Ramblings of a Middle School Art Teacher

I ramble on about the importance of relationships and understanding everyone’s story as I reflect on the NAEA 2024 conference. Would you like to connect? Shoot me an email at kelly.r.beach@gmail.com.

A quick look at providing a safe environment for all students especially those that do not speak English.

A look at a collaborative journaling process that my students and I are participating in.

A quick look into finding the positive when things feel out of control.

A quick rambling about Mindful Marks, a five minute way that I’m starting my class daily.

Today I ramble on about the engagement spectrum.  This is the tool that my school and myself use to track and communicate where students are in regards to their classroom engagement.  Find the Engagement Spectrum HERE !

I'm back?  Today I cover art traps and pivoting on your initial plans.

We just finished our 10th annual Colorado TAB conference.  In our breakout sessions, I presented on how I am running my TAB classes virtually.  My ADD brain forgot to hit record on those sessions so I decided to kick off 2021 with a podcast version of that presentation.   THE FOUR PATHS

Quarter 2 is almost in the books.  This week I quickly ramble on about the second quarter of remote teaching.  I'll be taking a podcasting break until mid-January.  Until next time. 

This week I air my grievances about holiday projects and how we can make a more inclusive art classroom. 

This week I ramble on about my favorite students and how I make sure that all of my students think it's them.

This week I ramble on about the power of yes and how it led to amazing student engagement.   HERE you can find the piece of art referenced in this episode.  

This week is a quick ramble about how I use SeeSaw to help build community remotely.  Please send any questions, comments, or feedback to kelly.r.beach@gmail.com

This month's bonus episode: In the spring I sat down and interviewed local artists so that my middle school students could get an understanding of what it is like to be a working artist.  This was the first interview that I conducted and was honored that it got to be with my sister Jamie Beach.  Jamie is an amazing tattoo artist.  

Thank you all for listening.  This week I ramble on about attending local art conferences and how important they can be.  I also mention a bit of information regarding Colorado's TAB conference.

This week I ramble on about onramps to art for our students.  I look at the negative experiences that many people have had that detoured them from art.  I talk about ways to encourage our students to pursue the arts-based on their interests.  Enjoy.

This week I ramble on about cultural appropriation that occurs in many art classrooms.  I did miss speak and say that I worked at a school with a population of twelve thousand.  That school had a population of twelve hundred.  The coffee hadn't kicked in yet.  Enjoy!

This week I ramble on about finding your drummers.  This rambling is inspired by Clint Pulver and Josh Shipp and the teachers that inspired them. Clint Pulver Josh Shipp

This week I ramble on about Rule # 6 from Benjamin Zander as well as "Cake".

September's bonus episode where I talk to Mike Lemke about his artistic process.

This week I ramble on about the strategies that I use to engage my students in their remote learning. Melissa Purtee's Artistic Thinking Process #2:   http://www.thoughtsonarting.com/thoughts-on-arting/artistic-thinking-process-2 The 8 Studio Habits of Mind: http://www.studiothinking.org/the-framework.html

Welcome to Ramblings of a Middle School Art Teacher.  Join me as I reflect on my first 3 weeks of teaching art remotely.