Tips for Teaching Art in the Classroom
•Introduce the artist or concept
•Keep it short and simple
•Show famous art examples (can show using prints or directly from website)
•Point out things for them to see and notice
•Let the students comment
•Transition the discussion to their project
•Keep it short and simple
•Show famous art examples (can show using prints or directly from website)
•Point out things for them to see and notice
•Let the students comment
•Transition the discussion to their project
Remember: Just SHOWING UP in the classroom with a promise of doing an art project makes the students' and teacher's day!!! Just by walking through the classroom door, you are already successful!
- Be specific with your instructions to the students. You can demonstrate techniques, draw examples on the board, and show your sample. Students learn in different ways, so explain both verbally and visually.
- Encourage students to be individually creative. Not every art project should look like everyone else's. There are no real mistakes in art. "Mistakes" can be turned into some of the most interesting and beautiful results. Art should be fun, not stressful. If some students want their project to be simpler or more detailed, it is up to them!
- Praise good behavior and you will see more of it!
- Reward good behavior by making students your helpers.
- Too many students at a sink can be trouble. Monitor clean-up by assigning rows or groups of students as necessary.
- Be prepared for some children to complete the activity earlier than others. Our young artists always welcome crayons and blank paper. Or their teacher may have other classroom work for them to finish.
- Give children advance warning when time is running out.
- If you have a student or two who don't finish in time, the teacher will usually allow them to use moments of free time during the next week to complete the project on their own. You may need to leave a few supplies for that student, or often the teacher may have some of their own supplies for the student to use. Make sure you check back to make sure all projects are done.
- For additional tips on specific projects, check the individual project write-ups. If you'd like to share a tip about something that worked really well for you on a particular art project, let us know by email or on the facebook page (see contact links at top of page).
- Encourage students to be individually creative. Not every art project should look like everyone else's. There are no real mistakes in art. "Mistakes" can be turned into some of the most interesting and beautiful results. Art should be fun, not stressful. If some students want their project to be simpler or more detailed, it is up to them!
- Praise good behavior and you will see more of it!
- Reward good behavior by making students your helpers.
- Too many students at a sink can be trouble. Monitor clean-up by assigning rows or groups of students as necessary.
- Be prepared for some children to complete the activity earlier than others. Our young artists always welcome crayons and blank paper. Or their teacher may have other classroom work for them to finish.
- Give children advance warning when time is running out.
- If you have a student or two who don't finish in time, the teacher will usually allow them to use moments of free time during the next week to complete the project on their own. You may need to leave a few supplies for that student, or often the teacher may have some of their own supplies for the student to use. Make sure you check back to make sure all projects are done.
- For additional tips on specific projects, check the individual project write-ups. If you'd like to share a tip about something that worked really well for you on a particular art project, let us know by email or on the facebook page (see contact links at top of page).