Art Ed Radio

After talking with Abby Schukei last month about teaching content when you struggle, Tim is inspired to learn more about watercolor. He turns to Andrea Slusarski, plein air painter extraordinaire, to find some tips and tricks to improve his teaching with the medium. Tim goes on a rant about his dislike for watercolors (5:00), Andrea shares some of her best strategies for teaching watercolor (10:15...

Some people can handle a huge mess in their art room. Tim is not one of those people, but Abby Schukei is. They get together for this episode to discuss the amazing feeling when kids are excited to clean and you can actually see it happening (5:45), how they feel about "paintbrush graveyards" (10:45), and how much cleaning responsibility we need to give our kids (15:30).    Resources and Links How...

The amazing D'Wayne Edwards joins Tim today to talk about education, motivation, and providing kids unique opportunities that engage them in learning. D'Wayne is the former lead designer at Nike, and has now founded the Pensole Academy in Portland for footwear design. In today's episode, he shares his own story (2:30), talks about the how and why of starting Pensole (5:15), and introduces his new...

The search for the perfect critique is neverending. And, if we're being honest, the search for even a halfway decent critique can seem neverending as well. Today, Tim talks to Clara Lieu, who is a RISD professor, Artprof.org founder, and critique expert. Their discussion is filled with strategies to improve your critiques, including the ideal size for a quality critique (11:00), strategies to deal...

After talking last week about how and why we teach color, Maggie Maggio is back for the second part of her conversation with Tim. They dive even deeper into the topic, covering the best resources to teach color theory (6:00), why kids should learn both additive and subtractive color mixing (10:15), and how we can work together to promote color literacy (21:45).   Resources and Links Part 1 of the...

How long have you been teaching the dreaded Red-Yellow-Blue color wheel? Are you getting a little tired of your kids mixing colors that look like mud? Have you thought "there's got to be a better way to do this"? Well, there is--and this episode is the right way to get started understanding and teaching color in a new way. In the first of a two-part episode, Maggie Maggio joins Tim to talk about w...

Former AOE writer and current AOE instructor Jennifer Borel joins Tim to talk all things digital photography. Listen as they discuss the ideal types of cameras--and what to do if you don't have the budget for them (5:15), the connections between photography and other media (9:45), and how to organize and turn in digital work (17:45).   Resources and Links Fun Photo Projects for Middle Schoolers 5...

With Spring finally here, it's time to think about how we can get our students (and ourselves) outside to make art. Andrea Slusarski, art teacher and adventurer, is her to chat about her love for the outdoors. Listen as they talk about how being outdoors can make you more creative (5:30), strategies for getting kids outside of the classroom (10:30), and recommendations for making art for yourself...

It's the week of the NAEA National Convention! And even though not everyone is able to attend, it is still important to talk about the professional connections we can all make. In this episode, Tim talks to AOE writer Debi West about finding other teachers that share your passion (5:15), how connections can help you improve your teaching (12:00), and Debi's best advice for teachers who want to hel...

Art teachers are asked to do so many different things when it comes to media and subject matter. Inevitably, we're going to run into something in our curriculum that leaves us feeling uncomfortable. AOE writer Abby Schukei joins Tim to talk about the approach you can take when you're not comfortable with content (7:30), how much you need to prepare before you teach techniques (10:30), and how to d...

Ryan Loeppky is back for another appearance on Art Ed Radio. Back in October, he and Tim talked about all of the amazing things you can do to build your program. Today, the guys have another wide-ranging discussion about how we need to consistently improve as teachers. Listen as they talk about ideas for differentiation (3:15), what we lose when we focus on deadlines (10:00), and why portfolios ar...

Being evaluated can be one of the most nerve-wracking things you have to do as a teacher. But it doesn't have to be that way! Evaluations and observations are actually a great way for you to improve as a teacher, advocate for yourself, and develop your program. AOE senior editor Amanda Heyn joins Tim to discuss how you can put your mind at ease when it comes time for an evaluation (6:15), where yo...

In today's episode, Tim is joined by Jim O'Donnell, the author of the 'Kill Your Color Wheels' blog. In a wide-ranging discussion on creativity and art education, they go back and forth with their ideas on where art teachers should focus their instruction (6:15), the importance of reflecting on what we do in our classroom (11:45), and assignments that help push our students' creative thinking (21:...

All good things must come to an end, and after two years of podcasts, Andrew is saying goodbye as a host of Art Ed Radio. In his final episode, Tim comes on to reminisce and talk about everything they've done together in the past few years. They discuss some of their favorite episodes (8:15), the times they've invited some controversy (12:15), and their hopes for the future of the show (19:00).   ...

A teacher's biggest challenge is often the size of their classes. How do you help your kids find success when you are dealing with classes of 35 or 40 students, or even more? Join the guys as they discuss their own experiences with big classes (4:00), making sure kids feel welcome (10:30), and some of the best strategies that help with classroom management and organization (17:00).   Resources and...

Conference week is finally here! With Art Ed Now coming up in just four short days, AOE writer (and Art Ed Now presenter) Lindsey Moss joins Tim to preview everything coming up on Saturday. They talk about Lindsey's excitement for her upcoming conference presentation (6:15), her love of putting together giant packets of information and resources to share with everyone (10:00), and the presentation...

If we are going to create well-rounded artists, our students need to be versed in a variety of subjects and topics. Those connections between subjects help us create art at a deeper level. Natalie Jackson, a Washington, D.C. teacher who does incredible things with interdisciplinary teaching, is on the show to share some of her best ideas. She talks to Tim about the benefits of storytelling (4:00),...

Taking over a program is never an easy task. But when you follow a legendary teacher, it is even more difficult. It's important to make the program your own, and this episode has great advice on how to do just that. Molly and Tim discuss how previous teachers' pedagogy and teaching style affect how a new teacher is received (5:30), why you need to share your 'why' with your students (10:30), and w...

You've undoubtedly heard about the art teacher from Utah who was recently fired for showing controversial artworks. Mateo Rueda is his name, and he joins Tim on the podcast today to share the full story of everything that has happened in the past month. Listen as Mateo tells about the lesson that caused the controversy (5:00), the surreal disciplinary actions he faced (11:30), how the reaction to...

It is the new year, and the guys are going to celebrate with a mailbag! Tim and Andrew answer questions from listeners on a wide range of topics, starting with their New Year's resolutions. The discussion then moves into the best foods to use for sculpture (5:00), balancing their teaching of skills and concepts (11:15), and their essential supplies (20:00), before they close out the show by sharin...

Tim and Andrew are back together after quite a few episodes apart! They are talking today about appreciating your time off during break, but also focusing on the reasons why you keep coming back to school day after day. Listen as they discuss how to keep your mindset right, the best reasons to set long-term goals for yourself, and the advice they have for teachers who might be feeling burnt out.  ...

Intro to Art is a class that a lot of teachers consider a throwaway--a class that remains an afterthought while attention is directed to advanced classes. AOE writer Debi West makes a convincing argument, however, that Intro to Art is actually your most important class. She and Tim get together to compare notes on teaching Intro and discuss their strategies to make the class run effectively. They...

Dr. Lois Holzman is a developmental psychologist who is internationally recognized for her work regarding the effects of play, performance, and group creativity over the span of a lifetime. In February, she will be presenting at the Art Ed Now conference on how improvisation can improve your teaching and your students' learning. In this episode, she and Tim preview that presentation and discuss th...

Ray Yang, AOE's newest writer, makes his debut on Art Ed Radio to talk to Tim about encouraging risk-taking, appreciating the creative process, and great ways to advocate for your program. Join the guys as they discuss how we create an environment where kids are comfortable failing (5:15), teaching students how to think and reflect (13:00), and how to use extra work as an opportunity to make your...

Whether you're a huge fan of comics or don't know a single thing about them, they can still be used in the classroom. They are a gateway to both artmaking and meaningful discussion. In this episode, Andrew talks to Dr. Richard Graham (author of the book "Goverment Issue: Comics for the People") about how comics can help with engagement and student behavior (3:45), specific strategies for teaching...