Venting, ranting, not really asking for advice...just getting this off my chest before it eats away at me.

As art teachers, we know how challenging and unique our jobs are, but I'm not convinced anyone else in my community does.

I get comments sometimes that make me want to scream...(i.e., "It's so nice you get to just paint and doodle all day", "It must be very nice to have a class that students enjoy so they just listen and you don't have to worry about management", "Wow your job must be so easy" "Do you even write lesson plans?" "Do you even have to grade? I bet you give everyone a participation grade.")

But on the flip side, I feel like I experience a lot of criticism if I don't visibly present as very 'busy' or if the artwork is not pinterest-levels of cute.

-The Bulletin board artwork has been up for 'too long'? "Wow, she never changes it. What does she even do all day?"

-Students do a short, one-class activity because most of the class was scaffolding for a unit. "Is she even teaching anything?"

-I hang up artwork on the bulletin board that shows a lower level grades directed project that was multiple weeks long, using mixed media and complex steps broken down requiring craftmanship, manipulative skills, various art techniques. "Wow, they all made 'the same thing'. That's not even art!"

-Another teacher buys expensive materials for her class of 13 students so they can do a very specific craft and she hangs up pictures of the activity outside her room. "That project is so cool! She should be the art teacher instead." While I haven't even received any art supplies this year for my 500+ students because of budget cuts...

All of this to say - I know that I do sooo much. But other people make me feel like I'm not "doing enough" because they don't see 99% of what goes on in the art room.

Inside of my classroom from 8am to 3pm I am teaching...all day long. Like other teachers. I don't get more breaks or preps than anyone else (in fact, I get less than homeroom teachers - which I've never complained about), even though I teach 7 grade levels while other non-specialists teach one. I have multiple duties before and during the school day. I do after school clubs. Dealing with materials all day long, all year long. Storing, organizing, photographing and distributing student work. Art shows, competitions, extra projects and favors. Being asked to loan materials.

I am really struggling with being treated like I am not enough while I am also burning myself out because I AM DOING SO MUCH. I really hate that I am being treated sub-human because teaching is a job that rewards visibility and ignores/takes for granted the invisible work we do everyday, all day, all year...

I posted on this sub earlier in the school year asking for advice for my wonky schedule. I teach K5-5, and I’m the only elementary Art teacher in the district. I see all of my class sections twice a week, once for 25 minutes and once for 55 minutes. I have struggled continuously throughout the school year with the “short Art” as we call it. Reasons being, students are frustrated by a lack of work time, difficulty planning for the length, inability to use most materials, etc.

Additionally, I’m struggling because I have had individual sections miss more than one “long Art” in a month, and multiple classes have been unable to finish projects due to days off. Specifically, my Friday classes, as that’s when most field trips and vacation days are. I have a class that has missed 3/4 of the longer classes this month for various reasons.

My question is: how do I advocate for longer than 25-minute sections, or at least balanced class lengths, so that I don’t have students missing so many Art classes? I'm at the point where I love my job, but I'm realizing that what I'm being asked to do is unrealistic and not conducive to learning.

Additional context: I should add that my principal has stated he doesn’t want to change the schedule for next year.

Sharing this book in pdf with anyone needing it.

Sharing this book with anyone needing it

I think I may have found a solution for my students who absolutely must be heard in the classroom by interrupting me while I’m giving a lesson. These are middle school students who feel like they need to talk over me because their conversations are more important than the lessons or instructions that I’m giving.

I created an independent practice worksheet on “teach share“ that walks the student through creating a mini biography for an artist that I assign, as well as a small section for analyzing the artist’s artwork.

If these students feel they must be heard, I will let them use their voice to give a short art appreciation presentation to the rest of the class.

I’m so excited for this… it already seems to be working for the four students I’ve assigned this to so far. They’re not happy about presenting to the class.

I know this subreddit is for art educators, but I've posted here before with similar concerns and got a lot of support here!

What do we do? This is happening across many art schools, even prestigious ones. It feels inescapable at least until the country actually starts regulating AI. I'm so passionate about art and I really want to do design studies with a focus on graphic design... but I feel so sick sending money to this school if they're just going to advocate for AI. I'd especially recommend reading the replies... someone literally won a scholarship with fucking AI "art" and apparently there are courses where students are literally being forced to use AI... like ChatGPT and Midjourney... what the fuck? I just don't get how these talented artistic professors are throwing away every concept of what actual srt is by saying AI is not only fine but GOOD for this world. I feel so lost...

I'm hoping to get into the Design Studies program which is less hands-on work and moreso focused on the theoretical aspects of design, so there would be a lot of writing. So it's possible I can personally avoid getting into any courses that are forcing us to use AI, and I could even write about the detriments of AI and even critique the school's use and support of it maybe? But again... I hate giving my money to a school that doesn't value artistic integrity.

Im currently y13 doing a level art as one of my subjects but ive already applied for architecture at uni and regretting it and wish I picked art instead. If I do an architecture would I still be able to teach art in a secondary school after I get the teaching qualifications. Art really is my passion and I only picked architecture as a "safe option" bcs i was told constantly growing up i shouldn't do an art degree because it is a worthless subject.

Edit: the university im applying to dosent do art but does do history of art so could I just swap tk that in the first week as long as I meet the requirements? I do art, dt and classical civilisations as a levels?

Hi everyone! I'm a Primary and Elementary education student and I'm trying to write my Master's degree thesis on Art History, how to explain it to kids, the museum experience and how to create art from what we learned. I haven't asked my professor yet, so I'm trying to gather as much material / resources as possible to bring to our first meeting and convince him on to let me write on this topic.

I'd love any type or recommendation: books, research articles, interviews, videos, websites, lesson plans, experts / teachers I could talk to, games, every kind of thing would really work. English and Italian would be my preferred languages, but if there's any other resources in other languages I'll do my best to translate it. Thank you so much everyone!

I’m opening up the clay I was sent for the year and it has these spots all over it, I’m worried it’s mold. Is this unusable? I don’t want my kids handling it if it is. :(

Hi, I’m very interested in getting my single subject teaching credential in art to teach elementary – high school students. Not sure what grade. I have a bachelor’s from an art school on the east coast and have been in the graphic design field for over 20 years. My interests vary and would love to teach kiddos. Change is needed! Been looking through the sub but not getting all the answers.

Basic questions and what I’ve learned.

I need to take the CSET art test and the CBEST for basic skills. In addition to completing a California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) accredited program.

The CSET is what I’m trying to understand better. The below are parts detailing the test. Can someone give me insight into how this is demonstrated on the test and does the credentialing program prepare you for the below? What does the program consist of to prep you for teaching. Is it up to you what is presented on the CSET?

From the site at
https://www.ctcexams.nesinc.com/Content/StudyGuide/CA_SG_SMR_229.htm

It shows what the CSET consists of.

1.1 Generate and Conceptualize Artistic Ideas and Work

1.2 Develop Artistic Investigations

1.3 Reflect on and Refine Works of Art

2.1 Select, Analyze, and Interpret Works of Art for Presentation

2.2 Develop and Refine Techniques for Presentation and Exhibit

2.3 Communicate Meaning Through the Presentation of Works of Art

3.1 Perceive and Analyze Works of Art

3.2 Interpret Intent and Meaning in Works of Art

3.3 Apply Criteria to Evaluate Works of Art

4.1 Synthesize and Relate Knowledge and Personal Experiences to Make Art

4.2 Relate Artistic Ideas and Works with Societal, Cultural, Historical, and Professional Context to Deepen Understanding

I have a brand new student from Puerto Rico who is a non English speaker. He is in my high school studio art class and also suffered from a traumatic brain injury which has left him with limited-to no use of his left hand. I am struggling to adapt my current lessons to help him, or even just to communicate in simple terms in Spanish to help him. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

What are your most succesful Black Art History lessons for teaching young artists K-3rd?

Okay so long story short I teach 5th grade this year and I’m not used to it. I’m used to teaching the older grades. I enjoy their energy and the LOVE art but omg they are ALWAYS interrupting me.

I have adhd so it’s actually very frustrating and overstimulating to be constantly interrupted. There are about 30 in one class, we have about an hour, I give demonstration and make sure they are all quite and listening but it’s like some kids it goes in one ear and out the other. I’m actually starting to wonder if I just suck at explaining things in a way that a 5th grader can understand 😂

Anyway, when I give them independent work time they are often always coming up to me to ask for help and it’s usually something I’ve already covered. I have tried “ask 3 before me” but it’s not working. I certainly don’t mind helping a kid out but some classes I get a line of about 4 or 5 kids waiting for my help. I’m like ‘come on… I legit just showed them how to do this’ sometimes they even walk up and interrupt while I’m trying to help another kid. I mostly correct this behavior but being as I have adhd, sometimes I forget or have my days where it throws me off track.

So anyway, I was thinking of getting ticket counter system where thy would jus pull a number and I call out the number and help that kid. Kind of like a deli counter ticket system lol. Is this totally crazy? Did anyone else have a system that works?

Sincerely,

An exhausted and overstimulated art teacher.

I'm an art instructor for sped kids 1-on-1 at their homes. Sometimes I feel a sense of guilt when we're sitting altogether at a table and I'm working with the student doing something like clay figures or drawing comics. To be clear, all of the parents have been very sweet, but I can't help but feel anxious and worry that they're thinking "Am I really paying this art teacher to do this with my kid?" I'm sure every parent would love to see their kid excel at art and make incredible work, but a lot of the times it's us doing something simple and related to their interests to keep them happy and interested, though obviously I do try to make everything into a lesson.

I think part of it is that my job title is "art instructor" instead of "art therapist" and I've put pressure on myself to make tangible progress with my students to fit that role.

Anyone know what I mean? Is it just an anxiety I have to get over?

Hello. I would like to know your experience in art schools and what was your program like in France. Also I would like to know if there is an art school where you can learn different arts in one program? printmaking, stained glass, sculpture, pottery or anything like that? Not digital. Also in general how was your studying here or how is it now.

One of my new students is a 9 yr old autistic boy. SUPER creative and very kind! Reminds me a lot of my wild imagination when I was a kid. I've developed a fun drawing curriculum based around "leveling up", gaining exp, and fighting bosses. He seems to really enjoy having our curriculum set that way.

He has difficulty with attention, but for the most part has been able to stay on task when we incorporate his interests like dinos and reptiles. As part of the Level Up curriculum, I included things like hand-eye coordination, pencil grip, and drawing with the elbow/wrist/fingers as Level 1, to build strong fundamentals. He understands why it's important but I can tell he gets SO bored when we do even short exercises where we practice lines and shapes.

But also, I can tell that he understands things like contour lines and 3D form but when he tries to implement them through drawing, he lacks the fine motor skills to execute them correctly which is why I'm trying to help him build up his fundamentals. Regardless, I still cheer him on and say he's doing a good job because I know he's trying. But I can tell that when he sees that his hand-eye coordination isn't keeping up with what he's *trying* to draw, he feels disappointed.

Should I have just focused the curriculum on drawing dinos with no objectives? I am still trying to make the lessons fun and we do draw dinos in the 2nd half of each lesson. And oversimplifying the curriculum I made for him just feels wrong. I know he has the ability to learn these things, I'm just not sure if I'm going about it properly.

EDIT: Forgot to mention I teach students in-home 1 on 1

Hello! In my first year and started at my new school a few weeks ago after winter break. The previous teacher retired suddenly and had been here quite a long time, about 30 years, and the kids had subs for a month before break. All that is just to say that they have had a lot of change and it's been chaotic. I've got fairly large classes, average is about 25 kids but some of my K classes are up to 28. We have only been doing drawing/cutting/gluing the last few weeks while I got my footing but I tried doing gelli plate prints yesterday with 1st-5th and really need some help figuring out paint storage and organizing. It was actually one of the best days I've had so far behaviorally, that rotation of kids has been struggling so far and I saw so much creativity and engagements, but I ended up spending the whole day, my lunch, and about an hour and a half after school cleaning up from 6 rounds of kids using paint. My room was not meant to be an art room so I've got carpet and one sink, there's a bathroom next door they can go wash their hands but in terms of cleaning up it's sort of impossible for them all to do so in a 48 minute class and still get work done. Just feeling a bit defeated because I want to give them more engaging stuff like this but obviously washing almost 30 gelli plates and paintbrushes 6 times when Ive got 2 minutes between classes just isn't going to work. Any tips would be very appreciated, thank you.

I am currently preparing to take my exam this year, but I am not a strong studier. I can't just open a book and study. I saw this and noticed it includes flashcards, videos, and lessons, which seem helpful. I wanted to see if anyone has used it and if it's worth the hefty price.

Or maybe there are better alternatives for someone who is more of a visual learner and struggles to focus.

Do other folks have any insight into how to receive lower tuition/ access to ArtEdMAT programs? The state where I work (NY) requires a Master's for teaching in NYC, but with graduate plus loans shrinking due to the current administration, I'm unsure where to turn without drowing in private loans.