Consider the benefits of art portfolios so you can intentionally integrate portfolios into your teaching practice.

Portfolios help students in K-12 and beyond.

Students of all ages benefit from building their own portfolios. Younger learners gain confidence by witnessing their progress and revisiting past lessons. It’s a fun way to make them feel like an artist! As students advance, portfolios become essential tools for high school courses like AP Art and Design or IB Visual Art where they demonstrate skill development and conceptual exploration. For all students, portfolios can serve as an inventory of their artwork and ideas over time. 

Furthermore, portfolios cultivate essential reflection and presentation skills relevant to all aspects of life. Whether applying for jobs, pitching ideas to clients, preparing for college or competitions, or even crafting a compelling social media presence, the ability to effectively showcase one’s accomplishments is crucial. Introducing portfolio development early helps students cultivate these skills incrementally, avoiding the last-minute scramble.

Portfolios reveal effective teaching.

Portfolio reviews offer a valuable opportunity for assessment and reflection, allowing you to evaluate your own teaching practice. By examining your students’ collected works, you gain insight into how your curriculum shapes their artistic development and reflects your own artistic viewpoint. Consider getting a fresh perspective by doing a portfolio swap with a colleague. Seeing work collected in another art teacher’s classroom can help you discover concepts, techniques, or approaches to explore in the future.

Portfolios reflect a strong curriculum.

Starting with a robust K-12 curriculum like FLEX Curriculum will make it easier to develop strong portfolios students will be proud of! A strong curriculum will meet your students’ needs and your state and district standards. It can be time-consuming to make or find resources to meet the varying levels of your students. FLEX helps you differentiate support for students with organized, sequenced content and filters to find instructional materials that meet state and district standards. The FLEX library is always growing so you can continue to add and change materials based on your students’ needs.

A solid curriculum will keep you and your students’ artwork focused because you’ll have clear concepts, terminology, techniques, mediums, and standards to follow. FLEX has well-composed learning objectives ready to copy and paste into any document or presentation. There are several options for each lesson for you to pick and choose from and then customize as needed. Additionally, FLEX has grade-level and media-based curricula to ensure your students are learning at a steady pace with a logical progression of skills. This directly translates into consistent growth which in turn results in more compelling portfolios!

Portfolios are a great advocacy tool for your art program.

Anything that art teachers are already doing in their art room that can promote their program and the visual arts is a win-win! Administrators love to see art portfolios because they capture the vibrant learning that happens in your art program. When tied to objectives and standards already provided in FLEX, it shows relevance. Because they capture growth over time, it can be a great way to demonstrate student learning objectives.

For secondary students who submit their portfolios for outside evaluation, the scores can highlight the strengths and successes of your program, school, and district. Leverage high scores to showcase the power of the visual arts and advocate for more funding for your program.

Gain resources to build better art portfolios so you can level up your students’ artmaking practice.

Set goals for a focused portfolio. 

A portfolio is not everything an artist created. Instead, it is a showcase of an artist’s best work. To determine what belongs in a portfolio, start by thinking about the goal. Are you trying to showcase expertise across a variety of media and subject matter or focus on mastery of a particular skill? Is it about the student’s personal growth and self-expression or the curricular standards? Do you want pieces that show a deep exploration of a concept or pieces that show technical proficiency? 

A strong collection will have a balance of commonality and variety. What unifies the collection will depend on your students’ age and your curriculum. Younger students’ portfolios tend to be more about exploring a variety of materials and methods. Older students’ portfolios are usually more conceptually driven.

Choose a route to success.

As creative professionals, we know there is no single solution to fit all learners and all circumstances. The same is true for portfolios! There are many formats to choose from, depending on your goals, student needs, and resources. In addition to the suggestions below, watch the Student Portfolio Basics Pack in PRO Learning for even more portfolio options!

Traditional Portfolio

Students fold a large sheet of construction paper and then glue or tape the sides to build a pocket to hold their collection of masterpieces. Check out the Personal Portfolios Lesson in FLEX for a simple plan to help students make beautiful custom portfolios tied to objectives and standards. If your budget allows, upgrade the paper portfolio by investing in hanging file folders.

Student Curated Exhibition Portfolio

Give students a large poster-sized sheet of paper or a yard of bulletin board paper to affix their best pieces on. Write brief artist statements using FLEX’s ready-made student-facing guides about why they are proud of these particular works to prompt reflection. This method gets pieces ready to hang for your art show ahead of time—all you need to do is hang one large sheet per student instead of thousands of artworks. 

DIY Photobook Portfolio

Fold and cut a large sheet of paper to make a small booklet. Students select their most prized artworks from the year. Take photos of students holding each artwork. Print the photographs for students to glue in their booklet, along with short artist statements about why they are proud of each work. Don’t forget to check FLEX for student-facing resources to guide students as they write about their work.

Process Journal Portfolio

Document the creative process with sketches, experimentation, and reflection. Journals provide valuable insight into artistic development and showcase problem-solving skills and a growth mindset. This is a more informal way to capture the “behind-the-scenes” work over a long period of time. The Reflect and Select Growth Portfolio Lesson in FLEX gives a step-by-step plan to build a portfolio documenting processes with artifacts.

Interactive Hyperdoc Portfolio

Slides are great for portfolios because students can embed more than just photographs. Students can include audio recordings of artist statements, as well as video or animation work. Students can also link to other resources such as artists who inspired them!

Career Portfolio

Challenge students to think about an art-related career that interests them. Brainstorm a list of skills that their career requires. Put together a portfolio of their artwork that demonstrates those skills. This method also points out any gaps in their skill set, which can direct future work. 

Continue developing portfolios.

A portfolio is a living document. As lifelong learners, students will grow and their portfolios should grow along with them. Encourage students to continue developing their portfolios beyond the classroom. They can add new pieces, reflect on their growth, and explore different mediums and styles. This ongoing process fosters a lifelong love of art and provides a valuable tool to highlight their skills and accomplishments in future endeavors.

Portfolios offer tremendous benefits to both you and your students. They help everyone reflect on the artwork and process and pinpoint strengths and areas of improvement. Strong student portfolios are indicative of a strong art curriculum and can be an invaluable advocacy tool for your art program. There are many portfolio options so choose one that meets your classroom needs. Support your students now with FLEX Curriculum’s download-ready portfolio resources so you can build better portfolios and watch your students’ artistic growth and your art program thrive!

How do you use portfolios in your classroom and beyond?

What is one thing you will implement this year to level up your portfolio practice?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post How to Build a Better Art Portfolio with Your Students appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Leverage rubrics in 11 unexpected ways to enhance student learning, foster meaningful dialogue, and refine your teaching practice.

There are many ways to use rubrics but where do you start if you don’t know how to write a solid rubric? The first resource you won’t want to miss is the Plug n’ Play Rubric from FLEX Curriculum. This rubric is customizable to any art project and will create consistency in your curriculum. Save more time with the many other rubrics and assessments in FLEX—simply select the Assessment tab and filter by grade level and medium to find what you need.

1. Guide parent-teacher conferences.

A rubric provides a clear framework for discussing student progress with parents. It moves conversations beyond letter grades and highlights specific areas of strength and growth tied to learning objectives. This shared understanding helps you collaborate effectively with parents to support students’ artistic development.

2. Support reflection, self-assessment, and artist statements.

Rubrics provide a structured format for students to reflect on their creative process and articulate their artistic goals. Turn the rubric criteria into prompts to kickstart reflection. This will result in more thoughtful self-assessments and more insightful artist statements.

3. Focus critiques.

Similarly, structure critiques around the rubric to provide students with focused feedback. Tying feedback to the rubric criteria helps students provide constructive comments based on the artwork. It pulls the attention off the artist and onto the work. This approach also encourages students to more deeply analyze artwork and develop their critical thinking skills in a supportive environment.

4. Check in with students.

Integrate rubrics into student check-ins to foster a sense of ownership and encourage self-reflection. Students can use the rubric to monitor their own progress and identify areas where they excel or need additional support. This process promotes self-awareness and empowers students to take an active role in their learning. Using rubrics in this way also guides the feedback conversation in a way that feels predictable and comfortable for students.

5. Plan future projects.

Analyze rubric data to identify trends in student performance and areas where students consistently succeed or struggle. This information informs future lesson planning and helps you tailor instruction to meet the specific needs of your students. By using rubrics to identify knowledge gaps, you can differentiate instruction more effectively.

6. Build research skills.

Provide students with rubrics designed to evaluate the credibility and relevance of research sources. Students will gain critical research skills as they identify reliable websites, videos, and other resources. It will help them to assess the accuracy, authority, and objectivity of information, which is crucial in an age of digital media.

7. Decrease student questions.

We’ve all heard the question a thousand times—”Am I done yet?” Create a rubric for students to reference to determine if their work is complete. List hallmarks of completion, such as filling in negative space and putting their name on the work. Laminate the rubric and hang it where students put their completed work. This way, they can check it before turning their project in.

8. Monitor studio habits.

Establish clear expectations for studio habits and encourage responsible behavior with a studio rubric. Be sure to outline specific criteria for maintaining a clean and organized workspace. This promotes a productive learning environment and instills ownership in the art room. It develops organizational skills, attention to detail, time management strategies, and respect for shared resources.

9. Evaluate your lessons.

A rubric can also assist you with assessing your teaching strategies and identifying areas for improvement. This reflective practice encourages continuous growth and helps you refine your instructional approach to better meet the needs of your students. The specificity of a rubric will clearly tell you if it’s the clarity of learning objectives, the engagement of activities, or the overall impact of your lessons. You can even give your students a rubric for scoring your lessons to tell you which are the most interesting and impactful!

10. Encourage engagement.

Rubrics can assess how students work and conduct themselves in the classroom. Think about the skills you want students to demonstrate, such as listening quietly when others speak, asking good questions, sharing relevant connections, revising work, and seeking feedback for improvement. Make a rubric with examples to define these soft skills.

11. Prompt deeper discussions.

Rubrics equip students with a shared vocabulary and a common framework for discussing art. This shared understanding facilitates more meaningful conversations about artistic choices, techniques, and the creative process. Using a rubric, students can engage in more focused and productive critiques of their work and the work of others.

Ultimately, rubrics empower both teachers and students beyond grading art projects. Clear and specific rubrics foster transparency, encourage self-reflection, maintain an orderly classroom, and promote meaningful dialogue about art. By embracing these unexpected rubric applications, you can cultivate a more engaging and enriching learning environment. Watch teaching and learning flourish and students develop a deeper understanding of their artistic potential!

How else do you use rubrics in your classroom?

What other tools are helpful for student feedback?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post Beyond Grading: 11 Unexpected Ways Art Teachers Can Use Rubrics appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Learn why National Board Certification is respected and how it can help you grow in your art education career.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is a non-profit organization that aims to advance the quality of teaching and learning. It does this primarily by offering National Board Certification, a rigorous, voluntary assessment process that recognizes accomplished teachers. National Board Certification is the gold standard in teaching and signifies excellence and commitment to the profession. Becoming an NBCT will help you be a more effective art teacher and advocate for your art program.

National Board Certification will prompt your professional growth.

The greatest benefit of the National Board process is that it will help you to become more thoughtful and deliberate about every aspect of your practice. As you analyze your teaching practices, gather evidence of student learning, and engage in rigorous assessment, you’ll gain valuable insights into your strengths and areas for improvement. This reflective process will empower you to refine your instructional strategies, enhance your assessment methods, and deepen your understanding of how students learn in the context of art education. You’ll emerge from the certification process with renewed confidence, a refined skillset, and a heightened commitment to lifelong learning—all of which translate to a more impactful and fulfilling teaching experience.

National Board Certification will increase student learning and achievement.

As you improve your teaching practice, you will notice your students’ attention and skills improve. As you create the rigorous lessons required for certification, your students will become more versed in critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and communication. These are crucial skills that will set them up for success for the rest of their lives. The National Board also encourages teachers to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment. As you model these traits and demonstrate your commitment to building a culture of learning, you will notice students naturally following suit!

National Board Certification will help your community. 

The first thing that draws a lot of teachers toward National Board Certification is the financial incentive. Many districts offer a stipend or step increase as a reward for those who meet the rigorous standards. Districts recognize that National Board Certified Teachers provide a tremendous benefit to the community!

Many districts also offer recognition at school board meetings or similar public events. This can elevate your visibility among administrators, enhance your credibility, and make advocacy for your art program more impactful. Repurpose the required writing component into informative flyers to accompany student work displays, foster community engagement, and increase understanding of the value of art education. Ultimately, the skills you hone in articulating the impact of your educational practice will equip you to be a powerful advocate for your program, ensuring its continued growth and success for the benefit of your students and the community as a whole.

Discover the four components of National Board Certification and tips to tackle the process with confidence!

Know the four components of National Board Certification.

Teaching is a complex job. Just as effective teachers segment instruction and provide clear criteria for success, the National Board helps teachers to focus on different aspects of their job to target growth. In order to become an NBCT, you will need to create a portfolio demonstrating your proficiency across four key components.

Here’s a snapshot of the four components:

1. Content Knowledge
   This component assesses your understanding of the subject matter you teach and your ability to convey it effectively to students. It typically involves a computer-based assessment.
2. Differentiation in Instruction
   This component focuses on your ability to adapt your teaching to meet the diverse needs of your students. You’ll need to provide evidence of how you differentiate instruction to support all learners.
3. Teaching Practice and Learning Environment
   This component evaluates your classroom management skills, your ability to create a positive and engaging learning environment, and your use of various instructional strategies to promote student learning.
4. Effective and Reflective Practitioner
   This component focuses on your ability to reflect on your teaching practice, analyze student learning data, and make adjustments to improve student outcomes.

Each component requires you to submit evidence of your teaching practice, such as video recordings, student work samples, lesson plans, and written reflections. Many people tackle the certification process by segmenting it and focusing on two components per year.

Set yourself up for success.

Trying to tackle all four components at once can be overwhelming. Instead, take your time. Most teachers find it manageable to tackle two components per year. Familiarize yourself with the requirements early and often, paying close attention to the evidence needed, including photographs and videos, so you can plan ahead. When writing your submissions, prioritize the rubric over style. Structure your writing to mirror the rubric, using keywords followed by concise statements of evidence. This approach may feel disjointed, but it ensures clarity and facilitates efficient scoring.

Get parental consent right from the start.

You will need to record lesson videos to submit as evidence. While the video should focus on you and your instruction, it’s a good idea to think through privacy concerns. Strategically select a class with minimal or no students on your school’s media denial list to streamline the consent process. Parental consent forms are always necessary and it is generally easier to obtain them from parents who have already consented to the school’s media policy. 

Study a little every day.

Content Knowledge can be one of the most intimidating components. Art history encompasses basically all of human history from around the world including artifacts that predate recorded history. On top of that, art teachers need to have knowledge of materials and methods for artistic production. If that feels overwhelming, remember that the test is not about trivia. It is aimed at assessing whether you know enough to do the job well. 

Most of the information you need to know is stuff that you likely already know. Still, studying and learning will help you feel more confident. Review PRO Learning’s Packs on art history and media to grow your repertoire of artists and vocabulary. These Packs provide a quick and deep dive into various topics with short, engaging videos.

Take advantage of free learning resources.

One free resource is podcasts! Listen to podcasts during your commute to and from school. Art Ed Radio has hundreds of episodes to help you gain new insights into all aspects of the art teacher profession. Shows like ArtCurious and Who ARTed can help you not only learn facts from art history but also hear how others analyze and describe pieces. You can also go on a free virtual museum tour with smARTee. There are some wonderful YouTube channels, such as Great Art Explained, which tackle a fair amount of depth in 15 minutes. 

Be intentional with how you respond.

It’s inevitable that some students will do something unexpected. The evaluators understand this reality. It’s okay if a student blurts something out without raising their hand or behaves inappropriately on camera. It’s how you respond that matters the most! Respond appropriately to re-direct and get things back on track, then reflect accordingly in your writing.

Along the same lines, you may need to write about an artwork you have never seen before. Remember the purpose of the essays is to evaluate how you respond to art. If you have no background knowledge of the specific piece, take a formalist approach. Describe the elements as you see them, then share connections and inferences. As long as you provide evidence to support your ideas, you’ll do fine!

Artists and art teachers are always looking for ways to grow and improve. If you haven’t considered National Board Certification, now’s a great time to think about it! Working toward National Board Certification will refine your teaching practices and philosophy, boost student engagement, and help you advocate for your art program. Break the journey down into two years and focus on two components per year. Plan ahead, get parental consent, and study as you go to make the most of this art teacher adventure. Your commitment to excellence will leave a lasting impact and empower the next generation of artists and thinkers.

What advice would you give to an art teacher working on National Board Certification?

What questions do you still have about the NBCT process?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post How to Become a National Board Certified Art Teacher: Steps & Benefits appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Shift your mindset from grading to assessment and tackle how to use assessments as a tool for artistic growth.

What are the different types of assessment?

Assessments generally fall into two categories: formative and summative. A formative assessment gathers data to determine current skill levels. Use it to help you gauge where students are at and when they’re ready to move on. Formative assessments tend to be lower stakes and are often carried out during a lesson. For example, while your students are studying value, a formative assessment would be a bellringer requiring students to create a value scale or shade a sphere. Their level of success in these quick drawing activities will indicate whether they are ready to tackle more complex forms or if they need some guided practice to review the basics.

Summative assessments come at the conclusion of a lesson or unit. The purpose of the summative assessment is to determine the student’s level of mastery. Summative assessments can take many forms, including tests, artist’s statements, and portfolio reviews. Summative assessments can often feel higher stakes as they are often more heavily weighted in the grade book. 

What should I put in my rubric?

Rubrics aren’t just for art projects! You can use rubrics to evaluate any objective or standard, including activities like bellringers, drawing exercises, small group discussions, or presentations of artwork. Whatever the purpose, a good rubric provides clear and specific criteria for success. Focus on observable skills aligned to your curriculum and state or national standards. 

Rubrics can take a good amount of time to make if you’re starting from scratch. Save time and mental energy by using any of the numerous assessment tools in FLEX Curriculum. FLEX offers hundreds of student-facing resources including checklists, compare and contrast graphic organizers, reflections, project rubrics, and feedback sentence stems. One of the most flexible and customizable rubrics is the Plug n’ Play rubric. Click the Assessment tab on the lefthand navigation bar and filter by Grade Level, Medium, or Assessment Type—it’s seriously that simple!

How can I keep my assessment data organized?

There are a lot of ways to track student progress. Many districts provide an online grade book which may have features to track data and grades. For those without a digital grade book platform, digital spreadsheets can work just as well. Still, the most valuable data is the evidence you observe in student artwork, reflections, and skill demonstrations—not just the number from a rubric. 

Consider photographing student projects in a digital portfolio or virtual gallery. It may sound time consuming, but even elementary students can handle it by themselves. A class gallery is a wonderful tool to see learning trends across the board and provide you with insights about your teaching. 

Creating digital portfolios and virtual galleries is simple. For a class-wide gallery, create a slide deck and number each slide. Share the slide deck with your students. They will snap a photo of their artwork and post it to their numbered slide. Individual portfolios allow for student privacy and show students their growth over time. Similarly, create a slide deck to use as a template. Notate spots on each slide for their artwork and artist statement. Share the slides using a forced copy link. Encourage students to have fun customizing their slide decks and share them with you! Consider linking each student’s deck in one spot so it’s easier to access.

What do I do with the assessments?

If the goal of assessment is to help students grow, you must share the assessment data with your students. This will look different depending on your grade level. Young students won’t benefit from looking at a bunch of numbers on a rubric, but they will learn a lot if you give them each a one-minute “glow and grow” mini-conference. The important thing is that you provide students with timely feedback in words and a format they can understand.

What is my students’ experience with assessment? 

Sometimes assessments can create pressure and anxiety for students. Many students get nervous thinking about everyone looking at and judging their work! Give students a voice in the assessment process to reduce anxiety. Talk to them about your goals as a teacher and ask them about their goals as artists and learners. When you are assessing students or discussing your observations with them, give students the opportunity to self-assess first with a rubric, artist statement, or conversation prompts. Often, they will be harder on themselves than you and it will provide space to give plenty of encouragement. 

Assessment has a negative reputation but it can be a helpful tool for artistic growth and student connection. It’s important to assess students regularly to check for understanding of current concepts, determine what students are ready to learn next, and pinpoint areas of mastery. Shift the culture from grades to open feedback to relieve pressure and anxiety and promote excitement around discovery and development. Use ready-made resources from FLEX Curriculum to keep your rubrics clear, observable, and objective, while saving so much time. Embrace your newfound view on assessment to create a supportive learning environment that celebrates each stage in the artmaking process!

How do you track your students’ artistic growth?

What’s a successful way you share feedback with your students?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post How to Assess for Growth and Transform Your Art Classroom appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Discover how to harness your classroom leadership skills for a fulfilling career journey and give back to other art teachers along the way.

Recognize your value and share the wealth. 

Many art teachers underestimate the value of their specialized skills. Take a moment and think about how often a fellow teacher or community member has said something along the lines of, “I don’t know how you do it” or, “I could never do what you do.” Art teachers are experts in not only art media and techniques but also cultural competency, classroom management, community organizing, and more. Sharing your skills is an act of generosity that can mean the world to someone who is struggling. 

Reflect on your practice.

Many things that seem ordinary to you are extraordinary to others. Take time to reflect on your practice and identify your greatest strengths. As you think about your typical day, focus on the aspects that run smoothly or seem easy. Do you have a knack for learning students’ names? Are your transitions calm and orderly? Have you found a way to hook students and get them motivated in your lessons? Once you identify your areas of strength, think about the steps you took to succeed. 

Find your people. 

One of the biggest challenges many art teachers face is being the only art teacher or specialist in their building. It can feel very isolating! There are many spaces where art teachers can connect with other like-minded professionals, such as The Art of Ed Community. This online space is the best corner of the internet with fun and relevant activities like daily polls and Community Challenges. Follow your art teacher friends, make new ones, and spread the love by cheering posts and comments. Many art teachers are more than happy to connect with you!

Document everything! 

As you create lessons, remember to take pictures of the process and the product. Many art teachers use a document camera to record videos while they create sample projects and sub plans. These are invaluable resources for students to review asynchronously. It will also give you plenty of archived content to work with when you feel ready to share your secrets with others! Whether you decide to share on social media, start a blog, or lead a professional development session, pictures and videos go a long way to help your audience understand what you’re talking about.

Refine your skills. 

While art teachers are experts in many areas, we still love to grow and explore new things! If you’re looking for a way to level up your leadership skills, enroll in AOEU’s Master of Education in Curriculum & Instruction. This graduate-level course will help you improve your professional practice and apply your art education background to leadership roles. With the Instructional Leadership in Art Education specialization, you will learn how to advocate for change in the field through building community connections, applying ethics, and writing grants. Reach out to an admissions counselor to learn more! 

Start local. 

You don’t have to travel far to step into a leadership role. Plus, starting locally can often make the biggest impact on your students! There are many opportunities even within your school and district.

Here are a few local options to consider:

• Welcome a student teacher to your classroom.
• Mentor a new art teacher in your district.
• Apply for a spot on the curriculum team.
• Join your building’s leadership team. 
• Take on a role as a building rep for your local union. 
• Lead after-school professional development during institutes or workshops.

Many districts provide opportunities and offer incentives to lead professional development. The incentives may be a credit toward a lane change or a stipend. If you have the opportunity, consider broadening your audience to teachers beyond the art room. Develop cross-curricular resources, share therapeutic art techniques, or teach colleagues to make more visually pleasing slides, anchor charts, and instructional materials. Remember, you have more to offer than art! 

Present at conferences.

Every state has an art education association and there is the National Art Education Association (NAEA). AOEU also hosts the world’s largest online professional development for art teachers with the NOW Conference each summer and winter. The NOW Conference features art teachers just like you who have the most innovative ideas in art education. 

One of the keys to presenting at a conference is to remember that adult learners are like the class of your dreams. The teachers who attend educational conferences are passionate about learning and growing and they welcome depth and expertise on topics. Still, just as with your students, adult learners crave inspiration. Take time to think about and plan a good hook and approach your presentation as a story. 

Join the conversation in podcasts.

Art Ed Radio is the gold standard for art education podcasts. In addition to art education-specific shows, look for podcasts in specific niches like art history, art crimes, or art mediums. There are tons of podcasts out there and many podcasters love to talk with someone who shares their passion. Send them an email to introduce yourself and what you can bring to the show!

Teaching is an art form. As a teaching artist, it’s natural to continue exploring new territory so you can learn, grow, and share your work with others. There is nothing more satisfying as a teacher than seeing others flourish and being a small part of their journey and discovery. As you continue to hone your craft and achieve success in your classroom, consider the ripple effect of sharing your wisdom with the broader community. Whether it’s mentoring a new teacher, joining a school committee, or enrolling in a leadership program, your unique perspective and expertise can ignite inspiration in others. What are you waiting for? Step into your role as a leader, generously share your knowledge, and help elevate the field of art education. 

What is the best piece of advice a fellow art teacher gave you?

Share a reservation you have about stepping into art teacher leadership.

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post How to Become an Art Teacher Leader and Drive Meaningful Change appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Hear the stories of artists in the military, plus ideas to bring them to your students.

A little razzle-dazzle may have saved lives in World War I.

In the days before radar, soldiers would need to spot an enemy ship through a scope and estimate its distance, direction, and speed. In 1917, as German U-boats targeted ships with deadly accuracy, artist Norman Wilkinson came up with a radical plan. Rather than trying to hide the ships, he wanted to paint flashy designs to disorient the enemy. The Navy experimented with painting ships using geometric lines and shapes to make it harder to tell the ship’s orientation. 

Put this story to work in your classroom.

Many art teachers love Op Art because it’s systematic and highlights the careful arrangement of the elements within a composition. Many students love Op Art because the projects have a high success rate. It’s easy to understand and it’s visually striking. 

Share the history of Dazzle Camouflage as a hook to get students interested in your Op Art lesson. If you want more ways to introduce Op Art, check out the artist bios of Victor Vasarely and Bridget Riley in FLEX Curriculum. You’ll also find student-facing resources like timelines, videos, and visual references of Op Art patterns. 

Who you gonna call? Ghost Army!

During World War II, the U.S. Army recruited artists for what they described as a non-combat camouflage unit to misdirect the enemy. The job was far more risky than it sounds. The 23rd Headquarters Special Troops was eventually renamed the Ghost Army. Artists, including some who would go on to have prominent art careers, such as Ellsworth Kelly and Art Kane, utilized their talents. They created an illusion that the Allied forces were preparing to go to one place while they actually planned to go to another. To make this illusion, they constructed inflatable tanks, stretched canvas over wooden mock-ups of trucks or planes, and used audio recordings to simulate the din of an active platoon.

One strategy was partially covering and camouflaging their creations so enemy scouts would catch their “mistakes.” Because the scouts believed they caught a glimpse of something they weren’t meant to see, they perceived it as valuable intelligence. For a group of roughly 1,000 artists, impersonating a group 40 times their size was extremely dangerous. Success in their mission would draw the enemy closer to them. However, they couldn’t defend themselves in heavy combat. Their creative and courageous actions were successful and likely saved the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers.

Put this story to work in your classroom.

Design immersive installation pieces that incorporate sound, light, and tactile elements. If you don’t have the space, time, or resources to do full-blown installations for each student, groups can mock up faux installations by drawing on printed pictures of school spaces. Students will consider how the elements they include can misdirect their audience and create intriguing stories with twists and turns. This exercise encourages students to consider the role of art in shaping perception and influencing reality. 

Soldiers win the fight, but artists win hearts and minds.

Wars are fought on multiple fronts. In order to be victorious, the nation must support soldiers on the battlefield and at home. To win hearts and minds, they produce propaganda. In January of 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt gave an address making the case for aiding Great Britain and greater US involvement in World War II. He said the US would be helping to protect four universal freedoms that all people deserve: speech, worship, want, and fear. 

Norman Rockwell listened to the speech and it inspired him to create his Four Freedoms series. He went to the Office of War Information with his posters and they turned him away. The Saturday Evening Post believed in Rockwell’s vision, and they commissioned him to make the works to go along with corresponding essays. People loved the series! The Post received 25,000 requests for reprints. They quickly worked out a deal to sell war bonds and stamps featuring Rockwell’s images. The Office of War Information came to print roughly 4 million posters of Rockwell’s Four Freedoms between 1943 and 1945. 

Put this story to work in your classroom.

Use Norman Rockwell to introduce media literacy and visual communication. Discuss the series and how he made abstract concepts concrete and relatable for an audience. Challenge students to make visual representations of ideals they hold dear. Hang them around the school to encourage character development. It’s a great way for students of any age to be a force for positive change!

Inspire students to look at the benefits and importance of visual art outside of your classroom walls and their current experiences with the military stories above. The brave and ingenious artists of the Dazzle Camouflage, Ghost Army, and Norman Rockwell all impacted society and history for the better with their creative problem solving. Bring these artists into your curriculum to foster historical connections, honor their contributions, and build communication skills.

What is your favorite fun fact about art shaping history?

Do you do anything special to celebrate Veteran’s Day in the art room?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post 3 Fascinating Stories of Artists Serving the Military appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Keep reading to learn about different kinds of clay, the stages of clay, and answers to frequently asked clay questions!

Where does clay come from?

Clay is a natural material that comes from the ground. It consists of minerals such as silica, magnesia, and alumina mixed with water. You can find clay deposits and dig them up. Of course, naturally found clay can have any number of other elements mixed into it. Once the clay is harvested from the ground, it goes through a labor-intensive process of drying, filtering, and rehydrating to make the consistency perfect. However, most of us order clay online and get it shipped straight to our classrooms or studios.

What are the different kinds of clay?

There are many different kinds of clay on the market. This is exciting because there are so many options to choose from! However, if you’re new, too many options can be intimidating. Below is a short list of the most common types of clay, categorized by firing needs.

Here are four types of clay:

1. Air-Dry
   Air-dry clay can sit out and harden without any baking or firing. Unfortunately, air-dried pieces remain porous and tend to be more fragile. These are good for quick activities where you need a tight turnaround or need to create something small like a pendant, ornament, or beads.
2. Low-Fire
   Earthenware, also referred to as low-fire clay, is fired to a lower temperature in the kiln. Fire low-fire clays in the kiln at cone 06 to cone 04 to make it hardened and non-absorbent. This equals around 1,600-2,000 degrees Fahrenheit! Low-fire clays are popular in the classroom because they are forgiving and easy to work with. They are great for beginners and hand-building.
3. Mid-Fire
   Stoneware, also referred to as mid-fire clay, is typically fired around cone 5 or cone 6. Stoneware tends to be smoother and more pure than earthenware clays. It’s a popular choice for industrial production because it’s very durable and versatile. Mid-fire clays are suitable for hand-building, wheel throwing, and molding. 
4. High-Fire
   Porcelain is the most common type of high-fire clay and tends to be dense. Because of that density, they can be harder to work with but result in thin yet strong and durable pieces. High-fired clays are less absorbent and vitrified, meaning they fire at a temperature high enough for glass to form and act as a glue. This type of clay is suitable for very advanced courses. 

What are the different stages of clay?

While different types of clay have characteristics based on mineral composition, the stages are the same. Each stage is based on how water affects the clay and, therefore, its plasticity, or how moldable it is.

Here are the six most common stages of clay:

1. Slip
   Liquid clay is referred to as slip. Create slip by crushing dry clay and mixing it with water until it has the consistency of a milkshake. You can use slip for casting, but it is most commonly used as a “glue” when hand-building and attaching pieces.
2. Plastic
   When you open a new box of clay it should be in a wet or moist state. Wet clay is soft and easy to shape. This is the stage clay should be for hand-building or wheel-throwing.
3. Leather-Hard
   As clay partially dries, it becomes leather-hard. Clay, at this stage, is strong but still somewhat flexible. It’s still dark in color and will feel slightly cool from the remaining moisture. It’s good for carving, trimming, or attaching pieces. 
4. Bone-Dry or Greenware
   This is clay that has completely dried out and is ready for the kiln. It will be light in color and dusty. It’s brittle, so handle it gently! 
5. Bisqueware
   The first firing is referred to as a bisque firing. This firing will harden or even vitrify a piece, making it impervious to water. You can’t rehydrate or attach wet clay to a bisqueware piece.
6. Glazeware
   Glaze bisqueware to add color or a finish. Glazes have a combination of minerals, but essentially, they coat a ceramic piece in a layer of glass and pigment during a glaze firing. Different glazes melt at different temperatures, so it’s important to use glazes that fire at the same temperature as the clay. Other alternatives to glaze include paint or oil pastels.

For a student-facing resource on these key clay stages, download The 6 Stages of Clay anchor chart in FLEX Curriculum. This resource has each stage of clay with a short description and visual. Make copies for students to put in their sketchbooks or post in your room near your clay station.

What makes clay “blow up?”

Most of us experienced a mini explosion in the kiln or have seen someone else post about one in an art teacher group. What causes this to happen? The short answer is water. If you fire clay before it’s completely dried out, moisture trapped inside the clay body will turn to steam. As water molecules turn to steam, they expand. The steam gets trapped in the clay and builds up pressure, resulting in cracks or a shattered piece.

Air bubbles are a hotly debated cause of explosions in the kiln. An air bubble itself is unlikely to cause an explosion, but a pocket of air sealed in the clay may hold moisture and lead to the problems outlined above. If there is a hollow cavity in your clay, it is best to poke a vent hole for the steam!

How can I avoid explosions in the kiln?

Avoid problems by allowing ample dry time. While the exact number of days a clay piece needs to dry will depend on several factors, including the size of the piece and the humidity in the room, give all clay at least a few days to dry before firing. Pay attention to the clay’s color and feel to determine if it’s bone-dry. Greenware will often appear lighter in color. If it looks darker and feels cooler to the touch, it’s still at the leather-hard stage. An easy test is to place the item on a piece of scrap paper. Note if the paper warps or leaves a damp mark.

Clay is a medium that requires patience. Waiting before firing is critical, but a longer time in the kiln can help too. Most electric kilns will allow you to choose a firing speed, so opting for a slower bisque fire is always a good idea. A strategy called candling heats the pieces up at 180-200 degrees Fahrenheit for a number of hours to ensure the clay is dry before firing. 

What other logistics do I need to consider?

Ceramics can be a complicated artform—it has a lot of chemistry elements and stages in the process. Don’t let the science intimidate you! Just like with any medium, learn the foundation, such as the stages of clay, basic hand-building techniques, and how to operate your kiln. Then, add in new elements to experiment with every now and then! Before you know it, you’ll be an expert.

Here are a few quick tips to be safe and successful in the art room:

• Stay clean.
  Silica particles in clay can become harmful over time if you inhale too much dust. Wipe surfaces with a wet cloth and ask custodians to wet mop your floors more often. 
• Get organized.
  Labeling shelves by days of the week can help you track how long pieces have been drying before bisque firing.
• Take pictures.
  If you teach younger students who may not always recognize their work (or carve legible initials in the bottom of their pieces), take a picture of each child with their sculpture before they drop it off on the shelf. 
• Keep clay out of the pipes.
  Clay going down the drain will leave sediment that can build up and clog your pipes. Wipe off excess clay before students wash their hands. Use a bucket to “pre-rinse” hands so students can remove the clay then go to the sink and wash with soap. Keep another bucket under the faucet to catch any lingering clay, like in the video below. The clay will sink to the bottom of the bucket and the “clean” water will flow over the top and down the drain.

How can I reclaim and rehydrate clay?

At some point, every art teacher encounters a box of clay that has sat on the shelf too long and it’s stiff and dry. Save money and rehydrate old clay into brand-new clay!

Here is an easy strategy to rehydrate your old dry clay:

1. Place the block in a bag.
   Put the dry block of clay into a plastic bag. If there are no holes, the one it came in will work perfectly.
2. Add water.
   Pour about a cup of water into the bag, around the clay.
3. Seal the bag.
   Place the sealed bag into a bucket. 
4. Submerge in water.
   Fill the bucket with water until the bag is submerged.
5. Wait.
   Let the clay soak for at least 24 hours. The outside water will create a pressure that will force the inside cup of water back into the clay.
6. Wedge.
   Once rehydrated, remove the clay from the bag and wedge it to evenly distribute the moisture. Store in an airtight container or bag to prevent it from drying out again.

Another way to rehydrate your clay is to add water, let it sit, and then wedge it, like in the video below. This method creates a super fun activity for early finishers of all ages! Plus, it’s a great way to recycle clay scraps or incomplete projects and build hand muscles. 

Clay is one of the oldest and most enduring art materials. Students love to get their hands dirty and build something they can cherish for years to come. Keep the experience positive by allowing plenty of dry time so every sculpture can make its way through the kiln safely. Remember student safety and wipe up as much clay dust off the tables and floors daily as possible. Stay mindful of the science and stages of clay to keep intimidation at bay and provide a magical experience for your students! 

What clay lessons do you love to teach year after year?

What was your biggest blunder with clay?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post Clay 101: How to be Safe and Successful with the Rock Star of the Art Room appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Bright, bold colors evoke a sense of energy, excitement, and pure joy that transcends age and culture. Neon and fluorescent colors hold a special place, capturing this inherent fascination with their luminous intensity. The use of fluorescent colors can instantly elevate an artwork and make it totally rad. While often used interchangeably, these terms actually represent distinct concepts: neon refers to a specific gas used in lighting, whereas fluorescent describes a broader range of colors that mimic that iconic glow.

Learn how fluorescent colors were developed, why they are so bright, and how you can use them in your art room.

How were fluorescent colors developed? 

In the early 20th century, neon lights harnessed the unique glow of electrified neon gas within glass tubes. Their vibrant hues and mesmerizing glow quickly captivated the world, transforming cityscapes and advertising. The jump from neon lights to the fluorescent pigments, commonly called neon colors, happened somewhat by accident.

In the summer of 1933, a college student named Bob Switzer hit his head and awoke from a coma with blurred vision. He began experimenting with fluorescents during his recovery in his family’s dark basement. His brother Joe used them for magic tricks! The Switzer brothers came up with a new polymer mixture with fluorescent dyes that allowed them to mix pigments like traditional paints while retaining the fluorescent properties. They used their ultra-bright colors for black light magic shows, advertising, and fashion. Fluorescents were not simply a gimmick—they improved visibility and safety for everyone, from crossing guards to construction workers, and even the US military.

What makes neon colors so bright? 

Light consists of a spectrum of different wavelengths which are perceived as different colors. White light has the full spectrum. When you see a color such as the red of a stop sign, the white light hits that sign. The sign absorbs all of the light except for the red waves. The red part bounces off the surface into your eye. The lower frequency cones detect the red. In addition to the colors of the rainbow which make up the visible spectrum, there are wavelengths of light humans cannot see. There is infrared, which is lower energy, and ultraviolet, which is higher frequency. 

Fluorescent colors reflect the energy of visible light and also convert ultraviolet light, which is much higher energy, into visible light. The absorbed energy excites the electrons in fluorescent molecules. This increases their energy level! When the electrons go back down to their normal energy level, they emit energy in the form of visible light. This emitted light combined with the normal reflected light means that fluorescent colors are giving off extra visible light. 

Can I mix to make neon colors? 

You will not be able to create fluorescent colors by mixing traditional pigments. There may be some DIY recommendations, such as soaking the tip of a highlighter in water to extract the ink. It’s generally better to buy fluorescent materials to avoid potential issues with chemicals. Remember, the label indicating a material is non-toxic means it is not expected to be harmful if used as intended. There is a lot of complicated chemistry involved in creating fluorescent materials. This is seen in the story of the Radium Girls—a reminder that there can be grave consequences when things go wrong. If you do choose to experiment with fluorescent powdered pigments, be sure to read and follow the manufacturer’s safety instructions.

Why use fluorescent colors? 

Because fluorescent colors emit more energy than those in the standard spectrum, they appear brighter and grab people’s attention. The increased visibility makes them a wonderful tool for advertising and safety. But don’t underestimate the power of the fun factor! The glowing colors as you turn on a black light never fail to elicit awe and delight from students.

Consider creating a black light room for your art show or create a fun experience with a glow art day. Do a mad scientist theme and fill beakers with fluorescent paints. Kick things up a notch with plastic bugs or animals floating in the glowing solutions! Students can practice observational drawing skills with fun “scientific” drawings documenting every specimen’s detail.

How do I get my colors to gleam?

To make your colors really light up, you need black lights and fluorescent materials. The number of black lights will depend on your specific space, but there are numerous options at affordable prices. Remember, ambient light will diminish the effect, so cover windows and shut doors if possible. While there are many fluorescent materials available, including colored pencils, markers, and crayons, the best results tend to come from more opaque media with highly saturated colors. Start with neon oil pastels and fluorescent acrylic or liquid tempera paints for a huge impact!

What should my students make?

Neon colors will bring new energy to just about any project. Swap out one material for a fluorescent version to reignite a tried and true assignment. Use these extra bright colors as an opportunity to introduce wild and fun art movements and artworks into the curriculum. Additionally, harness the vibrant origins and create connections with history and science.  

Here are four lesson ideas to try in your classroom:

1. Use psychedelic art as a trippy and fun way to connect with art history.
   Psychedelic art of the 1960s and 70s was heavily influenced by the Surrealist and Art Nouveau movements. Show your students a collection of artists, including Alphonse Mucha and Peter Max, and discuss how the element of color can affect perception. 
2. Lean into a science connection and explore bioluminescence.
   Show a collection of creatures that emit light such as fireflies or the deep sea angler fish. Students select a creature to be the subject matter of their next artwork.
3. Give abstract drawings a Reggie Laurent-inspired glow-up.
   Reggie Laurent shared his story at a previous NOW Conference. Students block out shapes in white oil pastels and then apply neon colors. Add complexity and interest to the shapes by giving each one unique patterns. Draw line designs to fill the negative space.
4. Explore the fashion world.
   Challenge students to create rad 80s- and 90s-inspired looks. If you lived through these trends and survived to talk about it, bring in some old pictures. Sharing a laugh at your blunder years can be a great way to bond with students, especially since these trends are circling back! 

For more logistical tips on how to create a black light gallery with lots of bright project ideas, watch the Black Light Art Pack in PRO Learning.

Fluorescent colors provide a unique and exciting avenue for students to explore how science and art intersect. The ultra-bright colors will get your students engaged in any lesson. Whether exploring psychedelic art, delving into bioluminescent creatures, or crafting neon fashion designs, the possibilities are endless! Plus, art teachers deserve to play too—bring these exhilarating colors to your own artwork and see what happens. This year, embrace the brilliance of fluorescent colors and let creativity radiate!

What is your favorite art project that uses fluorescent colors?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post Back to Basics: How to Give Your Colors a Neon Glow Up appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool for creativity and education, revolutionizing the way we approach both artistic expression and learning. You can use AI tools to make your job easier and enhance learning for students, but good results require good prompts. Prompt engineering is the art of crafting precise instructions to guide AI’s output. Much like a skilled teacher guiding a student, effective prompt engineering involves providing clear context, setting specific constraints, and iteratively refining instructions to achieve the desired outcome.

Engineer prompts and wield AI tools like a pro with the ideas below.

What is prompt engineering?

In the realm of visual art, AI is the ability of computer systems to mimic human creative processes. This can involve generating text, images, sounds, and more. A crucial aspect of working with AI art tools is prompt engineering, which involves crafting precise written prompts to guide AI’s output. Much like instructing a student, a well-crafted prompt can inspire AI to generate specific styles, subjects, or emotions, while vague prompts may lead to unpredictable results. A strong prompt will provide clear context, constraints, and objectives.

Consider these two different prompt examples:

1. Vague: Give me ideas to improve observational drawing skills.
2. Specific: Act as an experienced art teacher. You are working with a group of third and fourth-grade students seeking to improve their observational drawing skills. Give ten different activity ideas to help students improve. Each activity should focus on just one or two elements of art so students can prioritize specific skills to target. Include ideas for differentiation.

Provide context for more relevant results.

Context is key when it comes to crafting effective AI prompts for art. The more information you provide, the more likely AI will generate content that is appropriate, challenging, engaging, and relevant to your curriculum and students. Plus, it can help AI make connections and suggest activities you may not have considered!

For example, if you’re asking AI to generate questions for your students, it will need to know a lot of information. You can enter the following excerpt: You’re an experienced art teacher. You are doing an in-class review game with key ceramic terms around the stages and kinds of clay. Write the questions at a 9-10th grade level and include a mix of multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank. 

Set constraints.

Setting constraints for AI tools is a crucial step in ensuring the generated content aligns with educational goals and safety standards. For art teachers, this could involve specifying the source material for AI to reference. Try limiting image searches to reputable museum websites or educational platforms. This ensures that AI is pulling from reliable and curated sources and will decrease the likelihood of inappropriate or inaccurate content.

When looking up artists and artwork, you can set constraints to specify the style, medium, culture, and time period. Consider the age and skill levels of your students and then set grade-level or scope and sequence constraints. By carefully defining these boundaries, you can harness the power of AI while maintaining control over the learning experience and ensuring a safe and productive environment for students.

Teach to AI as if it were a student. 

When you present a lesson to your students, you provide them with clearly defined criteria for success. That is also a great practice for working with AI! Take the same approach and explicitly state what you want the AI tool to create so it can compile its best results. Remember that AI is a tool and only as good as the user’s skill, intelligence, and approach.

If you told a student to simply “paint a landscape,” you would probably get a flat painting with minimal detail. If you wanted your students to create a successful landscape, you would provide criteria such as including a background, middleground, and foreground, atmospheric or linear perspective, specific color schemes, and smooth gradations. Along similar lines, telling AI to “generate an image” will likely result in some strange pictures as it “guesses” to fill in the blanks. 

Approach AI with a growth mindset.

Remember, AI tools are young learners and still have a lot of room to grow. If the first output isn’t exactly what you envisioned, don’t give up. Most AI tools offer options to refine and iterate, much like providing constructive feedback to students. You can request longer or shorter responses, tweak the tone, or simply generate more results based on your original prompt. 

Even a simple edit to your prompt can make a significant difference! Think of each iteration as a learning opportunity for both you and AI. With each interaction, AI learns from your feedback and will gradually improve its ability to understand your needs. So, embrace the power of “yet” and keep experimenting!

For instance, after using AI to generate art activity ideas, ask it to create memorable phrases of key ideas. AI will remember the context and information from the previous prompt, so your added prompt can be shorter. Try: Give me a short phrase to tell students with each activity to help them focus and remember key concepts. The phrase should be clear and use kid-friendly language.

If you’re curious about integrating AI and want to learn more, check out AI in Art Education. This graduate course provides practical strategies to develop communication, creativity, and critical thinking in a tech-evolving landscape.

AI is a powerful tool you can mobilize with prompt engineering. AI can assist in everything from compiling engaging lesson ideas to providing personalized feedback. AI tools cannot replace your expertise, but they can serve as a great personal assistant. AI can also help you to refine your ideas or consider new perspectives. Just like you would teach and approach a student, make sure AI understands your situation and goals by providing context, constraints, and criteria for optimal success. Give it a try and see what you and AI can accomplish together in your next art lesson!

What AI prompts give you great results?

What problems do you wish AI tools could solve for you?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post How to Train Your Robot: AI Prompt Engineering for Art Teachers appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Don’t turn the page—reveal the superpowers that comic books can bring to your students with innovative artists and three big ideas!

Connect visual arts with other content areas.

Comic books offer an engaging platform for cross-curricular learning in the art classroom. Comic books are malleable and can easily incorporate other connections, such as technology, English Language Arts, and history. Challenge students to make comic books that capture historical events, explore mythology, or advocate for a social issue. By integrating different topics, students make meaningful connections between concepts and classes that are otherwise siloed. This shows students how all disciplines relate to each other. This also reinforces understanding, improves information retention, highlights different perspectives, and develops empathy.

While many art lessons aid students in developing visual literacy skills, comic books connect text and images, which is particularly helpful for English Language Learners. Comic books allow students ample practice reading, writing, illustrating, and visualizing characters, settings, and storylines. Students develop a greater understanding of story arcs and strengthen self-expression and communication skills.

Inspire students with these five comic artists.

1. Jack Kirby

Jack Kirby was a legendary comic book artist, writer, and co-creator of some of the biggest heroes in comic history. Before his comic career, he put his drawing talents to use scouting and mapping the terrain during World War 2. He helped to create The Avengers, The Fantastic Four, The X-Men, Iron Man, and more. Kirby proves how powerful comic art can be in making a difference! His concept art played a key role in a covert CIA mission to rescue hostages in Iran.

2. Jim Davis

Jim Davis created Garfield, which is one of the longest-running and most successful comics in history. Before he found that success, Davis had some major setbacks. His first comic, called Gnorm Gnat, lasted a little over a year before his publisher told him he needed to start over with something new. Davis created a comic called Jon, which evolved into Garfield. He had help from Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts. Davis was having trouble drawing Garfield dancing and Schulz suggested giving Garfield big feet so he would look more natural walking on his hind legs. Davis shows the importance of flexibility, resiliency, and applying feedback.

3. Sarah Andersen

Sarah Andersen creates delightful webcomics. She has a simple yet expressive art style, paired with relatable humor and observations about everyday life. Her comics are accessible and engaging for students. Andersen’s webcomic, Sarah’s Scribbles, demonstrates how effective minimalist drawings can be in conveying emotions and telling stories. Additionally, her success in self-publishing and building an online following through social media inspires students to explore non-traditional avenues for sharing their own comic creations.

4. Marjane Satrapi

Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel Persepolis is an excellent example of the power of comics to convey personal and historical narratives. Her work demonstrates how comics can explore difficult topics, such as war, political oppression, and cultural identity, in a way that is both informative and emotionally engaging. Additionally, Satrapi’s use of humor and personal anecdotes amidst the serious subject matter showcases the versatility of the medium.

5. David Morgan-Mar

David Morgan-Mar, creator of Irregular Webcomic!, offers a unique example for students that blends a passion for comics with plastic building bricks. His innovative use of action figures and sets to create characters and environments demonstrates how to portray a story without traditional drawing. Morgan-Mar’s work encourages students to think outside the box, utilizing readily available materials and their own creativity to construct narratives. This approach not only lowers the barrier to entry for aspiring comic artists but also highlights the importance of resourcefulness and adaptability in the creative process.

Switch things up with these three different ways to create comic books with your students!

One of the greatest things about comic books is that they are an extremely flexible medium. They are adaptable to the tools and resources at hand, making them a perfect fit for any classroom. Choose a format that meets your budget, supplies, and students!

1. Make traditional comic books.

Brainstorm story elements and introduce students to the fundamentals of panel layout. Teach them how to use different panel sizes and shapes to control pacing, emphasize important events, and create visual interest. Show Piet Mondrian for another example of how to visualize similar principles of design. Encourage students to experiment with various angles and perspectives to make their pages more dramatic. Discuss the importance of speech bubbles and captions to clearly convey dialogue and narration. Use the student-friendly worksheet, Plan Your Comic Book, in FLEX Curriculum to help with ideation and organization.

Once the comic is complete, explore different binding options. Accordion fold books are a simple and effective way to showcase a continuous narrative. Traditional stitched binding offers a more polished look, while staples or metal rings provide a quick and easy solution. If you want a fun, unconventional book format, try explosion books!

2. Let students be the hero of their own story!

Using tablets or similar electronic devices, students photograph themselves acting out their stories. They’ll love transforming themselves into superheroes, explorers, or whatever else their imagination conjures. Use a green screen so students can place themselves anywhere. Source backgrounds from found images, draw using traditional media, or even craft within digital art apps. Most available apps provide intuitive platforms where students can easily combine photographs, illustrations, and text into captivating visual narratives.

3. Collaborate on a modular comic.

This idea encourages teamwork, creativity, and storytelling skills while still allowing for individual artistic expression. As a class, brainstorm key elements of a comic, such as the main characters. Ensure there are transitional panels at the start and end of each page to ensure a cohesive narrative flow. Think of this activity as a new version of the Surrealist Exquisite Corpse game.

For example, each page will be a day in the life of the character. The first panel of each student’s page will portray the character waking up. Each student will then tell their own mini-story to fill the rest of their page. The story will close with the last panel which will show the character going to bed. Once the pages are complete, digitize and compile them into a class slide deck. Students can make individual copies of the deck where they can select and rearrange pages to create their own unique versions of the class comic.

Whether students create traditional comic books, perform as superheroes, or collaborate on a collective narrative, students can use comics to explore history, science, social issues, or their own imaginations. These connections promote a deeper understanding of concepts that go well beyond the book. Introduce many innovative and inspirational comic book artists to help students embrace the versatility and power of the medium. Practicing visual storytelling empowers students to become creators, communicators, and critical thinkers in a world increasingly shaped by visual media.

Share a neat comic book lesson your students love! 

How do you use literacy in your classroom to enhance visual art?

To continue the conversation, join us in The Art of Ed Community!

The post Art Room Superpowers: 3 Ways to Teach with Comic Books appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Keep reading to learn what tempera cakes are, how to use them, and even how to make your own.

What are tempera cakes?

All paint consists of three basic components: pigment, which provides the color; a binder, which holds the pigment together; and a solvent, which thins the paint and allows it to flow. Tempera cakes are chunks of pigment with a binder that you activate by adding water. The name tempera paint comes from the verb “temper” meaning “to bring to a desired consistency.” Whether it is liquid tempera or a tempera cake, the paint is water miscible, meaning you can dilute it with water to bring it to the desired consistency. 

Do I need to be concerned about students with egg allergies?

Artists throughout history made their own tempera with an egg yolk binder. Some artists even mixed egg into their oils to prevent cracking and protect the painting from humidity. Of course, working with eggs presented some challenges, such as drying out, hardening too quickly, and producing a rotting smell. Modern store-bought tempera typically doesn’t use egg yolks. Because of allergies and other practical concerns, tempera cakes typically use a gum arabic binder, which has an extremely long shelf life. If you are using mass-produced tempera cakes, you don’t need to worry about eggs.

How do I stretch my paint budget?

A set of tempera cakes will last a long time. Just like a watercolor pan, you can allow the tempera cakes to dry out, and then simply wet them to reactivate the paints. This significantly cuts down on waste. While you apply them in a similar manner to watercolors, tempera cakes tend to produce bolder, more opaque colors. This makes them a great option for painting on construction paper, cardboard, and any other colored surface. While a good set of tempera cakes can be a bit expensive, they will last significantly longer than most other forms of paint. The quality and saturation of pigment can vary from brand to brand, so test a few to find the best value before investing in full-class sets. 

What are some ways to mix things up?

Tempera cakes are a highly versatile medium. Because they mix with water and go with the flow, they tend to work well with a lot of other media. Good quality tempera cakes are an economical way to paint ceramics if you don’t have a kiln or don’t want to use pricey glazes. Kids love them because the colors are bright and bold and, unlike glazing, the pieces will be ready to take home the same day. If you plan to use tempera cakes on clay, be sure to bisque fire the pieces before painting and never put any paint through the kiln. Also, keep in mind that some brands work better than others so do some tests to see what works best. If the tempera finish feels gritty and chalky, consider spraying a clear sealant to protect the finished pieces.

Students of all ages love the magical effect of a resist! Just like watercolors, tempera cakes will slide right off the slick surface of crayon or oil pastel marks. Consider using tempera cakes when you want higher contrast and bolder colors in your mixed media resists.

How do I get the most out of my tempera cakes?

How students use a tool is the most important factor in the overall quality of the final product. Plus, it pays to take care of art room tools and materials because that is money back in the budget for the next year! There are many ways to make your tempera cakes last as long as possible.

Try these tips to take care of your tempera cakes:

• Move the tempera cakes into durable muffin tins and use ice cube trays with lids to mix and store custom paint colors.
• Spend time explicitly teaching students about the role of water in color saturation and viscosity. Give them scrap paper to experiment and explore. 
• Watch the Pack, Tempera Paint Basics, in PRO Learning for tips, hacks, and strategies to use and organize tempera.
• Use two-sided pet bowls for cleaner brushes and cleaner palettes. Students use one side to clean their brush and use the other side to grab clean water they can mix into their paint colors.
• Rinse or gently wipe the top of your tempera cakes to keep them clean.
• Spray the tempera cakes with water to activate the paint for a few minutes before distributing the sets to students.

Can I make my own tempera cakes?

Have you ever wanted to mix up your own custom paint set? Imagine the possibilities! Mix in glitter or glow-in-the-dark powders to create an array of custom colors you and your students will love. Creating your own tempera cakes is much easier than you may expect. You can also have students whip up their own batch to foster a deeper appreciation for the medium. 

Ingredients:

• Powdered tempera pigment
• Gum arabic 
• Water

Instructions:

1. Combine roughly equal amounts of powdered tempera pigment and gum arabic in a bowl.
2. Slowly add water, a few drops at a time, while mixing to create a thick, smooth paste.
3. Press the mixture into ice cube trays or silicone molds. 
4. Allow the tempera cakes to dry completely. This may take several days, depending on the thickness of the cakes and the humidity level.
5. Store the tempera cakes in a cool, dry place.

Tempera cakes are a powerful art material. Their ease of use, vibrant colors, and versatility make them an ideal choice for students of all ages and skill levels. There are many exciting ways to use tempera paint once you know the basics and how to make them. Invest in tempera cakes to give students the rich, bold, and opaque color of tempera without the stress, mess, and waste of pouring liquid tempera onto palettes. Bring tempera cakes to your students to stretch your budget, customize a fun art material for your students, and create vibrant artwork this year!

Share your favorite art project to make with tempera cakes!

What would you mix into a tempera cake to take it to the next level?

The post Tempera Cakes 101: How to Make and Use the Most Versatile Paint appeared first on The Art of Education University.

As you get ready for the upcoming school year, consider fresh strategies to establish a positive and productive art room environment that will stand the test of time.

How do you handle unexpected behaviors?

Before we dive in, let’s touch on the most common aspect of classroom management—student behavior. Unfortunately, behavior problems have increased across the board. It’s important not to take them personally because there are many shifting factors outside of the art room walls. Even the art teacher with an arsenal of effective strategies will run into an inevitable disruption. Do your best to create conditions that promote positive behaviors and address undesirable behaviors quickly, consistently, and appropriately.

Follow these four steps to manage challenging behaviors:

1. Prioritize safety.
   If a student is a danger to themselves or others, take immediate action. Remove dangerous tools, the student, or other students from the classroom as needed. Often, a private conversation and a break in a calm corner can help. Reach out to your professional school counselor and administrator for extra support and to keep them in the loop.

2. Share your calm.
   Human beings are social creatures. Adopting another person’s words, attitudes, and actions is an instinct embedded through mirror neurons. Respond with a calm voice and kind words to students who are dysregulated or disrespectful. Your calm demeanor can help de-escalate the situation and set a positive example.

3. Address causes, not just behaviors.
   All behavior is a form of communication. Students who behave inappropriately may not know how to communicate unmet needs. Build strong relationships to identify if these needs are social-emotional, academic, or physiological and provide a safe space for students to talk about them and ask for help.

4. Show a path back to success.
   Some students may struggle to recover from a poor choice. When they are calm and ready to listen, provide clear, concrete steps to help them return to learning.

Arrangement of the Space

You can set the stage for success before your students enter the classroom. Think carefully about how you arrange furniture and how students will flow through the space. Many conflicts occur simply because students do not have enough personal space or they don’t have clear access to what they need.

Bookmark Art Room Makeover for creative ways to arrange your classroom with lots of attainable DIYs!

Use these three strategies to optimize your space:

1. Cluster tables or desks in pods to facilitate collaborative work.
   This also opens up floor space, providing multiple pathways around the room.

2. Create a calming corner to help students cool off.
   Include fidgets, posters with visual cues, and activities such as neurographic art to aid students in self-regulation.

3. Assign spots or numbers for smooth transitions.
   Number spaces along a side counter to designate spots where students will line up when they exit your classroom and where they can keep personal items during class. For secondary students, number tables or art supply kits to streamline the moving parts of a bustling studio!

Routines & Procedures

Students often have very limited time in art class. Their schedule may put them in the art room for an hour or less per day or per week. Strong routines build efficiency to maximize that time. At the start of the school year, invest in teaching key routines such as entering the classroom, cleaning up, and lining up. Show and tell students what you expect and then have them practice, much like a fire drill.

Watch Run the Art Room for several videos packed full of tips and tricks to add to your classroom management toolkit.

Try these four routines to keep your classroom running smoothly:

1. Build art history exposure and post a student-friendly artist bio from FLEX Curriculum for students to look at, read, and discuss at the beginning of each class.

2. Bring some fun using games like Teacher vs. Students.

3. Use consistent phrasing to cue routines, like “Projects, supplies, sanitize!” This quickly prompts students to store their projects, put away tools and materials, and then clean up.

4. Incorporate a few fun call and responses to garner attention.

Organization

Art teachers juggle countless tasks from storing hundreds of pieces of artwork in all stages of creation to managing supplies for multiple mediums. Plus, the art room can become a dumping ground for well-meaning donations. It can be daunting to keep track of and keep up with everything!

Don’t miss Artfully Organized for tips, tricks, and hacks to bring order to your art room.

Here are two tips for staying organized:

1. Label everything.
   Labels on the outside of cabinets, boxes, and bins tell everyone what’s inside without having to open something up. Including a graphic with text helps English language learners and struggling readers. Take your labels to the next level by including a photo of how you want the materials stored when put back correctly. Use a label maker, purchase pre-made ones, or make your own for free with masking tape and a permanent marker!

2. Name tables and other landmarks in the room.
   Naming a table after a color or an artist allows you to address groups of students sitting together and quickly organize their work. Rather than passing out papers individually, give each table a folder so works-in-progress are easy to collect and distribute. Name large furniture pieces in the room so students can have fun identifying which drying rack you want them to use.

Instructional Delivery

The wonderful part about art is that it’s so hands-on. Think about how your instructional approach reflects this hands-on aspect. Engaging students through a mix of interactive demonstrations, visual aids, and step-by-step explanations can minimize distractions and confusion.

Consider these three strategies to keep students productive and engaged during instruction:

1. Flip your classroom to harness technology.
   Embrace Gen Alpha’s tech familiarity. Allow them to use devices to navigate slides, videos, and other resources for self-directed learning. As an added benefit, when students can self-pace their learning, it frees you up to circulate the room more.

2. Use movement breaks to promote focus.
   It’s increasingly difficult for students to have the stamina to be still and focused for a full class period. Build in opportunities for students to get up and moving. Invite students to come to your table for a quick demonstration or to highlight a peer’s success.

3. Provide incentives for whole-body listening.
   Individualized feedback can motivate students to stay focused and attentive. Some classes may benefit from stars on a chart, marbles in a jar, or other forms of tallies to earn an incentive.

Expectations & Accountability

Establish clear communication and expectations for routines, processes, artwork requirements, assignment instructions, and more. This tells students what you’re looking for so they can be successful. Reward students who meet or exceed your expectations to build motivation and momentum. When more students have positive experiences in art class, it’s infectious and sets the tone for the whole class! Soon, small extrinsic motivators will grow into pride and self-discipline. When an expectation is not met, quickly address the issue and point out any natural consequences to foster accountability.

Here are three low-cost, high-value reward strategies:

1. Give students “keycards” when they demonstrate responsible care for materials. Keep a cabinet of special art materials that students can access when they turn in their keycards.

2. Distribute a “help pass” when students show kindness above and beyond expectations. Let them redeem the pass for an art room “freebie,” such as skipping cleanup for one day.

3. Pass out awards such as a certificate, sticker, or a handshake to recognize achievements.

Remember, successful classroom management isn’t just about rules and consequences. It’s about creating a positive and supportive environment where all students can thrive. Establish routines, set clear expectations, and consistently reinforce positive behaviors for a successful and fulfilling school year. Experiment with different strategies and find what works best for you and your artists. The time and effort you invest now will allow you to focus on what you do best—inspire creativity and nurture a love of art!

What is your favorite classroom management hack?

How did you successfully manage a challenging behavior in your art room?

The post Art Classroom Management Systems to Set Up Successful Behaviors All Year Long appeared first on The Art of Education University.