The April Mailbag: Fast Finishers, Design Ideas, and Managing Loud Classes

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

What does it really look like to earn your Master's Degree from AOEU? In this episode of Art Ed Radio, Tim sits down with two educators who took very different paths through the Master of Arts in Art Education program at The Art of Education University. One moved slowly and steadily over several years, while the other accelerated through the program in a much shorter timeframe. Through the stories of Riki Atkins and Mary Donlon, you'll hear how earning a master's degree can transform your teaching—whether you're balancing family life and a full schedule or taking advantage of a season where you can move through your courses quickly. If you've ever considered going back to school but weren't sure how it could fit into your life, this episode offers honest insights, practical advice, and plenty of encouragement. Resources and Links Learn more about the Master's of Arts in Art Education What's it like to take a course at AOEU? See all of the available courses You can also request information or meet with an admissions counselor Check out a Week in the Life of an AOEU Grad Student

In today's episode of Art Ed Radio, Nadia Fernandez-Castillo joins the show to talk about how she built a strong, structured middle school art program rooted in a modern version of the Atelier model. After more than two decades in education and years of teaching middle school art, she shares how repetition, observation, sketchbook practice, and gradual student choice can work together to build both skills and confidence. The conversation explores how a spiral curriculum can make complex ideas more approachable for teachers and more effective for students. Nadia explains why she starts with the basics, how she uses drills and repetition to help students improve, and why she believes artistic growth comes from practice rather than talent. She also shares how she balances structure with personal voice so students can develop technical skills without losing creativity. Resources and Links Join the Art of Ed Community Listen to the Art Ed Radio episode on Atelier Training Draw From Old Methods to Teach New K-12 Artists How to Make Sketchbooks a Vital Part of Your Classroom 100 Sketchbook Prompts Your Students Will Love

In this episode from the archives, Tim sits down with Jessica Stuver, a K–8 art teacher, to discuss Youth Art Month and why early advocacy is crucial for art education. Jessica shares practical strategies for celebrating student creativity, promoting the value of art programs, and making Youth Art Month meaningful for schools and communities. The conversation also explores the power of connection among art teachers, from conferences and professional learning communities (like the Art of Ed Community!) to everyday idea-sharing that helps educators stay inspired. As winter sets in, Jessica offers thoughtful advice on navigating the challenging months of the school year, preparing for the second semester, and prioritizing self-care while continuing to support students. Resources and Links See the Youth Art Month Class in FLEX Join the Art of Ed Community 15 Ways to Advocate for Your Program Simple Ways to Celebrate Youth Art Month in Your School 4 New Ideas to Celebrate Youth Art Month Listen to the Art Ed Radio episode on Advocating for Art Ed

In this March mailbag episode of Art Ed Radio, Tim Bogatz is joined by Amanda Heyn to give some advice for the upcoming NAEA National Convention and answer a variety of other questions. From light topics like underrated artists to heavier discussions about career uncertainty, this episode again offers some real talk about the issues art teachers are facing right now. The episode wraps up with a look at the State of Art Ed survey, including discussions about curriculum, behavior management, and showcasing student artwork. Resources and Links Join the Art of Ed Community See all of the Community Events that Tim and Amanda mentioned! Check out the State of Art Ed results Making the Most of Your Conference Experience Getting Started Teaching Art on a Cart PRO Pack How to Work Smarter, Not Harder with Art on a Cart

In today's episode of Art Ed Radio, Tim sits down with educator, author, and art teacher Erin Sponaugle to talk about art teacher burnout. Not only what it looks like, but why it hits differently in the art room, and what you can do to protect your energy without sacrificing your passion for teaching. Erin shares her experience moving from a fifth-grade classroom into art education, how she recovered from burnout herself, and why art teachers face unique challenges like invisible workload, creative decision fatigue, isolation, and the need for constant creative triage. If you've ever felt exhausted from making decisions all day, stretched thin by extra responsibilities, or pressured to be the "fun class" all the time, this conversation will feel very familiar, and the suggestions offered will hopefully be welcome. Resources and Links Join the Art of Ed Community See Erin's website and look at her Teachaholic book Listen to Erin's podcast and follow her on Instagram Hear Tim as a guest on the Creativity as Care episode See AOE Resources on Burnout

What happens when you combine March Madness with art history? You get Arts Madness, a 64-artist, bracket-style tournament that transforms art history into a student-driven debate filled with upsets and passionate arguments that can engage your students. In this episode of Art Ed Radio, Tim Bogatz welcomes back Kyle Wood to talk about how his version of Arts Madness has grown from a simple bulletin board idea into a nationwide classroom tradition, and why this year might be the biggest and best tournament he's ever done. If you've ever struggled to get students invested in art history, this episode is packed with ideas to spark curiosity, ownership, and authentic engagement. Resources and Links Join the Art of Ed Community See Kyle in the Draw the Line YouTube series Give a listen to the Who Arted? Podcast Also check out Fun Facts Daily