K12ArtChat the Podcast

In this episode, the Creativity Department catches up with Joe Boatfield and Raine Valentine of the Creativity Crew. Dive into the discussion about how the 23/24 school year is going.  Hear about what’s been working well, and what’s been adapted as they share some of their favorite lessons, tools, and strategies. Discover tips for tempering students’ expectations of their art, working with differe...

In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by Ben Forta, Adobe’s Senior Director of Education Initiatives, to talk about all things technology in the K-12 classroom! Specifically, hear how Adobe’s tools can be used for meaningful visual expression and the importance of CREATING content for consuming (vs. consuming other people’s content). Listen in to hear how technology is more than a d...

In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by Alice Mizrachi – a New York City based muralist and art educator to talk about how large format murals can connect communities! Alice dives into her work as an artist, educator, and mentee has shaped who she is as a person as well how it translates into her classroom. Listen in to this episode to hear Alice talk more about her mentor, the fin...

In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by Christopher Strickland, Assistant Professor for Art Education University of Nebraska Kearney, to talk about what it means to embrace living a creative life. Drawing from a wealth of expertise as an educator and artist, Christopher provides practical tips and transformative ideas that will help unlock your creative potential and help you to in...

In this episode, Davis Publications’ Fine Art Image Curator and Art Historian, Karl Cole, joins the Creativity Department to talk about craft. Dive into a debate that is old as time – is craft art? Often implying skill and skill level, does the term diminish the work that goes into making a piece? What if it isn’t created in a traditional artistic medium. It’s a question to ponder, and it wouldn’t...

In this episode, Oral Historian Dr. Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz and The Creativity Department’s Matt Grundler continue the conversation on Cultural Responsiveness with NAEA’s Connected Arts Networks (CAN).  New York City educators Lidia Menniti & Catherine Plichta join the conversation to discuss creating inclusive environments. Discover how Cultural Responsiveness celebrates differences, encou...

In this episode, Oral Historian Dr. Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz and The Creativity Department’s Matt Grundler talk to New York City educators from The Connected Arts Networks (CAN).  Tina Barone and Edwin Brathwaite join the conversation to discuss Cultural Responsiveness and how they create such environments in the classroom. Discover how cultural responsiveness encourages genuine engagement and c...

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by Emmy award winning radio and TV host Jeanne Sparrow to talk about being a creatively authentic teacher through communication, identity, connecting with others, and just being yourself! Jeanne shares her story and how she developed her life’s theme, Fearless Authenticity. Listen in to learn how you can follow her path to being your own authent...

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by professional Potter, Author, and Art Educator, Steven Branfman. Steven lost his son to cancer more than 17 years ago. In the aftermath, as part of his grieving process, he made 365 Japanese style tea bowls, called chawan. Listen in to this moving conversation about making art through the grieving process as a way to heal and learn about Steve...

In this episode, the Creativity Department discusses mindfulness and expressive arts with Jane Dalton, author of The Mindful Studio the newest title from Davis! Matt, Jane, and co-host Raine Valentine dive into the difference between mindfulness and mindfulness mediation, why mindfulness and mediation are helpful in the classroom, and how Jane and Raine integrate mindfulness into their own art roo...

In this episode The Creativity Department dives into how to rethink curriculum with artist and Art Educator Richard Kim. Contemporizing curriculum is more than simply adding contemporary art. It’s about taking risks and developing content that taps into contemporary practices of how art is being made today. Listen in to hear strategies for developing curriculum content as a reflective practice ins...

In this episode, the accessibility and inclusion conversation from episode 146 continues. Matt Grundler (of The Creativity Department) and Amy Appleton, CAN Project Director for NAEA, are joined by Kirsti Lewis, Founder of People Like Us. An organization devoted to providing inclusive and meaningful instruction to students with disabilities, People Like Us helps teachers implement curriculum that...

In this episode, enjoy the continuing conversation on Accessibility & Inclusion from episode 145. Matt Grundler (of The Creativity Department) & Mi’Jan Celie Tho-Biaz are joined by Rebecca Visintainer, Dance Educator at North Plainfield Middle & Highschools in New jersey, and Sean Turner, educator with the NYC department of education and an adjunct professor at Hunter College. During t...

Teaching practices overlap to contribute to greater accessibility in the classroom. In this episode, Oral Historian Dr. Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz, Krissi Davis Orchestra Director for Midtown High School in Atlanta, and Art Educator Matt Grundler explore ways of serving students with developmental differences. By making changes and adaptations to classroom environments and curriculum with consider...

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by their friend Brice McCasland, the K12 Visual Art Coordinator for Lovejoy ISD in Texas to discuss building community in the art room. Recalling college days when art professors created a deep sense of community, the discussion dives into how they now emulate that in their own art rooms. Sharing a passion for art with students, allowing them to...

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by 2018 Ohio Teacher of the Year – Jonathan Juravich to talk about the importance of being intentional with Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in the art room. Jonathan shares his dissertation work on SEL, experience working as a national arts advocate, and expertise from years of teaching Elementary students incorporating SEL into his curriculum....

It’s National Arts in Education week! Established in 2010, this week-long celebration was created to recognize the impact arts have in education. Dive into this episode and learn the story of The Creativity Department and the impact arts have had on them! Hear how they became Art Educators and what their “who & why” is. Learn who inspired them to become art educators, why they became art educa...

Paul Kretchmer returns in this episode all about setting art room rules and guidelines in the art room! Paul follows a philosophy he coined as “Happy Art Teacher Rules” which are guidelines for fellow art educators and students to follow – helping create a positive environment, celebrating diversity, and amplifying student voice. Listen in to hear how Paul implements these into his art room!

Art educators, Raine Valentine and Joe Boatfield join The Creativity Department in this episode to explore preparing for a new school year! Explore everything from setting the tone of the classroom and connecting with students in the first days of the year, to art room layout and organization and adjusting curriculum to align with standards. Hear what advice these art room veterans have and learn...

In this episode the Creativity Department is joined by fellow art educator Mike Mitchell to examine the networks, communities, and connections that can create an “Art Ecosystem” around us. Mike is the Art Education Coordinator at Tennessee State University (TSU) with years of experience teaching high school art. Listen in as he dives into what exactly an “Art Ecosystem” is and how it can affect yo...

In this episode the Creativity Department is joined by fellow podcasters Jen Ferrari & Abi Paytoe Gbayee – hosts of the TAB Storytellers podcast. Dive into TAB (Teaching for Artistic Behavior) during a discussion covering how Jen and Abi chose it as their pedagogy. Listen in as they share implementation advice, resources for using it in the art room, and useful information like how it can be a...

In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by art educators Sharon Carr & Christine Colby to talk about ceramics in the art room! Discover how these experienced ceramic teachers introduce students to the medium. Gain helpful insight into managing student frustrations, tips on classroom and materials management, and discover contemporary ceramic artists to showcase in your art room! 

In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by Susan Martin and Melissaa Friedwald of the Bower Center in Bedford, Virginia to discuss how art educators can build relationships with local arts and cultural organizations. Melissa goes into how having a local arts center gives her students the opportunity to discover a community outside of the art room and real-world experience. Melissa and...

In the second part of the Teacher Leadership episode of the Connected Arts Networks (CAN) series, Dr. Mi’Jan Celie Tho-Biaz and The Creativity Department are joined by arts educators Corazón Tierra and Charles Jabour. Dive into this informative conversation focusing on questions such as how do you want to lead? What ways do you want to change lives positively, for yourself or others? Discover for...

In this episode from the Connected Arts Networks (CAN) series, The Creativity Department is joined by arts educators Tim Needles and Nathan Rødahl for a conversation focusing on teacher leadership and adapting leadership structures in the classroom. Teacher leadership is not one size fits all, it impacts the mood, atmosphere, and environment of a school so it must be flexible to meet the needs of...