Teacher Tools 26: How to keep all of your favorite articles organized
You’re working a project, know that you read a perfect article to go with your research, but you can’t remember where in the world you found the article… Sound familiar? is a great tool to keep yourself and the articles that you love organized and easy to share. View my Flipboard Magazine. View my Flipboard […]
1 Tool that makes Writing Easier
I tend to be a fast typer and a terrible editor, so discovering grammarly.com was like a dream come true. Seriously, it’s like having an English teacher looking over your shoulder reminding you to add commas and to stop using really over and over. Maybe you don’t love the idea of having an English […]
Are you Ready for an Advanced Art Class
Your son or daughter will be a freshman next year and you’re wondering if either of the AP Studio Art classes would be appropriate. Your child is mature and diligent, with future aspirations to go to art school and become a professional artist of some kind. They’ve taken several online art classes and worked with […]
How to cut fabric into one long strip for weaving
I’ve always been a fan of rag rugs, but not so much a fan of cutting sheets or t-shirts into strips, until I discovered this method of cutting that makes it nice and easy to make one long strip. To get started we’ll use a scrap piece of paper because it’s much less intimidating than […]
Why Does Art Matter
Why do I have to learn algebra, when am I ever going to use it? Why do I need to read THIS book, what does it have to do with my life? Kids of all ages are always asking why, and as the adult tasked with responding to them why, it can get a bit […]
How to Keep your Sanity while teaching
Planning, it’s a dirty little word, that you might be surprised to hear me say…. us artist types aren’t known having great organizational skills. But I”m planner… also a dreamer… they go well together… because I plan on making my dreams happen, even if those dreams include adopting a mini pig and a goat. […]
How to Have more Creative Ideas
You’re stuck. You can’t seem to come up with any new ideas. So you just sit there and watch another episode of Mind of Chef on Netflix, because at least it’s educationally, and who knows, maybe you’ll become a chef. ( note to self: start researching how to become a chef) I was sitting in […]
How to help students plan + a FREE planning guide
I was feeling overwhelmed. Juggling way too many projects, which was making me not want to work on any of them, which just made me more overwhelmed. Then I took a deep breadth, and decided to take the advice that I give to my students. Do one thing at a time. It sounds simple, but […]
How to prep student work for an ARt show…. without losing your mind
It’s that time of the year where most art teachers are simultaneously thinking, this art show is going to be great, and why in the world are we having an art show!!!! Art shows are no joke, they’re a lot of work, and it often seems like it takes weeks to prep, and then the […]
How to help students develop interesting ideas
You’ve given your students a list of project choices for 3D materials and they’re asking questions like…. “Can I make a cardboard cutout of my initials and decorate it with flowers?” “Can I cut out a heart and put pictures on it?” This makes you want to slam your head into the chalkboard… you’re just waiting […]