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.

As art teachers, we know the power of the visual arts to connect and move people. Now, science is proving what we’ve understood all along! The field of neuroaesthetics is showing how art can improve emotional well-being.

Let’s explore how to harness neuroaesthetics through service learning in the art room to improve health and quality of life.

What is neuroaesthetics?

Neuroaesthetics is the study of how our brains respond to art. When we look at art, parts of our brains light up! These parts handle emotion, senses, and pleasure and release dopamine, which makes us feel good and reduces stress. Susan Magsamen explores how creating and viewing art can help people in her book called This Is Your Brain on Art.

In hospitals and nursing homes, art can be a positive distraction. It helps people focus on something calming. A study of burn victims found that looking at pleasant images reduced their pain. This shows that art doesn’t just fill a space—it makes people feel better! Understanding how art affects the brain enables us to see the full power and potential of student artwork. Use this science as part of a service learning project to bring art and positivity to others in the community.

Bring the power of neuroaesthetics into your classroom and community with these ideas!

Compare and contrast two artworks to capture emotional responses. 

To introduce students to neuroaesthetics, compare two very different artworks. The Scream by Edvard Munch and Water Lilies by Claude Monet are great examples to start with! These paintings show how art can prompt different emotions. The Scream often makes viewers feel tense or anxious, with the subject’s intense facial expression and the artist’s use of bold colors and swirling lines. 

In contrast, Water Lilies creates a sense of calm through soft, subdued colors and flowing shapes. Talk with students about how each piece affects their mood. Ask them to think about how the elements of art contribute to the mood. Segue into how creating and sharing calming art can bring tranquility to others, especially those who are sad or struggling.

Create calm with color field artists.

Research shows that certain colors can boost our well-being. Non-objective art, especially by Color Field artists like Wassily Kandinsky and Helen Frankenthaler, is ideal for this activity. The large-scale artworks with big splashes of color are a great introduction to color symbolism. 

Introduce Color Field artists and how they used color to convey emotion without recognizable subject matter. Reinforce color theory, focus on mixing tertiary colors, and explore blending. Lead a guided visualization by asking, “What colors make you feel calm? Are they cool or warm? Saturated or muted?” Students paint a non-objective piece, using color to evoke calm. Experiment with materials like squeegees, rollers, and sponges for blending.

If you’re looking for resources to scaffold this process but don’t have time to create your own, check out FLEX Curriculum. FLEX is a standards-aligned curriculum with a vast archive of lesson plans and student-facing resources. Use worksheets like Showing Emotion: A Formative Tool and Discussion: Colors and Feelings to guide students in exploring emotions through color. 

Visualize positive themes through hand lettering.

Ask students to list positive themes like hope, peace, love, and kindness. By transforming these abstract ideas into hand-lettered art, students see how art can inspire. Read Ish by Peter H. Reynolds to encourage students to embrace abstract art and capture their theme’s essence. 

Students choose a positive theme and reflect on how to represent it visually. Ask questions like, “If kindness were a color, what would it be? If hope were lines, what type would it be?  If peace were a texture, how would it feel?” to guide their visualization. Discuss text in art and the importance of different font styles and sizes. Practice various words and quotes with step-by-step hand-lettering directions and drills. After sketching different word and composition combinations, choose a favorite to turn into a final artwork with markers and paint.

Share art in community spaces to positively transform well-being.

Once students create their artwork, it’s time to share it with the community! Brainstorm a list of places with your students that could benefit from calming artwork.

Here are some community space ideas to include:

• Hospitals
• Nursing Homes
• Shelters
• Rehab Facilities
• Veterans’ Centers
• Hospice Centers
• Assisted Living Facilities
• Mental Health Clinics
• Libraries

Reach out to venues via email and share your plan for displaying calming art. Discuss details about the space and display and how long the artwork will be up. Consider easy-hang options like using butcher paper for quick setup or pre-matting the pieces for a polished look. Coordinate with the venue to choose the best method.

For more innovative and time-saving ways to display student artwork, check out the following tips:

• Art Room Hacks: New Ways to Display Artwork
• 7 Nifty Ideas for Storing, Hanging, and Displaying Artwork
• How to Select Art Show Artwork and The Best Adhesives to Hang Art

Invite students and families to visit the exhibit by emailing home or including it in the school newsletter. Provide a box, blank cards, and pens for visitors to write letters to the students about how the artwork made them feel. This reinforces the value of the students’ work and highlights the impact of visual art.

Service learning helps students see how their art can make a difference. Creating art for therapeutic spaces boosts creativity and teaches students the emotional power of their work. By placing hand-lettered quotes or giant color field paintings in hospitals or shelters, students bring calm and comfort to those in need. It shows that art connects us and supports others beyond the classroom. Art-based service learning gives students purpose and shows how their artistic efforts can help the community.

How do you guide your students to think about the emotional impact of their work?

What are your favorite ways to incorporate service learning projects in the art room?

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

The post 4 Ways to Use Student Art for Community Service Learning & Well-Being appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Let’s figure out what your art teacher expertise is and explore three pathways to becoming a recognized expert in the field.

Identify your art teacher expertise.

An expert is somebody who’s highly specialized in one specific area in their field. You have more knowledge, experience, and achievements in this area than most others. Start by reflecting on what makes you tick and what you’re passionate about. What do you get excited about? What’s something you can talk about for hours? This could be a specific philosophy of classroom management or a medium you love playing with and teaching. 

To help you identify your expertise, ask yourself the following:

• What is a moment in your teaching career when you saw something “click” for a student? 
• What aspect of your classroom or practice are you particularly proud of? 
• What methodology or philosophy in art education resonates with you? 
• What is a medium you love teaching to all grades? 

Next, get narrow. When we talk about expertise, the more specialized and niche you are, the better. Follow the expression, “An inch wide and a mile deep.” Get ready to dive into your topic through reading, listening, researching, learning, reflecting, iterating, and practicing.

Here are three examples of how you can take a passion area and make it a specialized area of interest:

1. Classroom management is broad. Specializing in The Glasser Model is specific.
2. Ceramics is broad. Alternative, non-glaze surface treatments for the K-12 art room are specific. 
3. Recycled art materials are broad. Service learning through recycled kinetic sculptures is specific.

1. Break down your focus into smaller, achievable goals.

Once you have your narrow focus, it’s time to break it down into small, achievable goals. There’s no formula for how long it takes to master something. Author Malcolm Gladwell popularized the idea that mastery takes 10,000 hours of practice. However, other researchers pointed out that the idea is a bit more nuanced. The key takeaway is getting good at something takes lots of practice!

Researcher Angela Duckworth is notorious for her research on grit and how we can develop grittiness in our students. Angela talks about the importance of setting small, achievable goals to reach your ultimate goal. This journey of going from novice to expert will take persevering through tons of practice, bumps, frustration, and even failure.

For example, let’s say you’re looking to grow your expertise in fiber arts, specifically embroidery on non-traditional surfaces. Break this big goal down into tiny, achievable steps:

• Gather materials.
  This doesn’t need to be the best of the best, but definitely buy or collect enough to practice and make mistakes! 
• Document your learning.
  Identify four surfaces to play with and create a sketchbook to document your progress, questions, and reflections. 
• Select your first surface.
  This is practice, so work small! Start with a hypothesis, investigate various stitches, and see how things turn out! Reflect on and record difficulties and areas of enjoyment.
• Create a challenge.
  Propose a problem for you to solve. Return to the surface again, but employ a different strategy or approach. 
• Repeat!
  Repeat this process for each of your different surfaces. Write an artist statement to accompany your multiple embroidery studies. 
• Learn from an expert.
  If you’re looking for an opportunity to explore fiber arts with an expert in the field, enroll in Studio: Fibers.

2. Find a mentor and become a mentee. 

Feedback from others interested in the same topic is another great way to grow your expertise. Experts can’t grow in a vacuum; you need critical feedback to stretch your understanding and consider alternate perspectives. Your mentor doesn’t necessarily have to be an art teacher. This can be a teacher in another content area who knows about a particular classroom management strategy or a museum curator who specializes in a specific art history period. 

Here are three simple steps you can follow to find a mentor:

• Identify someone you want to learn more from by joining and networking at a professional organization, on social media, in professional publications, or through a mutual colleague.
• Find an opportunity to connect, preferably in person.
• Make your request by sending an email or LinkedIn message, or speaking with them at the end of a conference presentation. 

If a mentor doesn’t seem to be in the cards, consider other options to get feedback. If you’re specializing in design thinking in the art room, look for an active Facebook group, attend a design thinking conference with working sessions, or take a course. Also, consider reading and research as feedback. Your “mentoring” can come from reading the work of experts in the field and using reflective practice to challenge your ideas and assumptions. 

3. Earn a credential, certificate, or degree.

One tried-and-true way of building expertise and credibility is to earn a credential. There is truth to the idea that the “piece of paper” in the form of a diploma or certificate of completion comes with a level of esteem. Plus, it’s a great way to grow your network, hold yourself accountable to learning, and formally build your resume. If you’re searching for a program that’s right for you, look for one that is highly specialized in your topic or one you can tailor to your needs. 

The Art of Education University offers focused graduate courses and an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction with three specializations built in: 

1. Inclusive Practices in the Visual Arts
   If you’re passionate about making art accessible to all of your students, this specialization is the one for you! You’ll gain an understanding of special education terminology, rights, and responsibilities so you can reach and teach all learners effectively.
2. Instructional Leadership in Art Education
   Are you eager to step into leadership or lead a team of art teachers? In this specialization, you’ll learn to advocate for change and drive meaningful impact through community connections. You’ll learn skills like ethical leadership, grant writing, and entrepreneurship.  
3. Arts Integration
   If you’ve been looking to infuse the arts across disciplines, this specialization is your pick. You’ll integrate creativity through art, build interactive experiences, explore emerging technology, and facilitate 21st-century learning. 

If you have questions on whether this is a good fit for you or how to get started, reach out to chat with an admissions counselor today!

Chat With Us!

As art teachers know best, learning is a lifelong venture. Refine your learning and focus on one thing you’re passionate about and have a knack for! Figure out your niche expertise and then break down your learning path into small, achievable goals. To help you grow through knowledge and feedback, find a mentor, attend a conference, join social networking groups, and do a lot of reading and researching. Gain credibility with a degree or certification, such as the MEd in Curriculum & Instruction, to help you build your network and resume. Embrace your passion and let your art teacher expertise shine so you can strengthen your teaching practice and enrich your students’ artmaking.

What is your area of expertise in art education? 

How do you plan on taking steps to grow in this area?

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

The post How to Become a Highly Specialized Expert in the Art Education Field appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Now, more than ever, the future of art education is in your creative hands. You have the opportunity to mold the trends, topics, and issues that will define what’s next in art education. From the artists and mediums you introduce to the teaching methods you employ, you have the power to leave a lasting imprint on your students. 

The Center for the Advancement of Art Education is working to unite art educators to further the field of art education. Join the largest art education survey today and create what’s next, together! 

The survey is now closed.

Follow AOEU on social media and subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you can be the first to get the survey results. If you want to see the positive change you’ve created over the past few years, take a look at previous results: 

• 2024
• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018

Take the 2025 State of Art Education survey now!

Download and share the Center’s advocacy resources. 

Share the survey with your art teacher community.

The post Create What’s Next: Take the State of Art Education 2025 Survey appeared first on The Art of Education University.

We know your time is valuable so we did deep research. We uncovered fascinating academic data to support the positive effect the visual arts have on student success across the board. Let’s see how those hand turkeys and monster pinch-pots make more of a difference than most may think. 

Discover the impact of the visual arts on student success to help advocate for your program with confidence! 

Download this helpful one-page resource. Print it out and post it in a prominent spot in your art room. Use it as a tool when meeting with administrators and parents to spread the word on how powerful the arts are! While very comprehensive, this resource is only the tip of the iceberg! There are many more ways to elevate student achievement through art education. Check out the original publication with more data from the Center for the Advancement of Art Education (CAAE). 

Download Now!

1. Visual Arts education decreases absenteeism. 

Not only is art a favorite class for many students each day, but sometimes art is the prime reason why they choose to go to school each morning. Research backs this up and shows absentee rates are lower in students enrolled in at least one art class. Our art classes provide a much-needed break from traditional academic subjects as well as a creative outlet. When students find joy and personal expression within their school, they are more likely to attend regularly and actively participate. This increased engagement can also translate into better overall academic performance and a more positive attitude towards their education, which we’ll touch on later.

For instance, a study in Boston Public Schools found that students involved in the arts attended school more frequently. Plus, these students showed greater engagement than their peers not enrolled in an art class. This trend was particularly evident in students with IEPs or low standardized test scores. Further studies reveal student participation in the arts leads to higher attendance rates, increased engagement, and lower dropout rates among students. 

The research and findings also call attention to the role of the arts in giving students socially and emotionally supportive learning environments, which in turn enhances the connection between schools and students. Plus, engagement in the arts leads to increased parent participation at schools. That annual art show you put sweat and tears into each spring means more than you know! 

2. Visual Arts education lowers suspension rates.

The impact of arts education on disciplinary outcomes highlights how creative expression fosters a positive school climate. Providing inclusive and supportive environments in the art room helps build solid student-teacher relationships, which are crucial for maintaining discipline within the school. 

Research shows that art education correlates with reduced suspension rates. Students interested and engaged in their courses are less likely to have out-of-school suspensions. According to data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, students were 20% less likely to have an out-of-school suspension for each year of arts courses studied. Therefore, schools with more arts offerings are more likely to see reduced suspension rates and disciplinary infractions. Your administration can thank you for helping to decrease schoolwide behavior issues! 

3. Visual Arts education increases academic outcomes. 

Art research, creative problem-solving, and class critiques benefit your artists in and out of the art room. Because of the skills learned and reinforced in art, studies show the gains students achieved in core subjects like English and Math. Because text and visual literacy are such a natural connection, it makes sense that studies show significantly higher GPAs and reading scores in students enrolled in art electives. Additionally, findings show students in art courses, especially music, also experience higher levels of math achievement, specifically in developing cognitive skills. 

Even if students don’t pursue the arts professionally, there are plenty of reasons why we should keep and nurture the arts! On top of learning color theory or proper glazing techniques, (both of which have strong science cross-curricular connections), the arts equip students with 21st-century skills like communication, collaboration, innovation, and creativity! These are the skills that stick with students long after they leave our art rooms. 

4. Visual Arts education leads to a higher graduation rate. 

Increased attendance and decreased disciplinary action align with more students walking across the graduation stage! As discussed above, taking more art courses leads to higher attendance and retention rates. Studies show that students with more than the minimum required art credits are likelier to stay in school. Additionally, high school students with few or no art credits are five times more likely not to graduate. Students who extensively participate in art courses are more likely to belong to academic honors societies and are less likely to drop out of school. 

5. Visual Arts education correlates with college and career readiness. 

Elementary students with art experiences demonstrate greater engagement and higher college aspirations. Studies show that students participating in the arts are more likely to enroll in college, maintain strong GPAs, and take on leadership roles. Arts education promotes programs that foster flexibility, encourage risk-taking, and enhance social development. Studies even show that students with high school art experiences have academic and social advantages well into their twenties! 

6. Visual Arts education improves English learner progress.

Arts education significantly aids English learners in acquiring the language skills they need. Studies show that engaging in school arts programs enhances listening, writing, and speaking abilities through art-related discussions and activities. The visual arts help students naturally integrate building their language skills through artmaking. When students have the opportunity to draw or create illustrations, it relieves the pressure of speaking and provides another outlet to convey thoughts and ideas. Additionally, when students discuss and critique their artworks, it can also strengthen their communication skills. These activities require students to use descriptive language, expand vocabulary, and articulate thoughts and ideas. 

Art teachers have an important mission! Not only do we instill an appreciation of the arts in our students, but we also teach valuable 21st-century skills that support other content areas and college- and career-readiness. The art room is pivotal in building strong communication skills, especially for English language learners. Our art projects get students excited to come to school, increasing attendance and graduation rates. Plus, our rapport encourages students to feel safe, take risks, and stay engaged in positive behaviors across the board. All in all, the visual arts play a powerful role in boosting student success and achievement throughout their whole learning career. Now that’s something to celebrate and continue to advocate for!

What’s your favorite student success story from your art room?

Why do you think visual arts is essential for student achievement? 

The post 6 Ways Visual Arts Boosts Student Success So You Can Advocate for Your Program appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Get a headstart on art show planning and organization so you will have your best art show yet this spring!

Check out Art Show Secrets over on YouTube for an inside look at how two art teachers, elementary art teacher Sarah Krajewski and secondary art teacher Jenn Russell, prepare all school year for epic art shows. They share behind-the-scenes confessions of what it’s really like to put on a spectacular art show from start to finish. Gain their best art show secrets so you can throw your best art show yet!

Subscribe!

Get and stay organized.

Keeping track of hundreds of artworks throughout the year can be a daunting task. Establish solid systems at the beginning of the year and teach them to your students so they can help! Then, all you need to do is be consistent. Stick to your systems so you’ll be able to find everything you need come spring.

Here are some ways to organize student artwork:

• Ask the main office for manila file folders for each class to have an “art show” folder and a “works in progress” folder. 
• Students keep a log of their artwork on a chart attached to the outside of their portfolio with the artwork title, dimensions, medium, and date. Now the information is ready to go for any form or artist statement!
• Cut your drawing paper one inch smaller than standard construction paper. Mount finished pieces to construction paper for a polished “frame” on a budget. 
• Flag exceptional sketchbook pages with a sticky note to photograph or display later as you grade.
• Cut large sheets of colored bulletin board paper to the size of your display boards or walls. After each unit, attach the artwork to the paper. Carefully roll it up and place it in storage. When it’s time to hang the show, unroll and hang!
• Color code by class, period, or grade level to help easily sort and distribute artwork.
• Set up a photography station for students to document their artwork when they are done. Use this as an opportunity to build an archive of student samples for future years!
• Create sticker labels with every student’s name and place them on the back of the artwork that will be in the show. As the show nears, the sticker sheet will readily reveal which students still need to contribute. 

Bring clarity with a strong theme.

Create a theme to tie everyone’s artwork together. For younger students, sticking with a fun theme like Galactic Wonderland will make the show a magical experience. For older students, themes can be more complex or even student-generated. Often, advanced students are required to come up with their own theme or artistic intent for their body of work.

Here are three other theme options for a cohesive show:

1. Chronological Order
   Display work in chronological order based on the artists who inspired the works. Wouldn’t it be interesting to walk through time?
2. Cultural Studies
   Divide work into sections based on the cultures studied. Students stand by the displays and act as cultural ambassadors, sharing what they learned. Encourage viewers to explore by giving entrants a small printed “passport” that gets stamped by each cultural ambassador.
3. Portfolio Review
   Provide each student with a 3×5-foot sheet of bulletin board paper to arrange their best work on. Students will follow a predetermined checklist of requirements, including an artist statement and a short curatorial rationale.

Empower students to curate and run the show.

While you are more than capable of planning and executing a stellar art show by yourself, imagine how much better (and easier!) it would be if you had lots of helping hands. Student ownership is vital for a successful show. Allow students to curate the pieces that will be in the show. Additionally, harness your art club to run your art show. This will free you up on the day of the event to network with guests and enjoy the night!

Take advantage of readymade resources so you can focus on what matters.

Save yourself some work with the resources in FLEX Curriculum and PRO Learning. FLEX is a standards-aligned curriculum with tons of student-facing resources, artist bios, and assessments. PRO Learning is an on-demand professional development for art teachers by art teachers. Both have terrific resources to help you prep for your art show—all you have to do is download them!

Here are our top FLEX and PRO resources:

• Preparing Art for Presentation FLEX resource
• Art Show Preparation Checklist FLEX resource
• Showcasing Student Artwork Pack in PRO Learning

If you’re wondering how to get your district to provide these resources, reach out today to learn more!

Celebrate every artist!

Being chosen for the show is a significant achievement. Acknowledge this by sending a congratulatory note home with each student whose work is selected. The note can express your pride, along with details about the show’s date and when they’ll get their work back. For students eager to share the news with their families, email a picture of them holding their artwork. Just be sure to adhere to your district and school’s policies regarding taking and sharing student photos.

Harness the power of digital tools to augment the art show.

Phones and other electronic devices can present challenges and distractions in the classroom. However, with a little planning, use electronic devices to enhance the show experience! Create a guided tour of your art show, much like they offer at museums. This will give attendees something meaningful to do during the event and ensure all parts of your show get appreciation.

Follow these simple steps to create an audio or video tour of your art show: 

1. Select artworks or exhibits to feature.
2. Record an audio or video message for each. Include key details you want visitors to see and appreciate. Older students or your art club can make these for you!
3. Place the audio and video files in a Google Drive folder.
4. Set sharing permissions to “Anyone with link” as a viewer of the files.
5. Create a QR code for each file using an online generator. 
6. Optional: Add the QR code to a catchy sign with instructions using an online design program.
7. Print the QR codes and post them in the appropriate sections of your art show.
8. Display a welcome message at the entrance to the show informing visitors to look for your tour stops. 
9. To encourage more participation, consider making a game or puzzle. Hide a letter or clue at the end of each message and offer students bonus points if they figure out the mystery word or phrase! 

Be inclusive with a slide deck. 

When students have their greatness recognized by an audience beyond the classroom, it’s thrilling! While many have family and friends who happily attend, many others may not have anyone to invite or able to come. Creating a digital version of the art show can help those who are unable to attend feel included and assist loved ones with mobility challenges. Walk through the art show ahead of time to take photographs and record a video walk-through. Give each student their own slide or create a hyperdoc linking various collections.

In addition to sharing this digital documentation with your school community, share it with district supervisors and community stakeholders, and keep it as a fond memory of this special night. Plus, highlight it next school year on the first day of school and at back-to-school night to get parents and students excited for the upcoming year!

A great art show allows viewers to see more than just pictures on the wall. A great art show makes student work, growth, and pride visible. It showcases your curriculum and demonstrates the importance of art education. There are so many impactful moments in an art show—from large-scale collaborative installations, down to the quiet moments where a student explains their artistic choices to a curious family member. Embrace the planning process now, so you can empower your students to love and appreciate their art for years to come!

What is your top secret to putting on an amazing art show?

Show us a display you are proud of!

The post Get In On Our Best Secrets Now For an Epic End-of-Year Art Show! appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Keep reading to see what you will need to stay in art education for a long, fulfilling career!

Your time is valued.

One reason art teachers stay at their school long-term is because their time is respected. We don’t mind being asked to “do more,” especially when it’s a compliment to our skills and abilities. However, we do mind when it becomes an expectation and we are “voluntold.” It means so much when administrators put in the effort to understand the unique responsibilities art teachers have. Prepping a range of different materials, ordering supplies, maintaining equipment, and assembling displays throughout the year are just a few. A supportive environment recognizes these time-consuming tasks and ensures quality prep time is built into the daily schedule.

What can it look like?

• Dedicated and uninterrupted time to eat lunch.
• Allocation of quality prep time in the daily schedule.
• Respect for personal time after contract hours.
• Included in content area meetings.
• Encouraged to take sick days, personal days, or a leave of absence when needed.
• Requests and appreciation for additional tasks, such as covering for other teachers.
• Boundaries or a polite decline suffice.

The environment is collaborative.

Your work environment can significantly impact your long-term plans. A collaborative environment starts with colleagues who have positive, forward-thinking attitudes. Your team should want to exchange ideas, share resources, and work together to put students first. When peers celebrate each other, everyone thrives. If your colleagues are consistently unhappy, the negative energy can be draining.

What can it look like?

• Scheduled time for art department collaboration.
• Continued support from mentors and instructional coaches beyond the first year.
• Celebration over competition.
• A shared growth mindset that fosters creativity.
• Open to giving and receiving feedback.
• Team player mentality such as assisting when you’re out and troubleshooting issues.
• Focusing on current trends, student needs, and new ideas.

Your administration supports you.

Actions speak louder than words and there are nuanced ways to feel supported by your administrators. Supportive leaders will advocate for you when you are managing conflict in or out of your classroom. They take your requests seriously and seek out resources to meet your unique needs. This extends beyond the day-to-day and includes encouraging art-specific professional development to grow your teaching practice. The team that makes you want to stay long-term is genuine, fair, and committed to the well-being of their staff.

What can it look like?

• Follow-through on commitments.
• Listens to concerns and actively seeks solutions.
• Enforces consequences for inappropriate student behavior.
• Supports you during conflicts with students or families.
• Allocated funds and approved time off for art-specific professional development, such as conferences and workshops.
• Accepts art-specific graduate degrees or courses for growth and salary advancement.
• Respect for your knowledge, skillset, and expertise.
• Collaboration and support during the observation and evaluation processes.
• Participation and willingness to work on tasks alongside you.

Your administration is communicative and transparent.

Teachers who stay year after year are not only supported by their administrators but also benefit from timely and transparent communication. These leaders handle emergencies professionally and seek feedback to look for ways to improve. Your supervisor, principal, or department chair is clear and honest about funding and budget allocation.

What can it look like?

• Regular and balanced communication with the whole staff.
• Responses within 24 business hours.
• Specific details with measurable goals and clear expectations.
• Advance notice of upcoming events and requests.
• Willingness to acknowledge mistakes.
• Actively seeks solutions and is open to feedback.
• Explains decisions and ties to cast vision.
• Transparent budgeting practices.

You are trusted as the expert you are.

Are you considered “just the art teacher” by your school community? This perspective can speak to the level of respect your colleagues have for you and the visual arts. As we all know, art teachers have a lot to offer to both students and staff. Not only do you have art-specific knowledge, but you also have relationships with the entire student body. When you are valued for your input at important meetings, asked to participate in feedback sessions, and share best practices to educate your peers, you feel a sense of belonging in your school community.

What can it look like?

• Autonomy in designing your curriculum.
• Invites to lead professional development and share your expertise.
• Administrative support when parents or students question your teaching practices.
• Assistance getting what you need for your art room.
• Public acknowledgment of your accomplishments.

The arts are a priority.

Nothing makes an art teacher feel more valued than being part of a community that appreciates the arts. When your school actively removes barriers and celebrates your students’ hard work, you’re more likely to stay for the long term. A community that attends your art shows and shares in your delight over student achievement provides a sense of purpose. This supportive environment not only fosters your professional growth but also strengthens your commitment to the school’s mission.

What can it look like?

• Dedicated spaces to display artwork.
• Administration asks you to exhibit more artwork.
• Classroom materials and supplies are fully funded per student.
• Allocated funds for the maintenance of tools, supplies, and equipment.
• Stipends for art-related clubs.
• Celebration of art students’ achievements both in and out of school.
• School and community presence and engagement at art shows.
• Stakeholders are eager to understand and learn from your classroom activities.

Year after year, the State of Art Education Survey shows that one of the greatest joys art teachers have is building relationships and connecting with students. While our students are what makes us love our jobs, feeling valued in our school is what makes art teachers stay for longevity in art education. This climate of respect, support, and appreciation hinges on a positive environment with open communication, two-way feedback, assistance, and collaboration.

Aside from the many suggestions and examples of what this can look like above, talk to other teachers in your district and building. Find out what they enjoy about working there and any obstacles or challenges they face. Remember, a supportive school environment that fuels your unique art teacher energy will not only encourage you but also attract other teachers long-term as well.

If you’re a new art teacher, what are your priorities when looking for a supportive school?

If you’re a veteran teacher, share what makes you stay in the art room!

The post Why Art Teachers Stay: A Guide for Longevity in Art Education appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Celebrate the power of the arts in a focused, fun way that your students will love!

Youth Art Month (YAM) is a nationally recognized program administered by the Council for Art Education (CFAE). Its goal is to garner support for quality art education in schools. Typically observed in March, YAM aims to encourage the expansion of art programs, stimulate new initiatives, and enhance community understanding and interest in art education. By participating in YAM, you can celebrate the creative achievements of your students and contribute to nationwide advocacy for the indispensable role of art education.

Here are three reasons why The Art & Creative Materials Institute, Inc. (ACMI) started Youth Art Month in 1961:

1. To recognize that art education is essential to developing global citizens.
2. To encourage commitment to the arts by students, community organizations, and individuals everywhere.
3. To provide additional opportunities for individuals of all ages to participate in creative art learning.

Many states actively participate through diverse initiatives, such as the Flag and Banner Program, the Artwork Program, and the Year In Review Report. These endeavors contribute to YAM’s mission of promoting visual arts for all K -12 students. To celebrate YAM, connect with your state YAM Chairperson to learn about statewide YAM activities. You can also plan your own activities to promote visual art in your community.

Showcase the value of quality art education in your classroom, school, and community.

Use YAM as the powerful platform it is to recognize the invaluable skills cultivated through arts experiences. These skills encompass problem-solving, creativity, observation, and communication, and are pivotal in students’ holistic development. Advocate for your art program through fun YAM events and activities in your classroom, school, and community with the ideas below.

In Your Classroom

You champion art education daily in your art room because you know and believe in the benefits of art education. During Youth Art Month, turn the tables and have your students explore and articulate these benefits. Add activities to help them appreciate the real-life skills they are learning in your class and make meaningful global connections. Prominently display artwork, student reflections, and photos of your artists at work as a visual testament to your program’s impact. 

Here are five activities to try in your classroom:

1. Incorporate art challenges or art games to foster creativity and engagement.
2. Encourage students to express themselves through a theme, such as the annual YAM theme or the overarching “Art Matters” theme.
3. Invite a local artist to share their expertise and insights with your students.
4. Design a YAM flag or banner to celebrate the importance of art and instill a sense of pride and community.
5. Host a virtual art night or open house to get families in the art room.

In Your School

To bring your enthusiasm for art education to other classrooms in your building, rely on your connections with fellow educators, administrators, and parents. Gather a core group of invested supporters to brainstorm ways to collaborate with the school community. Work together to hype up art activities and events to turn YAM into an unforgettable event that your school will look forward to all year long.

Here are five ways to celebrate in your school:

1. Organize an Art Career Fair to expose your students to diverse artistic career opportunities.
2. Dedicate a week to Art History and organize schoolwide activities like an iconic artist dress-up day.
3. Take your artmaking into communal school spaces like hallways, the courtyard, or the library.
4. Set up a unique gallery experience, such as a virtual exhibition, an art tunnel installation, or a miniature gallery.
5. Showcase student talent through a live demonstration or public presentation at a significant event like an assembly or staff meeting.

In Your Community

Once you start looking, it’s surprising how many art champions you can find in your community. Tap into the natural networks around you such as the PTA/PTO, your local art museum or arts council, and public library. Ask your community leaders and art enthusiasts to host and fund art events and activities to showcase your students and connect the whole town.

Here are five events to organize in your community:

1. Display student art in a local business.
2. Organize a public art installation. 
3. Create artwork to donate to or raise funds in support of a specific community cause.
4. Use current art students or alumni in the art field to lead art workshops.
5. Share your events and activities on social media or contact the local press to garner more attention and support.

Youth Art Month (YAM) is a dynamic tool to advocate and celebrate art education in your classroom, school, and the broader community. Take advantage of the month to foster creativity through art challenges or games in your classroom, extend the impact by organizing an art career fair, or elevate your program’s visibility with a public art installation. While arts advocacy is key all year long, YAM is an opportunity to gain momentum and support from others doing the same thing in their classrooms, schools, and communities across the nation. Don’t waste another day this month—use your passion for visual art and art education to fuel art appreciation and awareness that “Art Matters!”

How do you celebrate Youth Art Month in your classroom, school, and community?

What do you do to advocate for your art program on a regular basis?

The post 15 Genius Ways to Advocate for Your Art Program During Youth Art Month (YAM) appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Take a look at how you can use data to advocate for your program by sharing the biggest findings from the 2024 State of Art Education survey. Let’s dig into the data!

What is data?

Before we get started, let’s discuss what data is and the different types. Understanding this will help you determine what data will best support your request. Data is factual information used as a foundation for making decisions or having a discussion. There are two main types of data: quantitative and qualitative.

Here are the two main types of data:

1. Quantitative
   Quantitative data is represented numerically and answers questions such as, “how many,” “how much,” and “how often.” Examples include attendance, course enrollment numbers, artwork quantities, and how many people attended your huge end-of-year art show.
2. Qualitative
   Qualitative data is represented in words and images. Examples include written student reflections, video clips of students actively engaged in artmaking, and a student portfolio of a deeply conceptual body of work.

One fabulous way to find quantitative data is the State of Art Education Survey! Each year, we ask thousands of art teachers to answer questions about a variety of topics in art education. We compile the results into a handy resource with easy-to-read colorful graphics. Download and read the results to see how the data from the survey may help you advocate for your needs.

Download Now!

For a deeper dive into the data, grab the results from previous years here:

• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018

Let’s look at four examples of how an art teacher may use the State of Art Education survey data as an advocacy tool. 

Use the scenarios below as inspiration to craft your own pitch. Navigate the process step-by-step and start by identifying a need, your specific ask, and the audience. Then, see if you can use the survey data to help you tell a compelling story!

1. Request art-specific professional development.

According to the State of Art Education survey data, over the past several years, more than 60% of art teachers shared that they feel supported by their administrators. However, the data showed that art teachers wish they had access to better professional development (PD) options. Half of art teachers say their professional development needs improvement and it’s not personalized or relevant. Administrators are very busy and may not have the time to seek out subject-specific PD for all teachers in the building. When you advocate for your needs and provide specific solutions, it makes it easier for an administrator to say “yes” to your request. They need your help!

Let’s say you want to advocate for better professional development to your district art supervisor. Schedule 5-10 minutes to stop by their office and bring a few handouts to supplement your discussion. Try a pitch like the one below and don’t forget to follow up with a thank you note!

Hi! I’m Lindsey McGinnis, the high school art teacher at Laurel. As a teacher, I strive to have a growth mindset because I know there is always something new to learn to bring to my students! I need art-specific professional development so I can fully participate in PD exercises and walk away with tangible strategies and ideas that will work in my art room. The Art of Education University provides two online professional development opportunities for districts like ours. PRO Learning is an on-demand PD platform designed for K-12 art teachers with hands-on tutorial videos and teacher-facing resources. It will be really helpful to have for our six PD days that are already on the calendar! The NOW Conference is the largest online conference held twice a year for K-12 art teachers. They have amazing speakers such as Devon Rodriguez, the most followed visual artist in the world! This week, will you take a look at what they offer and see if it will fit into the budget for next school year? 

2. Promote digital art.

Drawing and painting are our forte as art teachers. Unfortunately, in the State of Art Education survey data, only 24% of art teachers listed digital art as the medium they are most comfortable with and more than half of art teachers want to learn more about it. This is something we need to address since we are teaching 21st-century skills in a digital world! A great place to start is to enroll in the Studio: Graphic Design course to learn foundational design skills and how to teach digital art through real-world problems. Ask for this course using a process similar to the example above. Once you’re feeling more confident with your digital art skills, it’s time to bring the experience to your students!

Your students are curious about exploring digital art, so you need a class set of iPads. You started a fundraiser but would like the PTA’s help. Ask to speak at the next meeting and deliver a pitch like the one below. Show your appreciation by having your students create thank you cards on the new iPads!

Hi! I’m Lindsey McGinnis and I’ve been teaching art here for the past 12 years. I’m excited to be a part of the PTA and all of the wonderful things you do for our school! I just completed a digital art graduate course and would love to bring the skills and experience to our students. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly all US teens use the internet every day (96%). The amount of teens who are online “almost constantly” has doubled in the past almost decade. To meet our students where they are and prepare them for life beyond the classroom, we need to hone their digital communication skills. In art, students can explore digital citizenship and visual communication with digital art! I already have an online fundraiser to get a class set of iPads. Will you share the link via your social platforms and monthly newsletter? Will you see if you have extra funds to fulfill this need? 

3. Champion for more photography opportunities.

Whatever level you teach, both traditional darkroom and digital photography can be daunting. Just like with digital art, only 25% of art teachers in the State of Art Education survey data feel confident teaching this artform. The good news is, there are ways to bring photography principles into any grade level and classroom situation. The best places to start are to enroll in the Studio: Photography course or watch the Packs Digital Photography Basics or Creative Approaches to Beginning Photography in PRO Learning. Then, select a few ideas to capture your students’ attention!

One non-darkroom photography process is cyanotypes. You want to ask your local craft store to provide enough sun printing paper for all of your students. Swing by the store to speak to the manager with a pitch like the one below and bring a printout of the sun paper you’d like with the specific quantity and total cost of your ask. 

Hi! I’m Lindsey McGinnis and I’m the high school art teacher at Laurel. Our school doesn’t have a darkroom but I’d love to bring some hands-on, screen-free photography processes to our students. I see you carry sun printing paper; would you be willing to donate enough for 200 students? Our budget is $5 per student for the year, making this special paper very expensive. Our school bookkeeper can provide you with a donation receipt or letter, if needed. We’d love to display the final cyanotypes on the empty bulletin board by the front door to help draw students and their families into your store.

4. Ask for ready student-facing resources.

We often think, “If only there were more hours in the day, I could…” Although art teachers are getting more planning time (more than half of art teachers have 45 minutes or more per day), lack of time is still a challenge. Where does the time go? We know art teachers have many responsibilities and roles, but according to the State of Art Education survey data, 81% spend the time creating their own resources. Imagine if you could have classroom-ready resources for your students! In fact, 73% of you believed having classroom-ready resources would allow you to be a better art teacher. Let’s show you how to get access to a vast archive of student-facing resources!

You’d love FLEX Curriculum and plan to ask your principal for it. Stop by your principal’s office and provide samples of FLEX for them to flip through while you give a pitch similar to the one below. Download the Elements and Principles guides and a complimentary artist bio. Share the What is Collage? preview video and how you already use these items in your classroom!

Hi! I’d love to chat with you about my recent observation and how I use student-facing resources in my art room. I received a high score for the planning and preparation I put into my lessons. It took me two hours to create the resources for this one lesson/observation and it took me eight hours total to create all of the resources I needed for all of my classes for that week. This is four more hours than my planning time. I am proud of the handouts and presentations I create; however, spending this much time on them is unsustainable. I would love access to a bank of high-quality student-facing resources I can pull from to allow more time to communicate with parents, help with other school initiatives, and grade assignments. FLEX Curriculum is a standards-aligned K-12 art curriculum with step-by-step lesson plans, customizable rubrics and assessments, artist bios, project photos, videos, and more. This week, will you take a few minutes to look at FLEX and check to see if the school has the budget to provide these resources for our students?

You may love making art with students in your cozy art room. However, if you want to grow your art program and provide more opportunities for you and your students, you will need to step outside of your comfort zone—and your cozy art room. This step may look like diving into data and learning how to make and give a confident pitch to get a need fulfilled. We did the hard work and outlined six steps for you to take, compiled data from 1,700+ art teachers to use in your request, and gave four examples you can easily customize. Now that you’re set to solve any problem that may come your way, get ready for your confidence and art program to soar! 

Are you a data lover or hater? 

What is something you or your program need to grow?

The post How to Harness Data to Confidently Advocate for Your Art Program: State of Art Education 2024 appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Let’s celebrate 12 ways your nontraditional education or art background prepared you to be the fantastic art teacher you are today!

1. Ability to Pivot and Improvise

The on-the-spot training from being placed in a classroom without student teaching forces you to pivot and be flexible. You may have been thrown into a scissor-wielding, permanent marker-smelling classroom full of students! Immersion is a quick way to learn and grow. The trial and error, as you figure out what works and what doesn’t, teaches you to stay on your toes and be open to improvisation.

2. Art Medium Know-It-All

You may be uber-knowledgeable in a specific area of art. For example, if you were a former stained glass artist before teaching art, you know all the ins and outs of this delicate medium. Being a master in a certain medium helps guide students to success and exposes them to a skill set they may otherwise have never learned.

3. Research Master

If you were a history or art history major turned art teacher, digging into research is definitely a strength. This handy knack for sleuthing is essential to curating interesting lesson plans! If you were a former career artist, you know the ins and outs of how to search for open calls-to-artists. Being a super researcher means you are more efficient with lesson planning and have more time for other activities!

4. Critique Sensei

Critiques were probably a large part of your former life as an artist or designer. Handling tough feedback from gallery owners, peers, and the public does not phase you. This is a great headspace to bring to the art classroom! When you get feedback from an evaluation, you know how to sift through the comments and take what you need to make strides in your practice. You are a pro at modeling, giving, and receiving constructive criticism to your students too!

5. Art Space Awareness

Teaching a wide range of classes in a variety of contexts is in your wheelhouse. Chances are you have experience helping out with summer camps, after-school programs, or workshops. This informal art education is part of the knowledge base you bring to the table.

6. Perspective

Earning an alternative certification means you have a different perspective when it comes to teaching art. You can bring your knowledge of what it takes to be a successful working artist to your students. They are lucky to have an art teacher with specialized training! You may not have pursued a traditional higher education degree so check to see if your district allows professional development hours from museums to count toward your certification.

7. Multitasking Expert

Chances are, you had to get your teaching certification while teaching. You spent all day in a bustling art room with a multitude of students, followed by attending courses and writing papers in the evening. You are able to manage large loads of work and tackle multiple assignments at once, all while maintaining a positive attitude!

If you’re looking for professional development opportunities that may count toward your continuing education credits, enroll in a graduate course or register for the NOW Conference. Courses provide relevant hands-on coursework that you can immediately bring into your art room. The Conference showcases the most innovative ideas in art education from your peers. Whichever option you choose, both are designed for art teachers by fellow art educators.

8. Workforce Understanding

Taking the alternative way to become a teacher may mean you left another profession. If this is you, you bring an understanding of how different job sites, groups of people, and businesses or non-profits run. This wider professional view gives you an advantage at a school. IEPs, faculty meetings, and parent-teacher conferences, which may be daunting to a new art teacher fresh out of a degree program, are nothing new to you.

9. Project-Based Learning Expert

Storing, managing, and working on projects is something you’ve cultivated a knack for. Students love projects in the art classroom and you have the experience and connections to bring real ones to your students to solve. You are also used to overseeing multiple projects at once, breaking them down into manageable tasks and deadlines. You’re the natural expert to infuse Project-Based Learning into the curriculum.

10. Real-World Examples

Along the same lines, you love to introduce students to real-world examples. You are full of stories and your students love to hear them because it makes art relevant! Remember the time it was a late night at work and you forgot to order a birthday cake from the bakery? You grab a premade cake from the grocery store and icing containers in only the primary colors. You need orange icing so you mix red and yellow together and voila—color theory in action!

11. Strong Communicator

Many teachers feel comfortable talking to students but not fellow teachers, parents, or stakeholders. Communicating with adults is a whole different skill set! If you are coming into the art room from another career, speaking to other adults is nothing to fear. You’ve had a lot of practice speaking to supervisors, clients, guests, and colleagues. You can easily translate your communication skills to administrators, parents, caregivers, guest teachers, and coworkers.

12. Unmatched Passion

If you chose to leave another profession to become an art teacher, you have drive and passion for art education and the visual arts like none other! You made the calculated decision to leave a job or field you established yourself in to cultivate young artists, promote the arts, and foster creativity. For that, give yourself a huge pat on the back!

Stepping into an art classroom without formal art education training is daunting. Your alternative pathway has prepared you more than you realize! Tap into your experience and reflect on the unique skills you can bring to your students and art program. You are able to improvise and do a deep research dive in an instant. You have a depth of knowledge in a particular area of art, unlike most art teachers with a traditional art education degree. You have the wisdom to step back and see the larger picture with your workforce experience. Multitasking and real-life examples make you an efficient and engaging art teacher! Most importantly, you absolutely love what you do. It’s an honor to bring the valuable knowledge you gained from your unconventional route to your students every single day.

How has your non-traditional art teacher path made you a better art teacher? 

Why did you jump headfirst into the world of art education? 

The post 12 Ways Your Nontraditional Art Background Prepared You To Teach Art appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Explore six powerful ways the visual arts promote resiliency beyond the studio walls.

1. Adaptation

Openness to change and flexibility are essential to being resilient. Yale University shares, “Change is a natural part of life; therefore, adaptability is a crucial skill. When we accept that nothing stays the same forever, it gives us room to look for new opportunities to grow personally and professionally.” Embracing change is an important mindset in life and artmaking. We know all too well artwork rarely goes as planned. Artists must adapt to figure out new ways to do things or shift their vision.

2. Perseverance

Persistence and perseverance don’t happen instantaneously—you have to work for it! Persevering teaches students not to give up when things get tough. It’s a mindset that needs strengthening. For example, drawing is challenging. Graphite forces students to rework, edit, erase, and constantly try again. Ink pushes students to embrace each mark and navigate how to work in each line. Plus, art teachers are experts when it comes to facing challenges and persevering so continue to model this valuable trait for your students!

3. Visual Brainstorming

Brainstorming is an excellent way to process and organize thoughts. Seeing multiple options, avenues, and routes and then comparing and contrasting them is essential to real-life decision-making. The visual arts help students take the ideas in their brain to paper, which actually encourages more ideation! This finesses critical thinking skills. If you’re looking for resources to help you or your students digitally brainstorm, read this article.

4. Group Work

Chances are visual art students will work in a group at least once this year. Group art projects are a different beast with their own challenges and benefits. Students learn how to collaborate, delegate, communicate, and critique. Working in a group helps students navigate tension, different mindsets, and conflict management. Group work sets students up for success later in life with future co-workers, friends, and family.

5. Imagination

Art class challenges students’ imaginations! Students literally think outside of the box to creatively solve problems. Instead of going to the internet and copying the first thing they research, art class pushes them to stretch their imagination and not settle. According to Harvard Business Review, “Imagination—the capacity to create, evolve and exploit mental models of things or situations that don’t yet exist—is the crucial factor in seizing and creating new opportunities, and finding new paths to growth.”

Provide a prompt to the class and ask them to come up with 10 sketches. A great topic is to dig into avant-garde artwork to create wearable art and book cover designs. Many students will immediately have the first three or four ideas. Often, the more sketches they have to make, the harder it may be to come up with new ideas. However, when students push through, they will get deeper and more interesting results. Use the sketches to kickstart a project in the Investigating Avant-Garde Design Collection in FLEX Curriculum.

6. Self-Awareness

Many resilient people are aware of their behaviors and feelings. Art class teaches students to be aware and mindful and sometimes create art that centers on emotion. During the critique of these projects, students can become vulnerable and often open up to their classmates. Self-awareness allows us to better understand ourselves, our thoughts, and our actions. It’s also one of the five components of social-emotional learning. Download the prompts in this article to foster self-awareness through drawing.

Students learn resilience through shortcomings and artists know this all too well. The qualities of a visual art student include adaptation, perseverance, ideation, collaboration, imagination, and self-awareness. Most of these are mental mindsets that are refined with time. Art students have the opportunity to become experts at navigating tension in group work and organizing abstract thoughts and concepts. We are thankful art classes teach life-long resiliency for students to be successful in the real world. Put stubbornness aside, welcome change, and get uncomfortable with altering mindsets all while having fun and making art. Go forth, fail, learn, and create!

How are you challenging resilient artists in your studio?

What is the toughest part about coaching students to become resilient?

The post 6 Ways the Visual Arts Promotes Resilient Learners for Life appeared first on The Art of Education University.

Because your time is precious, your voice is extra important. Share your experience, desires, and passions on current trends, topics, and issues in art education. Take the first step in becoming an art teacher leader today—participate in the biggest survey in art education and be a part of shaping the future of visual art. 

Complete the survey today!

Follow AOEU on social media or subscribe to our weekly newsletter so you can be the first to get the survey results. If you’re curious about how the world of art education has shifted over the past few years, browse previous results:

• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018

Take the 2024 State of Art Education survey now!

Share the survey with an art teacher friend.

The post Your Voice Matters: Participate in the State of Art Education 2024 Survey appeared first on The Art of Education University.