create art when and how you want.

I’ve taught in classrooms, art rooms and around my dining room table and love the nuances that each setting brings.

This podcasts shares some of my best tips for teaching art at home. Make sure to download the Art at Home Toolkit and follow along!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

How you don’t need to know everything about art when embarking on creating art with your kids, you just need an interest.

Why you need to establish your own intentions and expectations before teaching children

How the use of descriptive words will enrich children's vocabularies

Why developing a teacher’s mindset and establishing a routine can help so much when managing your child’s behavior

Creating a schedule can lead to increased focus and creativity in your children

What’s the most important thing that you can give your child to develop their art skills

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

DOWNLOAD THIS ART RESOURCE GUIDE:

If you are new to teaching art at home, download this guide which will help identify management strategies, what art supplies to buy and helpful links that will get you teaching in no time!

NOTE: TO RECEIVE THE PDF, YOU MUST WHITELIST our email:  patty.palmer@deepspacesparkle. IF YOU ARE A GMAIL customer, THAT MEANS MOVING OUR EMAILS OUT OF YOUR PROMOTIONS FOLDER (can't find anything in that!)

SHOW NOTES:

AME 020: The Best Art Project to use with Kids

AME 049: Teaching Art at Home

Are you a classroom teacher who is required to teach art but not sure where to start? Or perhaps you want to collaborate with your grade level peers and start an art rotation? Lynda Gordon, a third grade teacher from Lompoc, California can relate.

When her school’s art teacher left, Lynda took on the role of finding the replacement. With no prospects on the horizon, Lynda resurrected the art program, managed the fundraising campaign, plus signed on as the new grade level art teacher.

How did she do it? This week’s episode shares how.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: 

That you don’t need an extensive background in art to be a successful teacher

How having an autistic child has led to Lynda being more accepting of all students and her tips for teaching art to children with autism

Strategies to raise donations for your art program, including how to effectively leverage social media platforms for fundraising

The biggest struggles Lynda has faced teaching art

How she handles classroom preparation and cleanup without an art room

Why having a growth mindset is such a benefit inside and outside of the classroom

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

DOWNLOAD THIS ART RESOURCE GUIDE:

In the show, Lynda talks about her efforts to raise funds through Donors Choose. Lynda has graciously shared her fundraising letter with you to use in your fundraising efforts.

To access the download, click the yellow button, add your name and email and we will send it to you.

NOTE: TO RECEIVE THE PDF, YOU MUST WHITELIST our email:  patty.palmer@deepspacesparkle. IF YOU ARE A GMAIL customer, THAT MEANS MOVING OUR EMAILS OUT OF YOUR PROMOTIONS FOLDER (can't find anything in that!)

SHOW NOTES:

Donors Choose

Square1 Art

The Growth Mindset Coach: A Teacher's Month-by-Month Handbook for Empowering Students to Achieve

Have you ever wondered whether it is better to have a plethora of creative works at the end of a term so that students have a general working knowledge of many styles and techniques OR just a few projects that dive deep into just a few areas at a time?

When it comes to elementary students, we can frame our curriculum any number of ways. It all depends on what our admins expect us to do, what we feel is important to teach our students and what is in our wheelhouse.

Sometimes it’s just a matter of becoming crystal clear on your intentions for your art program.

Here are 5 questions to ask yourself that will help define your intentions so that you can create the best environment for your students.

In this episode you’ll learn

Why grade level matters when setting intentions on how you want your curriculum to work

How art is always open to interpretation and what this means for an art teacher

What will happen after you’ve been teaching art for a few years…

Why reflecting and documenting what you hope will happen in your art room compared to what actually happened will help you move forward

How I measured the success of my art program and how to define what success means to you

What I feel is the best way to engage your students in art

Why you should openly acknowledge what you’re good at (and not so good at) when it comes to teaching art!

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

International Dot Day, based on Peter Reynold’s book, The Dot, is coming up on September 15th. The Dot is the story of Vashti who is overwhelmed at the sight of a blank piece of paper. Her art teacher gently encourages her to explore art her way. Most art teachers consider Peter Reynold’s books essential reads for the art room as he addresses the issues children face when learning how to be an artist.

What I love about the story is the underlying importance of expressive art. This episode takes a look at why expressive art is so important for children and offers you a variety of art projects that are not only perfect for Dot Day.

I can’t wait to hear how you celebrate Dot day and what projects work for you!

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

Why expressive art is so important to include in your art room plans

How The Dot can help you create a new focus for your class

What lessons can be learned from The Dot to overcome various challenges and empower your students

Why you need to take a cautious approach to doing any kind of directed drawing project, especially with younger children

How craft paper can be used for projects that all children contribute to

LISTEN TO THE SHOW

SHOW NOTES:

Dot Day Song

Dot Day Lyrics

LESSONS FROM THE PODCAST:

Here's a short video I created for a watercolor project to celebrate Dot Day. All you need is a square piece of watercolor paper, water-soluble oil pastels/gel sticks OR you can use non-soluble oil pastels to create a true resist.

Then, just use liquid watercolor paints  to create this happy dot. Reminds me of a Yellowstone's Geyser!

https://d3ndagut9sanks.cloudfront.net/2017-D/VID-09/Dot+Day+Watercolor.mp4

Tint & Pattern Circles

Kandinsky and the Rainbow Art Project

Color, Line and Pattern Art Project

Hundertwasser Art Lesson for Kids