K12ArtChat the Podcast

In this episode, The Creativity Department speaks with Sandra Munoz and Esmerelda Fernandez, bilingual art educators from Plano, Texas. Hear about their experiences working with English learners, the communities they serve, and how the art room can celebrate the richness of different cultures while helping every student explore and express their own identity.

In this episode – the Creativity Department talks with Dr. Desiree Alexander about building relationships with students in the art room and promoting connection with students with a variety of backgrounds and "lenses". Class identity and collective culture within the art room can be difficult to implement, but as Dr. Alexander explains – it can help students open up with their art.

The Creativity Department speaks with NAEA Elementary Division leaders Tiffany Belz and Devon Calvert about the importance of support and engagement. Discover how much help is available through your state and local art associations. Listen in to hear about the benefits of having an entire community of educators ready to share and collaborate across your state and the country.

The Creativity Department speaks with Dr. Heidi C. Powell, recipient of the FAEA Art Educator of the Year Award for higher education, about her research on the topic of cultural continuity and what it means to hold true to traditions and heritage in a contemporary way. During the conversation Dr. Powell discusses how we create national and community identity through art making practice and how those practices help us maintain identity, strengthen connections, and foster community. 

In this episode the Creativity Department talks to artists turned teachers Sean Justice and Andrea Kantrowitz about multimodal and collaborative learning. Focusing on visual journals, sketch noting, and bring different ways of thinking, doing, and learning into contact with each other, this episode is packed full of unorthodox ways to teach your students how to be creative.

The Creativity Department speaks with Manuel Herrera, Coordinator of Learning Services for the Affton School District and adjunct professor for Webster University in St. Louis, MO. Manuel is an educator, speaker, and illustrator who specializes in sketchnoting, visual thinking, and design thinking. Listen in for ideas on how to implement the many benefits of using visual thinking strategies, sketchnoting, and storyboarding to fully immerse students in the creative process.

As you face what the new school year holds, take a few minutes to hear about tools like Padlet and Flipgrid. The Creativity Department speaks with educator Mike Call about how the digital tools we have come to rely on help bring students together. 

The Creativity Department discuses using drawing, sketch noting, visual journaling, and creativity to process large problems with young students. In this episode they speak with author and educator, Chris Gadbury. Listen in to learn about the work he does around the world promoting student agency and creativity while tackling global issues we are all challenged with solving.

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by Karen Blessen, founder of 29 Pieces and creator of The American Love Project. Listen in as Karen and Judy Stone-Nunneley, Visual Arts Coordinator for Grand Prairie ISD in Texas and project participant, discuss The American LOVE Project. Learn about this nationwide public art project designed to illustrate the power of art to transform communities. Discover how this program works to heal and create positive social change and how you can participate.

In this episode – Reggio Emilia expert and author Cathy Topal joins The Creativity Department to discuss art education in early childhood. During the conversation, Cathy shares strategies to build community, how to approach design with young children, and what she defines as an open-ended lesson.