My blog began in 2014 because...
I started this blog because I passionately believe (and have the research to back it up) that Art is THE MOST important class a child can have in school. I KNOW that nearly everything in elementary school can be taught through art, most of middle school too. I know too that art enhances student's understanding of concepts and connections in high school. My students score, on average, 155 points HIGHER on their SAT exams because of my choice-based approach to art education.
I created this blog to post FREE information to art educators to understand their worth and inspire them to be "The best we can be."
I grew up in a very artistic family. My great grandmother painted until she was 102, her daughters were artists of some note, and their daughter, (my mom) was an art student. So creativity was encouraged in my family. With all that promise and support, you would think I loved art classes, but I actually had very bad experiences in elementary school. We were all forced to make the same birch trees, Monet bridges, and vapid cotton ball showmen as if we worked in a third-world sweat shop. Grades were based on how well we copied the teacher's example, so I rebelled and earned very low grades on my cotton ball horse, birch-legged monster, and Monet inspired fireworks.
Though I have been "criticized" for saying it, I believe the cookie-cutter approach I was subjected to is destructive to our profession and our students. The video I made below explains why and the research that backs it up. It's not a critique, but a call to action, and I provide a path forward that has worked for me for over 30 years! My entire blog is dedicated to sharing my choice-based approach and making it intuitively easier to implement.
It's not "reinventing the wheel" but adding wings!
I grew up in a very artistic family. My great grandmother painted until she was 102, her daughters were artists of some note, and their daughter, (my mom) was an art student. So creativity was encouraged in my family. With all that promise and support, you would think I loved art classes, but I actually had very bad experiences in elementary school. We were all forced to make the same birch trees, Monet bridges, and vapid cotton ball showmen as if we worked in a third-world sweat shop. Grades were based on how well we copied the teacher's example, so I rebelled and earned very low grades on my cotton ball horse, birch-legged monster, and Monet inspired fireworks.
Though I have been "criticized" for saying it, I believe the cookie-cutter approach I was subjected to is destructive to our profession and our students. The video I made below explains why and the research that backs it up. It's not a critique, but a call to action, and I provide a path forward that has worked for me for over 30 years! My entire blog is dedicated to sharing my choice-based approach and making it intuitively easier to implement.
It's not "reinventing the wheel" but adding wings!
I know that funding for some art programs is non-existent, so this blog gives you everything I know and have learned through trial, error, and collaboration for FREE. You can even follow me in YouTube for free as well.
If however you seek resources in print, I have many books that consolidate what I have shared here into a form you can use in your classroom. Nearly every book comes with the rights to make copies for YOUR students. My workbooks even come in student editions if you have a generous budget and would like to give students individual copies to write and sketch in to become a kind of portfolio. You can find all my books at www.firehousepublications.com If you click on any book cover, it will take you to the book on Amazon, or you can order 2 or more books directly from the publishing website at a discount.
If you need professional development, I have several hours of resources HERE. You can view them ALL for free. If you want a certificate, I ask for a small donation, just check ahead of time if your district will accept it.
I passionately believe in the power of art education. We ARE the solution to failing schools in America. I have had some amazing successes in my program, and this entire blog is dedicated to sharing all of that with you, for free, before I leave this earth. Thank you for visiting. I hope you find something helpful, inspiring, and worthwhile.
Join my Facebook group HERE to get the latest updates and "free stuff" I make available to my followers. You must answer the 3 questions to get in. This helps weed out bots and spam.
If however you seek resources in print, I have many books that consolidate what I have shared here into a form you can use in your classroom. Nearly every book comes with the rights to make copies for YOUR students. My workbooks even come in student editions if you have a generous budget and would like to give students individual copies to write and sketch in to become a kind of portfolio. You can find all my books at www.firehousepublications.com If you click on any book cover, it will take you to the book on Amazon, or you can order 2 or more books directly from the publishing website at a discount.
If you need professional development, I have several hours of resources HERE. You can view them ALL for free. If you want a certificate, I ask for a small donation, just check ahead of time if your district will accept it.
I passionately believe in the power of art education. We ARE the solution to failing schools in America. I have had some amazing successes in my program, and this entire blog is dedicated to sharing all of that with you, for free, before I leave this earth. Thank you for visiting. I hope you find something helpful, inspiring, and worthwhile.
Join my Facebook group HERE to get the latest updates and "free stuff" I make available to my followers. You must answer the 3 questions to get in. This helps weed out bots and spam.
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