Art Made Easy

The Coronavirus is certainly shaking things up. It's early on in the cycle of school closures, social distancing and home-based learning and people are just plain confused. Folks deal with these types of events differently. There is a tremendous amount of pressure to stay put, not travel, hoard toilet paper and stock up on Chardonnay. So I thought it might be helpful to offer you a permission slip to slow down, calm down and take this pandemic day by day. There are so many opportunities lurking behind every bored moment, teaching challenge and frustrations. You never really know when you'll hit your stride of capturing moments for your students and children during this disruption. This episode shares insights on how boredom is the biggest precursor to creativity. How pulling back maybe the best way to ignite children's creativity. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - What I did to develop and nurture my own creativity when I was a child. - How giving your child unstructured time to think about what they like will lead to so many good things - A simple exercise you can start using today with younger students - Why you don't need a lot of tech or equipment to connect with your students while they're at home - What possibilities exist when children are home for an extended period of time - What I recommend you do (and don't do) while home during this time LISTEN TO THE SHOW: LINKS & RESOURCES: How the Enneagram Broke Me Wide Ame: AME 130 www.deepspacesparkle.com/enneagram-broke-wide-open-ame-130/ The Art Pantry Website www.theartpantry.com/diy/e-guides/ Join us in the Podcast Aftershow on the Dazzler Facebook Group. I'd love to hear your main takeaways from this week's podcast. www.facebook.com/groups/DSSstudents/ You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram For help contact: support@deepspacesparkle.com

Do you struggle to find the right response when parents complain about your cancellation policy, how you're grading children in art class, or why your art looks the way it does? You're not alone. One of the biggest challenges for many art teachers, classroom teachers, and art volunteers is setting expectations for your art program. This is an often overlooked part of your program and if not addressed early on, can lead to some very uncomfortable conversations. And believe me, I've had a few. If you struggle with any of the above, then I'm happy to say that the solution is easy. Today, I'm sharing how a communication plan will empower you with a clear message that will virtually eliminate any confusion with parents, teachers and your administration. Download my worksheet below that will help walk you through each step of your communication plan. "When you are confident in your approach, art philosophy, rules and procedures, you can bet others will be confident in YOU." - Patty Palmer WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - How to draft an effective communication plan - Why it's never too late to send out a communication letter to the parents - How you can use social media to get your message out - Why this practice has been a positive experience for me - What can happen if you delay sending this information - Which topics to cover in your communication letter LISTEN TO THE SHOW: LINKS & RESOURCES: Click the yellow button below to download my worksheet to help you draft your own art program letter: Join us in the Podcast Aftershow on the Dazzler Facebook Group. I'd love to hear your main takeaways from this week's podcast. www.facebook.com/groups/DSSstudents/ You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram For help contact: support@deepspacesparkle.com

As art teachers we have BIG goals for our art programs. Extensive year-long themes and curriculums require many class sessions to complete. And the more classes a project requires, the more likely it is that kids will fall behind. And that means a portfolio of unfinished work. One of the most effective ways to tackle unfinished work is to schedule a make-up art day for your students. Not only are they helpful in building the confidence level of your young artists but they’ll have more finished art to choose from for your annual art show. It’s a win-win! Why you should schedule a Make-up day: 1. Students can select which project means the most to them 2. Students feel a sense of accomplishment 3. Portfolios reflect the full body of work the student has created 4. More projects to select from for the art show HOW: 1. Set up your space to reflect how students will move through their projects. 2. Pull our portfolios and lay on table 3. Determine the projects that have the most unfinished work 4. Set up individual tables with the supplies to work on those projects 5. Allow children to move from table to table Join us in the Podcast Aftershow on the Dazzler Facebook Group. I'd love to hear your main takeaways from this week's podcast. www.facebook.com/groups/DSSstudents/ LISTEN TO THE SHOW: LINKS & RESOURCES: Podcasts mentioned in this episode: How to Prepare for a School Art Show: AME 148 www.deepspacesparkle.com/how-to-prepare-for-a-school-art-show-ame-148/ You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram For help contact: support@deepspacesparkle.com

Do you sometimes feel that there is a spark missing from your art room? Maybe your students are acting bored, apathetic or disruptive? Don't throw out your behavior management plan just yet. All you might need is a change in how you engage with your students. Here are my favorite - and slightly unconventional ways - to connect with your students so your art room is engaging, happy and fun. 1. Get to know your students There is always a story behind the struggle and sometimes the most gentle way to show a child you care is to sit and ask them about their day/interest/hobbies. 2. Become aware of personality profiles Even younger children demonstrate a tendency towards a certain personality: who is the team player, who is the perfectionist, who is bossy, who demands attention. Play into these strong traits with humor, affection and acceptance. 3. Aim to connect with 1-2 kids each class Pick out 2 kids per class with whom you will sit with and give attention. Sometimes, this act allows you to really see a child for who they are. 4. Practice the Clean Slate Model In my mind, this is a game-changer for building trust, authority and compassion. If you have a classroom behavior plan and implement it, making sure to use the Clean Slate Model afterwards is essential. 5. Help kids be responsible for contributing to the class dynamics Determine who gets to help with prep or clean up or who gets to be the model for portrait demonstrations. Showcase or hi light a student's work of art. Develop a practice of critiquing each others works with kindness and curiosity. Anything that can build on the team dynamics of a class contributes to its overall effectiveness. LISTEN TO THE SHOW LINKS & RESOURCES: Join us in the Dazzler Facebook Group for the Aftershow discussion with your favorite way to connect with students. I'd love to hear your stories! Books mentioned in this podcast episode: Classroom Management for Art, Music and PE Teachers by Michael Linsin: https://amzn.to/32t0qVx The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile: https://amzn.to/2Pq41OI Join the waitlist to be notified when our next enrollment opens! You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram For help contact: support@deepspacesparkle.com

Are you a credentialed art teacher? Or are you teaching art without an art related degree? I'm curious because this topic has been a HOT one in our Facebook groups. And truthfully, if I get hate mail at all, it's usually because of two things: selling art lessons or saying you can teach art even if you're not an artist. I do both because I believe in both. Especially the latter. In this episode of Art Made Easy, I talk about the friction that can happen when these two types of art educators collide. I'll go over my strategies that can help you adjust your mindset in order to stay positive and be confident with the skills that you have. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - Helpful practices from my experience as a non-credentialed art teacher - How to overcome your feelings and change your mindset - Strategies to keep your focus on happy art and happy kids - Tips for staying motivated - How to avoid toxic thoughts LISTEN TO THE SHOW: LINKS & RESOURCES: Join us in the Dazzlers Podcast Aftershow Discussion to chat more about art shows and share your best art show successes: https://www.facebook.com/groups/DSSstudents/ Podcasts related to this episode: 10 Rules for Art Teachers: AME 099 www.deepspacesparkle.com/10-rules-art-teachers-ame-099/ The Life Coach School Podcast by Brooke Castillo: https://thelifecoachschool.com/podcasts/ How to Lead for Female Entrpreneurs Podcast by Kris Plachy: krisplachy.com/podcast/

Hosting an art show is undeniably the best way to celebrate your student's year long efforts in art education. But the logistics of an art show can be overwhelming. Whether you're excited to put this together (or expected to) it's always a good idea to plan ahead. In this episode, I'll take you through each step to prepare yourself and what you can do to make sure your art show is a success. Download my Art Show Checklist below that I've included for you to successfully set up your own art show. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - How to select the right projects for display - Why you should contact to help coordinate your event - Why student portfolios are important - What are the most important things you'll need to do one month, one week and a day before the show LISTEN TO THE SHOW: LINKS & RESOURCES: Make sure to DOWNLOAD my free guide to setting up your own art show. Add your name and email and we'll send this PDF straight to you! Sparkler Krista Hillman's Instragram: https:///www.instagram.com/artsatplaceracademy/ Sarah Krajewski's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artroomglitterfairy/ Art Show Guidebook: https://www.deepspacesparkle.com/shop/art-show-guidebook/ (**Sparkler Club Members, you can access to this in the TEACHER AIDES) You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram support@deepspacesparkle.com

When you demonstrate a project, your goal is to communicate the process in a way that connects to the students. A demo lays out the steps, so each student can fully understand the steps and complete the lesson. The question is how do you do that? In this episode, I'll go over my experiences with different tools and technology that I've tried for art demos (what worked and didn't work.) Plus, classroom management tips that will really help you nail your art demo. Join the Dazzlers Facebook Group Podcast Aftershow to talk more about these demo tips + share pictures of your demonstrations style. https://www.facebook.com/groups/DSSstudents/ Need some more art lesson inspiration? Click below to check out more lesson posts on my blog: https://www.deepspacesparkle.com/category/art-lessons/ WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - Answers to the most common questions I get about art demos - How you can switch up your demos for different grade levels - What you can do to command their attention during a demo - How to teach a guided drawing to a class - The pros and cons of using a document camera versus demonstrating on your whiteboard and teaching around a table LISTEN TO THE SHOW: LINKS & RESOURCES: Yvette Ackerman's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ackermans_amazing_artists Emily Gould's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sierramadres You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram support@deepspacesparkle.com

I read so many comments from teachers in our Facebook Group, expressing how their students behavior has changed. Some teachers feel like kids aren’t able to work on the same project for extended periods of time – even as little as 30 minutes. Students don’t want to work on the same project for more than The post The Art of Slowing Things Down: AME 146 appeared first on Deep Space Sparkle.

When I was getting started as an art teacher, I was excited. But, I didn’t really know what I was doing. I had little to no experience – a few sessions in my kid’s classroom crafting quilt squares, but no elaborate art projects. I felt like I jumped into the deep end without any preparation… The post The 5 Stages of Art Teacher Growth: AME 145 appeared first on Deep Space Sparkle.

My word of the year for 2020 is: clarity. For most of us, January is all about change: being a healthier, happier version of yourself. But that isn’t always the case. We don’t have to radically reinvent ourselves in order to find happiness. To quote one of my favorite authors, “the primary cause of unhappiness The post How to Think Your Way to a Happy New Year: AME 144 appeared first on Deep Space Sparkle.

In all of my years of teaching, there is one thing that has lead me to scratch my head literally every single time I hear this phrase… and that’s “cookie-cutter art”. It really drives me nuts. It used to send me into a tail spin of feeling upset and discouraged about myself as an art... View Article The post What Do We Mean When We Talk About Cookie-Cutter Art: AME 143 appeared first on Deep Space Sparkle.

Being successful as an art teacher means more than teaching kids how to draw or paint. It means getting kids to listen and sit and follow directions so that they have the capacity to learn to draw and paint. It isn’t easy. If you’ve been feeling a bit discouraged with how your students are behaving... View Article The post The 3 Things that Hold Teachers Back from Loving Their Job: AME 142 appeared first on Deep Space Sparkle.

Janey Strong is the photographer, writer, mother and early literacy advocate behind Darling Readers. Her passion is finding unique ways to encourage parents read to their children – and children are never too young or old! Janey shares strategies on what to read, when to read, and how to manage reluctant readers. Make sure to... View Article The post The Secret Benefits of Reading Aloud to your Children: AME 141 appeared first on Deep Space Sparkle.

Patty chats with Gold Star Sparkler, Jennifer Ford Pace, who was recently named Teacher of the Year in her community of Henrico, Virginia. It’s a dive deep conversation on how Jennifer engages with her emotionally disabled students.  If low attention spans, below grade level art skills, or technology hungry kids are part of your classroom landscape,... View Article The post How to Engage and Connect with Children with Emotional Disabilities: AME 140 appeared first on Deep Space Sparkle.

Do you have a studio based art business? If so, my conversation with Meri Cherry will be a game-changer for you. She doesn’t just offer strategies on filling your classes or how to decide what art to create–she goes much, much deeper. We chat about how to know if you’re ready to expand, and at... View Article The post How to Grow a Customer Base for Your Art Studio with Meri Cherry: AME 139 appeared first on Deep Space Sparkle.

Kristin is a full-time public school art teacher who is passionate about living a balanced and mindful life. She’s been practicing yoga, mindfulness, and meditation since 2007, and has been teaching it since 2014. Growing up and moving around a lot in the public school system, she experienced 23 different classroom settings by the time... View Article The post How to Approach Teaching Art with a Calm Mind: AME 138 appeared first on Deep Space Sparkle.

Felicia Merrick is a veteran classroom teacher of 22 years before becoming an art teacher. It’s a position she feels embodies all that she loves: creativity and children. But a series of devastating losses lead to a debilitating battle with anxiety and depression. Through daily calming practices, the right medication, and a full self-help toolbox, Felicia... View Article The post How One Art Teacher Copes with Anxiety & Depression: AME 137 appeared first on Deep Space Sparkle.

Cassie Stephens joins Patty for the second time on Art Made Easy. And this time, we’re pulling back the colorful curtain and diving into why she wanted to write a second book, why starting a podcast feels right, and why it’s important to put social media in its place. And, just for the fun of... View Article The post Finding Your Voice as an Art Teacher with Cassie Stephens: AME 136 appeared first on Deep Space Sparkle.

Do you ever wonder how the art moms on social media actually get their kids to create art? The photos are beautiful, the kids are engaged, and the materials beg to be used. What’s their secret sauce? Most likely, they’ve been inspired and nurtured by Jean Van’t Hul, the founder of The Artful Parent. Jean... View Article The post Ways to Make Art a Priority in Your Family with Jean Van’t Hul: AME 135 appeared first on Deep Space Sparkle.

Of the many daily challenges art teachers face, adopting a growth mindset may not be at the top of your list. Emily Gould, known as @sierramadres on instagram, is a K-12 art teacher who has done it all. Throughout her years teaching art, her one main focus is to never stop learning, always move forward,... View Article The post Adopting a Growth Mindset as an Art Teacher: AME 134 appeared first on Deep Space Sparkle.