In the art room, differentiation goes beyond just concepts. Allowing students to really explore the materials, evaluating skills, and looking at ideas are all necessary in the art studio. In this episode, listen as Nic discusses some of her best ideas for differentiation and tells you how you can meet students at their level.

• Decoding Differentiation for the Art Room
• Differentiation in the Art Room (PRO Learning Pack)
• Simple Ways to Provide Options for Differentiation

As art teachers, we sometimes have the tendency to fall back in our own interests--and our own aesthetics--when we design our lessons. But how can things change if we design lessons around what will interest our students? In today's episode, listen to Nic's ideas about engagement, building a classroom community, and always keeping students' interests in mind.

• A Simple Way to Increase Student Engagement
• 5 Projects to Engage Students Interested in Sports
• Motivating Students on Difficult Days
• Why Building Relationships is So Important

During the holidays, we are always looking for new ideas. Gifts to recommend, gifts to give, and maybe even gifts to ask for ourselves. In today's episode Nic brings on a couple of friends and they discuss some of their favorite new materials and best ideas for the holiday season.

• Nic's Blog Post for this Episode
• Follow Sarah on Instagram
• Follow Abby on Instagram
• Gifts Any Art Teacher Would Love

This week, a celebration is in order as The Art of Education University has enrolled its 300th student! Which prompts the question: what is it like to be an AOEU graduate student? Nic talks to 5 different Master's students to get their take on the best parts of the program, how to make the schedule work, finding that elusive work-life balance, and so much more.

• So You Want to Apply to AOEU
• How to Fund Your Master's Degree Program
• How to Create the Best Application Possible
• Collaborating with Your Academic Advisor
• Follow These Students on Instagram: Heather W., Erica, Heather A., Chrissie, and Tasha

It is Halloween, and Nic is here with one of her scariest stories from her teaching career. (WARNING: You may want to skip this one if you don't like blood.) Listen as she tells how her own scary story improved her teaching and eventually made her school a safer place for everyone.

• Help! I'm Afraid of My Kiln!
• A Guide to Hazardous Materials in the Art Room
• How to Safely Use Spray Paint with Your Students
• Smart Safety Tips for the Pregnant Art Teacher
• Kiln Checklists to Keep Your Room Safe

As art teachers, many of us worry about budgets, money, and even whether our job will be there from year to year. Because of these worries, it is vital to advocate for our program. In today's episode, Nic talks to Ashley and Randy McKee about how you can be an advocate for the arts in your community. Listen as they discuss creating a bold, bright, and beautiful environment for learning and how that can affect students and their learning.

• Follow Ashley and Randy on Instagram
• Here is Nic's Blog Post on Today's Episode
• Check Out all of AOEU's Articles on Advocacy
• How to Get Art Displayed in Your Community
• Watch PRO Packs on Showcasing Student Work and Art Clubs

It can take time to develop your classroom management strategies, but new ideas can always be brought in to improve what you do in your art room. Listen as Nic discusses behavior management strategies, specifics for your own classroom, and how she continues to refine what she does with professional learning.

• Read Nic's blog post on the topic.
• Simple Strategies for Managing Misbehavior
• Everything You Need to Know About Classroom Management

Digital portfolios are an incredible tool for both learning and advocacy, but they are also intimidating if you don't know what you're doing. Today, Nic's conversations with three different experts will help you and your students begin to navigate the world of online portfolios.

• AOEU's Resources on Adobe Spark, Google, Flickr, and Artsonia.
• Nic's blog post about the episode and her many posts about Seesaw.
• Follow Vicki Wilson on Instagram and on Twitter.
• Follow Anais Hernandez on Instagram.
• Angela Gadkey is on Twitter as well.
• Seesaw has tips about their platform on Instagram and Twitter.

What did you learn from your student teaching? Which of those lessons are still with you? In today's episode, Nic talks about the lessons she learned about both art teaching and life. Listen as she discusses her best memories from student teaching, how those ideas stick with her, and how everything comes full circle in the end.

• Nic's Blog Post for this Episode
• Kim's Classroom Website
• How to Pay it Forward with Student Teachers

AOEU Writer Sarah Krajewski joins Nic on the podcast today to discuss the importance of making our own art, and how we can use that art to create joy for ourselves and inspire the people around us. Listen as they discuss artmaking and experimentation, collaboration, and how Sarah became the Art Room Glitter Fairy.

• Mini Matisse Blog Post
• Art Room Glitter Fairy Website
• Follow Sarah on Instagram
• Austin Kleon's Steal Like an Artist