It seems almost every day, art teachers post requests on social media groups asking for good project ideas. It not uncommon to see something similar to this. “Does anyone have a good color wheel project? I’m tired of mine”.

When we ask for a project, there is a lot we’re asking for. The project lesson plan most likely includes the inspiration, much of the design, as well as the wrap-up rubric. Depending on how involved we are in designing the phases, we could be completing up to 75% of the artistic process upfront. That’s work the students could be doing.

There are units that are not about completing projects, but instead about learning how to think and work like artists. These are units where the student is involved in designing all the phases of the artistic process. Units that teach our students to how to become better artists, and in turn, learn how to make better art.

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Art teachers aspire for rich artwork from their students but are often frustrated when the results are less than spectacular. Some art teachers face this concern as they transition into a choice-based program. They may notice that their high school students’ work looks like, well, high school student work. How do we motivate students to not settle for good, but to create something great?

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Making Artists available here: https://www.davisart.com/art-education-resources/making-artists/

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Did you ever have a student ask, “What grade do I get for this art?” Or worse, “If I make this art, what grade will I get?” I’m sure we can agree, making art for a grade is a lousy reason to make art, but is the opposite true? Is giving grades for making art a lousy reason to give grades?

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Making Artists available here: https://www.davisart.com/art-education-resources/making-artists/

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When I first started teaching, I worked in a small district which meant interaction with fellow art teachers was limited. Today, however, social media provides immediate access to thousands of art teachers. All one needs to do is post a question.

With all this access, one would think every question has been answered but I find this isn’t the case. There is a core set of questions that are frequently asked. However, the responses aren’t always from a student-directed teacher’s point of view.

Today, I’ll respond to some of those frequently asked questions with a choice-based teacher’s mindset.

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Making Artists available here: https://www.davisart.com/art-education-resources/making-artists/

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Did you know there are only nine things you can make art about? You say, Sands, that’s crazy talk. Certainly, there are more than nine topics. But I say, we have a list and any art you want to make can be made under one of the Nine.

More on the Nine https://artofsouthb.weebly.com/the-nine.html

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Product or Process? Now there’s a hot button topic. They say in polite company to never speak of politics or religion. Perhaps we should add product vs process to the list as well. Online, this topic always generates conversation and sometimes even brings out a few trolls. So, what makes it so controversial? Let’s find out.

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Making Artists available here: https://www.davisart.com/art-education-resources/making-artists/

The Open Art Room available here: https://catalog.davisart.com/Products/677-5/the-open-art-room.aspx

Mr. Payne sat across the desk as I signed off on my evaluation. It wasn't a bad evaluation but I personally wasn't happy with my first year teaching at South B. While some of the lessons and ideas I migrated from Apex HS worked, many did not. As I lamented over this, he gave me some great advice.

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Making Artists available here: https://www.davisart.com/art-education-resources/making-artists/

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Teaching about media is a large chunk of what occurs in the art room. Through the introduction of media, we teach skills, and techniques, and processes, and concepts. Traditionally, art teachers have taught media through projects. However, the choice-based, TAB teacher has a challenge. We don’t offer teacher-directed projects. So how do we introduce our students to new media? 

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Making Artists available here: https://www.davisart.com/art-education-resources/making-artists/

The Open Art Room available here: https://catalog.davisart.com/Products/677-5/the-open-art-room.aspx

The only class I failed in college was Intro to Art Education. I wasn’t worried. I knew I would never, ever become an art teacher... 

Project Flop available here: https://www.amazon.com/Project-Flop-Good-Lessons-Teacher/dp/1494978555

View our website: https://artofsouthb.weebly.com/

Making Artists available here: https://www.davisart.com/art-education-resources/making-artists/

The Open Art Room available here: https://catalog.davisart.com/Products/677-5/the-open-art-room.aspx

There are differences between the traditional way of teaching art and the choice-based, Teaching for Artistic Behavior method. Not that one is better or worse than the other, just that there are differences. In this episode of Make Artists, we will look at how the TAB teacher “thinks different”. 

View our website: https://artofsouthb.weebly.com/

Making Artists available here: https://www.davisart.com/art-education-resources/making-artists/

The Open Art Room available here: https://catalog.davisart.com/Products/677-5/the-open-art-room.aspx