The June Mailbag: Differentiation, Creative Ruts, and Students Who Keep You Guessing

Welcome to the June mailbag episode of Art Ed Radio! Host Tim Bogatz is joined by Amanda Heyn, AOE's Director of Community Engagement, to dive into listener questions that are hitting close to home for art teachers heading into summer. From navigating classrooms with wildly different skill levels to making the case to administration that your booming ceramics program needs more support, it's a fun and interesting conversation. They also tackle the difference between burnout and creative stagnation, why that distinction matters, as well as suggestions for working with talented students who just don't care. Resources and Links Come join the Art of Ed Community! 4 Ways to Differentiate in the Art Classroom 8 Things to Do When Teaching Is Taking a Toll on You Learn more about (and register for!) the Art Ed NOW Conference Advocating for Art Education (Ep. 443)

In today's episode, Tim is joined by elementary art teacher Laura Irmis to discuss if and how we can find the time to do everything that is expected of us as art teachers. Laura shares how she is making it work as a teacher, artist, mother, and graduate student. She also tells the story of how she got into clay, how her practice has evolved, and why her excitement can't help but to spill over into the classroom. Tim and Laura also dig into the real challenge of maintaining a creative practice when life is full. Laura opens up about what it takes to juggle family, teaching, her ceramics work, and her graduate studies at the Art of Education University--and she's refreshingly honest about the sacrifices required. Her advice is simple and actionable, and you will want to give it a listen! Resources and Links Listen to the Everyday Art Room episode on Creating Time for Yourself 12 Ways to Balance Teaching Art and Creating Art Take a look at the Studio: Painting-Watercolor course See all of AOEU's Graduate Courses Check out Laura's Ceramics Website and follow her on Instagram

In this episode of Art Ed Radio, Tim Bogatz sits down with Melissa Birnbaum, a New York City art teacher and chair of the NYC chapter of the New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA). Melissa teaches at an international high school in the Bronx where 100% of her students are American newcomers and native Spanish speakers--many of whom have never had an art lesson in their lives. She shares how she designs her choice-based art room to meet students exactly where they are, using sketchbook journals, materials play, and a scaffolded approach that builds foundational skills while honoring each student's creative instincts and lived experience.   Tim and Melissa also dig deep into one of the most meaningful topics in art education: resilience. Melissa explains what resilience actually looks like in her classroom, and what she learns from her students. She talks about the power of "confidence coaching," normalizing failure, and why loving your students is the most effective classroom management strategy there is. Resources and Links Building Student Resiliency Skills: 9 Ways to Nurture the Ability to Thrive in Adversity Failure-Friendly Art Rooms: How to Redefine Mistakes as Learning What You Need to Know About ELLs in the Art Room 6 Ways the Visual Arts Promotes Resilient Learners for Life

In this episode of Art Ed Radio, host Tim Bogatz sits down with Tiffany Fox — veteran art educator, curriculum creator, and author — for an honest conversation about what it really means to be an art teacher today. She and Tim dig into what makes the art room unique, and why teaching is a real emotional weight that most people outside of education will never fully understand.   They also dive into teacher burnout: where it comes from, why it's getting worse, and what teachers can actually do about it. Tiffany shares practical, realistic strategies for protecting your time, your health, and your sense of purpose, along with reflections from her new book, Rooted and Refreshed: A 90-Day Devotional for Teachers. Resources and Links Rooted and Refreshed: A 90-Day Devotional for Teachers Find Tiffany on Instagram and TPT Self-Care for the Art Teacher 10 Supportive Ways an Art Teacher Can Cope with Burnout

It's the first Tuesday of May, which means it's time for the Art Ed Radio Mailbag! Host Tim Bogatz is joined by Amanda Heyn for a jam-packed episode full of practical advice and a few laughs along the way. This month's mailbag covers some of the most common challenges art teachers face as the school year winds down. Tim and Amanda tackle how to support students who get frustrated when their work doesn't match their vision, how to teach and maintain effective cleanup routines for paint and clay, end-of-year survival tips for first-year teachers, and how to keep your classroom culture strong without losing structure as spring fever sets in. They also answer a question from a brand-new high school art teacher starting a program from scratch, with plenty of creative supply suggestions. Resources and Links Join the Art of Ed Community and find the May Giveaways! 40 End of the Year Cleanup Jobs for Your Students 7 End of the Year Checklists for the Art Room A Complete List of Supplies for Your New Art Room

In this episode of Art Ed Radio, Tim is joined by Kyle Wood, art teacher and host of the Who ARTed? podcast, for a fun romp through some of art history's funniest, strangest, and most surprisingly hilarious works. They dig into the surreal nightmare world of Hieronymus Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights, the dry conceptual wit of René Magritte, and the internet-breaking audacity of Maurizio Cattelan's Comedian (aka the duct-taped banana) along with a detour through Renaissance babies with male pattern baldness and Salvador Dalí's near-death by diving helmet.   Whether you're an art teacher looking to bring more humor into your classroom or just a fellow appreciator of the wonderfully weird, this episode is a perfect reminder that art history is both stranger and funnier than you might think. This month at The Art of Education, we're leaning into laughter, and there's no better place to start than right here. Resources and Links Join the Art of Ed Community Kyle's Podcasts: Who Arted? and Fun Facts Daily Ugly Renaissance Babies 772-ASK-DALI Duane Hanson's The Tourists Who Arted? with Tim on Maurizio Cattelan Learn About Nat Tate The Art of Ed's articles, podcasts, and resources on humor

In this episode from the Art Ed Radio archives, Tim and former co-host Andrew begin by sharing some memorable stories of how student immaturity has reared its head in their classrooms. You won't want to miss Andrew's epic story about his magical powers, after which they discuss tips and tricks to deal with or circumvent immature and offensive behavior. And finally coming full circle, Tim and Andrew discuss ways that masterful teachers can navigate and even leverage immaturity into teachable moments to build a healthy classroom environment and strengthen rapport. Resources and Links Join the Discussions in The Art of Ed Community Why Art Rooms Need More Play and Creativity Laugh as a Class with These Art Room Games Make Students Laugh with These Funny Art History Stories!

In this episode, Tim sits down with elementary art teacher Khadesia Latimer (@thebusybrushes) to explore the biggest shifts she has seen in her 10 years in the classroom. From "learned helplessness" and declining problem-solving skills to the impact of AI and constant technology exposure, Khadesia shares both honest insights and practical strategies for helping students rebuild confidence, resilience, and independence. You'll also hear ideas for bringing back collaboration, using picture books in powerful ways (even beyond elementary!), and why giving students more choice can be a big part of deeper learning. Resources and Links How Art Teachers Overcome Our Biggest Challenges How the Arts Promote Resilient Learners for Life Everyday Art Room Podcast: The Best Children's Books for Art Teaching 6 Picture Books to Prompt an Awareness of Self and Others

It's time for the April mailbag! Tim and Amanda are back to answer your most pressing questions, all of which come straight from the Art of Ed Community this month. In this episode, they tackle everything from rethinking high school graphic design in the age of Canva and AI to managing very talkative elementary classes. They also share strategies for handling early finishers, supporting student creativity, and building better habits that carry all the way to high school. Plus, you'll hear ideas for celebrating Youth Art Month, thoughts on Adobe certification, and the puppet that has become the bane of Amanda's existence. Give it a listen! Resources and Links Join the Art of Ed Community See more about AOE's FLEX Curriculum What to Look for in an Art Curriculum Everything You Need to Know About Classroom Management in the Art Room

What is color? And why is it so hard to define? In today's Art Ed Radio episode, Tim sits down with lexicographer and author Kory Stamper to explore the strange, fascinating, and often messy world of color. From dictionary definitions to commercial uses to industrial color matching, Kory shares how something we see every day is surprisingly difficult to pin down in words. She discusses how scientists, artists, and industries all approach color differently, and why humans are both wildly inconsistent and incredibly accurate when it comes to perceiving and matching color. You'll also hear stories from Kory's new book, True Color, and what those stories can tell us about the power of language, perception, and association. Whether you love color theory, design, or just a good deep dive into something we take for granted, this conversation is worth diving into. Resources and Links Find True Color on bookshop.org Take a look at Kory's website How to Teach Color Theory and Keep Students Engaged