The start of a new school year always fills me with a strange mixture of exhilaration and nerves. As a kid, it was the promise of new friends and fresh school supplies. But as a teacher, the endless possibilities for the year can lean toward overwhelming! Luckily, we have tips for art teachers that can help guide you.
Whether you’re a brand new art teacher ready for adventure, or a seasoned, paint-splattered veteran looking to mix it up, these 6 tips for art teachers will set you up to have the best art year ever!
Read below for smart considerations to start with when planning out your year. Don’t forget to grab our free lesson plan pdf at the end!
1. The Calendar
Your school calendar affects everything you plan! Find a planner that works for you (are you a paper and pencil person, or do you prefer digital?) and map out the year.
- Note school holidays and days off.
- Count the number of lessons needed
- Consider how often each class meets with you
Use this information to schedule types of lessons. For example, consider drying time and plan lessons that need time to dry right before a school break!
2. The School
Get to know your school! When planning projects, you’ll want to know if there are any holidays, school celebrations, or special events to consider. Knowing these dates helps give your year plan a backbone.
Is there a school mascot or a special school tradition? Fold these into your plans for the year.
Don’t forget to ask about the art show! Planning in advance for this big event is a must.
3. The Space
Take stock of your art room, paying close attention to the available storage space.
Where will you store projects after they are completed? Do you have space for all classes to have projects drying at the same time?
The answers to these questions can help you devise a schedule. For example, if you have drying space for only one class’s clay creations to sit at one time, stagger when classes do clay. On the other hand, if you have ample drying space, plan a month for doing clay with all of your classes!
4. The Goal
Take time to think about the goals you have for each of your classes. What do they need to know at the end of the school year?
Sometimes knowing where you need to go helps plan the route. By knowing where you want your students to end up, you can focus your plan to the lessons that will get you there.
This type of intentional planning can reduce the potential to be distracted by new and shiny ideas throughout the year. While there is certainly a time and place for mixing it up, a mapped out plan helps to not stray away from your learning goals for your students.
5. The Technology
Does technology have a place in the art room? After all, some may say that art is a time to unplug, use our hands, and focus on the present.
However, why not consider teaching with an instructional video? As the video plays, you can circulate the room, giving advice. This frees you to give that special, much needed 1-on-1 time with students who can benefit from that attention.
Video lessons can be slotted in to your calendar plan when things are busy, you need a sub plan, or you want to teach a new technique.
The Glitterbombers Membership has hundreds of art lesson videos and 4 are added each month. Our members have reported great success using these videos in the classroom!
6. The Budget
Last but not least, you will have to consider your funds.
In a perfect world, we would all have an unlimited budget to purchase supplies for our students! But having a monetary framework can help narrow down options and prioritize lessons to teach.
Make a list of projects you feel are non-negotiables. Determine the cost of supplies for these projects first, and calculate funds leftover. Plan your year accordingly, using supplies already on hand, leftover from other projects, or purchased with your budget.
Wondering if there’s an art curriculum where you can find hundreds of kid-tested and kid-approved art projects to elevate your art room?
The Glitterbombers membership only opens several times a year, and inside you’ll find hundreds of step-by-step art lessons, hundreds of videos lessons, technique training videos, silly drawing prompts, cross-curricular activities for language arts and math, and a one-of-a-kind fun community. You’ll find sub plans, elements of art resources, art games, and much more for your art room!
Thousands of members are creating art with kids – and we can’t wait to support YOU too.
Learn more HERE and jump on the waitlist to be notified when we open, or check out The Glitter Bomb® Shop where you can download one of our free bundles: Tide Pools or Farmers Market, while you wait!
Click below to get your free Lesson Plan template that will jumpstart your best art year ever!
For even more tips and tricks to starting your school year, grab the full 28-page Back to School Freebie Pack by clicking the image below.
Hi! May I please have a link to a year or half year of k-12 art curriculum? This is the first year I’ve ever bought a curriculum/membership. It will make my school year so much smoother, I’m hoping! Thank you!
Hi Valerie! I’m so sorry we missed your message! Send support@soulsparklettes.com an email and if you’re still in need of an art membership and didn’t already purchase, we will let you in <3