How to Scaffold Your Learning
I never learned how to do paper weaving, at least not that I remember. You might not think that’s a big deal, and in some ways, it’s not, but since I spent ten years designing and selling woven textiles, it made my learning curve steeper than it needed to be. In my college weaving class, […]
Why You Aren’t Getting Anything Done
No matter who you are, you probably feel behind on something. Before we get into practical ways to catch up, let’s determine if you need to. We often feel behind because we’ve made up false rules or expectations. Or, we’ve created a list and aren’t taking the time to reflect and realize that if something […]
Make it an experiment
I’m working on at least 5 “experiments” at any given time. I may be experimenting with propagating plants, planning illustrations for a new book, testing a new marketing idea, and exploring new ways to engage online students. You might call them projects on things on your to-do list. I call them experiments. Experimenting implies that […]
The Body Book in Action
Wake Up! Wake up! Today’s the day, my body wants to move and play! As an elementary PE teacher, this sentence accurately describes my working environment. Often my biggest struggles center around corralling the students long enough to give directions in order to get them moving with some purpose. They simply enter the gym and […]
Where do Ideas Come From?
When it comes to trying to develop creative ideas or solutions, we often wish that we could flip to the back of the book and consult the answer key. There is no answer key, but there are practices that you can bring into your life that will increase your ability to find ideas. Ideas are […]
Are You Using Learning as Punishment?
Art history, research, reading, and writing should not be a punishment. I get it. It’s REALLY hard and frustrating when students aren’t taking care of art materials. But when the punishment is to take away materials and hand them information about artists, that sends the wrong message. Art history can and should be fun and […]
The Joys of Paper Weaving
I first learned how to weave on a floor loom, while studying art education in college, and while I enjoyed the process, outside of the weaving studio, I didn’t have access to a floor loom, so once the class ended, so did my weaving. That is until several years later when a used loom listed […]
The Weaving Book
Do you LOVE fiber arts, textiles, and making things? My grandmother was the first to introduce me to the wonderful world of textiles. She was an avid knitter and spent a lot of time adding detailed embroidery to pillowcases and table clothes. These practices caught my attention early and continued to grow as I entered […]
How to Develop a Story Idea
Completing something a few times tends to instill a bit of confidence and belief. Before The Body Book, I had successfully published three children’s books. My confidence grew with each one. In addition to those completed books, I also have several drafts waiting for their turn in the spotlight. Trial and error had been replaced […]
Developed a Sustained Investigation
How to Help Students Develop Their Sustained Investigation Topic Helping students develop a sustained investigation topic of AP Studio Art that exits them and guides their work, isn’t always easy. Students are often used to being told what to create, or coming up with an idea, creating a piece and moving on. Exploring an idea […]