A podcast for K-12 art educators interested in connecting with colleagues and ideas. Each episode, hosted by Matt and Laura Grundler, takes you backstage with guest hosts from #K12ArtChat to dig into the latest art education innovations and resources. You’ll find tips, tools, and inspiration to keep you connected and moving forward.
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In this episode, Matt and Laura chat with art educator on the topic of photography. Specifically, the role photography plays in art education, how she integrates both technical skills and creative expression when teaching, how photography helps students develop critical thinking and visual literacy skills, and practical tips for making photography accessible within any budget. Listen in to hear more from Susan!
In this episode, Matt and Laura welcome back award-winning art director, game designer, and artist Momo Pixel to talk about her work across the mediums of games, fashion, pixel art, and music! Momo is the creator of the viral game “Hair Nah” as well many other interactives for Hulu, Google, and much more. Momo shares her personal approach to creating art, keeping a positive attitude, and the impact games can have on our mindset. Listen in to hear more from Momo!
In this episode, Matt and Laura welcome back artist, educator, and author Jorge Lucero to share his practices of caring for fellow art educators. Listen in and hear specifically about how writing letters of recommendation turned into an opportunity to lift up the importance of the work art educators do! Jorge shares what goes into these letters, from acknowledging the “invisible” work his colleagues do to highlighting their unseen strengths. Discover how being a silent advocate for colleagues in...
In this episode, Matt & Laura chat with returning guest – Jason Blair about the essential role the arts play in young students’ development. Listen in to discover how artmaking supports the growth of critical skills, strengthens students’ ability to communicate complex ideas, and fosters a deeper sense of community. Through playful exploration, multi-modal activities, and imaginative projects that explore deeper emotions, art educators empower students to express themselves, build confidence...
In this episode, Laura talks with artist, researcher, and teacher – Tamyrn McDermott about multimodal learning! Listen in to learn what this is and how it can be applied in an art classroom. Tamryn shares strategies and activities she’s used in her own experience that art educators can introduce into their existing programs. During the discussion, she also explores how technology and media arts can be intertwined with multimodal learning concepts! Tune in to hear more from Tamryn.
Back-to-school season is upon us with a new crowd of students and new host of challenges! In this episode Matt & Laura discuss common challenges we face as art educators and how to prepare for them. Discover actionable steps and strategies to ensure a smooth transition, including planning curriculum for the year, creating successful routines, forming a sense of community with fellow art educators, and incorporating new technology into the art room. Tune in and hear more from Matt and Laura!...
Honoring learning styles and helping build strong connections is what Differentiated Instruction is all about. In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by Dr. Heather Fountain, author of Differentiated Instruction in Art Education. Listen in and explore how art educators can effectively identify the diverse learning needs of students. Discover practical approaches and actionable strategies you can use to differentiate content and process, assess learners’ needs, and help students sho...
In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by Alicia Gray, Director of Art Education at Montserrat College of Art and contributor to the new book by Davis, Restorative Practice in Education through the Arts . As a former art teacher in a trauma informed school, Alicia brings a new perspective to the conversation about the importance of restorative practices in education. Explore how creating a space where students feel seen, safe, and free to express themselves can build a bridge to he...
In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by Amanda Karhuse, Assistant Executive Director, Advocacy & Public Policy for The National Association for Music Education’s (NafME) and Ray Yang the National Art Education Association’s (NAEA) Director of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion, and Special Initiatives. Listen in to learn about Arts Ed Alliance! Discover what this organization is and explore the work they’re doing to advocate for arts education on a national level. Take away a...
In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by art educator Rachel McLaughlin of 10,000 Trees Music to talk about her passion for art, music, and how art educators can incorporate technology in their art rooms. Discover thoughtful insight into the evolving role of AI-generated sound and music in visual arts and how technology can enhance artistic expression overall. Explore how integrating music and tech can change the way students think about art, especially those students who may not ...
In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by author and art educator Trevor Bryan to talk about how art can be a powerful tool for teaching literacy. Trevor shares insights from his latest book Narrative Know-How , explores how story structure can build comprehension, and discusses how drawing and visual storytelling can help students with not only reading, but media literacy as well. Listen in to hear more from Trevor!
Veronica Hicks, Professor of Art Education at VCU, joins K12 Art Chat to explore restorative practices as meaningful rituals in the art classroom. She redefines restorative practices as intentional creative processes that connect individuals to themselves, their environment, and each other, using examples like a natural dye project for collective healing. The discussion emphasizes art's role in creating safe spaces, promoting emotional growth through reflection and journaling, and "re-storying" personal narratives. This episode offers invaluable insights for art educators aiming to foster care and connection.
Jorge Lucero discusses how artmaking is a practice of reconciliation, enabling individuals to process life experiences and foster personal development. He introduces a nuanced approach to assessment, using the concept of "alongside-ness" to encourage educators to embrace experimentation and growth, rather than just final products. The conversation also highlights the rich history of art education in Chicago and concludes with the powerful idea of viewing the educational environment itself as a pliable material for creative exploration.
In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by NAEA’s President-Elect Amy Pfeiler-Wunder and her colleague Mary Kate Bergh for a discussion about the importance of play and multi-modal learning! explore topics such as: how multi-modal learning takes shape in an art classroom; what role play takes in nurturing students creativity and engagement; and how art educators can implement multi-modal learning in their own art rooms? Listen in to hear more from Amy and Mary Kate!
In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by NAEA’s President – Cindy Todd to talk about how art educators can stay creative over their summer break! Cindy shares a few ways she’s been beating the summer slump, from artmaking in new spaces, getting to local art museums, and general self-care. As well as how carving out space for her creative work during the summer positively impacts her work as an art educator during the school year. Listen in to hear more from Cindy!
To round out the school year, Matt and Mi’Jan talk to Connected Arts Network (CAN) members Cody Puckett and Kim Guadagnoli about how they’re reflecting on this past school year! Cody and Kim share how their school year went, how they grew as arts educators, and challenges they overcame. Learn how they applied action research to their curriculum, including how to get more “buy-in” on projects from students. Listen in to hear more from Kim and Cody!
In this episode, Oral Historian Dr. Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz, Matt Grundler, and Connected Arts Network (CAN) members Elizabeth Zwierzynski and Leslie Grace discuss how they’re keeping the momentum as the end of the school year quickly approaches. Leslie and Elizabeth share how they’ve asked students to reflect on the school year through artmaking, highlighting self-progression, and setting future creative goals. Explore the practical techniques they use in their programs to build a sense of commun...
In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by professor and author – Connie Stewart from the University of Northern Colorado to talk about “dangerous power of teaching arts education” and what exactly that means to her. Connie also dives into how infusing creativity into the classroom can give students a leg up in other subjects, the importance of critical thinking and emotional intelligence, as well as how artistic exploration can lead to development of civic responsibility in student...
In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by award-winning educator and author Jed Dearybury. Listen in as they take a deep dive into the importance of play. Discover strategies for using it to increase curiosity and nurture problem solving skills. Explorehow play can be integrated into classroom routines naturally and learn from Jed as he shares challenges and successes of building joyful learning spaces through play.
In this episode, the Creativity Department is joined by the authors of Davis Publications’ new book, Restorative Practices in Education through the Arts . Listen in as Lisa Kay, Beverley Johns, and Donalyn Heise explore how restorative teaching practices support, encourage, and build relationships. Discover ways to implement these practices in your art room to build strong classroom communities, support students’ emotional needs, and create brave spaces for creative expression. Learn how restora...
Tasha Newton is an art educator who started her career at the elementary level but, after an unexpected shift, she ended up teaching at a local high school and has never looked back! Joined by guest host David Modler, The Creativity Department talks to Tasha about her switch to high school, what projects and mediums she uses to keep her students engaged, how she supports students who are required to take art, and how differentiation differs between grade levels. Listen in to hear more from Tasha...
Matt Johnson is the President of Maine Art Education Association (MAEA) and he joins the Creativity Department in this episode to talk about balancing life as a teacher, leader, and maker! Enjoy an engaging discussion about the challenges of managing multiple responsibilities and grasp the importance of setting boundaries to prevent burnout. Dive into the significance of maintaining a personal art practice to stay connected to the creative process and explore the role technology plays. Listen in...
In this episode of the Connected Arts Network (CAN) series, Oral Historian Dr. Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz, Matt Grundler, and Connected Arts Network (CAN) members Amanda Standard and Melissa Hronkin talk about what it means to be resilient and what it looks like in the arts classroom. Amanda and Melissa share why resilience is important in their classrooms as well as personal experiences where they had to take a step back to “press pause”. They tackle other topics such as how they are devoting time a...
In this episode of the Connected Arts Network (CAN) series, Oral Historian Dr. Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz, Matt Grundler, and Connected Arts Network (CAN) members Jocelyn Latki and Shelly Cole explore how coaching differs from teaching in an arts classroom and the power behind coaching. From sharing vs. imparting knowledge and wisdom, to guiding your fellow educators to help them be the best versions of themselves. Jocelyn and Shelly share their personal experiences with coaching their students and h...
In this episode, the Creativity Department talks with Joe Fusaro, artist, educator, and co-author of Davis Publications’ high school curriculum, The Visual Experience . Listen in and explore how contemporary art can foster dialogue and connection in the classroom. Through the use of thought-provoking artworks and dynamic discussions, Joe helps students embrace diverse perspectives and engage in meaningful conversations. Tune in to learn strategies Joe uses as well as insights, inspiration, and p...
In this episode, The Creativity Department invites Karl Cole back to talk about how art educators can bridge the gap between art history and contemporary art. Specifically, which art styles, artists, and art movements are underrepresented in today’s art education landscape. As well as how we can represent our students in the artists, subject material, and themes we choose to highlight in our art rooms. Listen in to hear more from Karl!
In this episode, The Creativity Department chats with co-host turned guest – oral historian Dr. Mi’Jan Celie Tho-Biaz about the impact of teaching artists! Dive into an engaging conversation about the importance of honoring artistic legacies, mentorship, and fostering spaces where emerging artists can find their voices. Discover how teaching artists affect communities and how educators can embrace and build upon traditions that have been shared. Listen in to hear more from Mi’Jan!
In this episode, The Creativity Department chats with the Association of Art Museum Director’s Chief Administrator, Alison Wade. Learn about her work supporting art museums across North America and how they help foster stronger community relationships. Hear how art museums engage with social issues in authentic ways and explore the bipartisan line they walk when it comes to advocacy. Listen in as Alison shares her story of finding a passion for art history while working in the Davis family busin...
In this episode, The Creativity Department chats with NAEA’s Western Region Vice President, Carrie Barnett, about mentoring. Carrie shares her experience guiding mentees while encouraging creative independence. Learn about the challenges that come with mentoring others. Hear stories from her life that helped shape her philosophy, including one of a former student becoming an art educator because of her. Listen in to hear more on mentoring from Carrie!
In this episode, The Creativity Department chats with former professor of computer Science at UT Dallas, Dr. Paul Fishwick about AI and critical thinking in the art room. Dr. Fishwick shares his experience with AI, how he uses AI to infuse deeper critical thinking in his work, and how art educators can use it in their own art rooms. He also talks about the stanch “for” and “against” AI and the ethics behind using it in an educational setting, the repercussions that can arise and strategies for i...
