This author relates how she came upon the idea of using an image-editing program to virtually install monumental sculptures into real-life landscapes in her desire to bring technology and sculpture together in her art class. In this article, she describes how she made her class create tabletop-sized sculptures and photographs of digital…

This article is the first of a series of occasional reports about the opportunities and challenges facing Hope High School, an urban public high school in Providence, Rhode Island, which is experiencing enormous change. It presents a story of a high school reform initiative in which the arts are cast as a central element in a journey of renewal.…

Masks, which are used in burial, ceremonies, initiation rites, for warding off evil spirits, and character development in theater, are great materials to study the history and culture of different nations around the world. This author relates that she always begins her art lessons with discussion of the historical and cultural uses of masks. She…

The ability to communicate feelings, thoughts, ideas, viewpoints, and opinions empowers an individual to educate others about who they are. Because communication is a two-way action, when students learn to communicate effectively they also learn to look and listen to what others are communicating. Empowerment through communication skills…

In this article, the author relates how she passed the National Board Certification for art teachers. The author explains the process of application and submission of requirements to the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. The author suggests several strategies on how teachers may be successful in passing the board certification.…

This article presents the history of pencils. Graphite, which is the main component that makes pencils write, was first discovered to be useful in marking the sheep of local farmers in Borrowdale, England in 1954. This graphite left a much darker mark than lead, which made it ideal for use by writers and artists. Around, 1795, Nicolas-Jacques…

Art teachers face the dilemma of transforming their artrooms into visually stimulating learning environments for their students every day. Incorporating the elements of art in the design of the room will help students gain new insights into their meaning while capturing their attention. In this article, the authors relate how they added visual…

Whether referring to psychologist Stanley Milgram's intriguing theory, John Guare's successful play and film, or Kevin Bacon's party game, six degrees of separation may also be used as a way to help students make visual connections. The six degrees of separation is the concept that everyone is connected to everyone else in the world by only six…

In this article, the author discusses several good reasons for belonging to local, state, and national professional art education organizations. When one actively participates, he/she develops networks with other art educators. Professional organizations provide opportunities for professional development, service, and leadership. One's teaching…

In this article, an art teacher relates how she uses her enthusiasm for collecting aesthetic objects to transform or generate ideas for art problems for her students, in the belief that teachers teach best about that which they are most enthusiastic. In her classes, she introduces the idea of collecting by asking students to discuss what they…

Kids always seem to like Surrealism and Op Art. This is a fun project that is popular with students. With Op Art patience and attention to details are required while Surrealistic collage needs strong composition skills for the image placement. Often, many images must be left out to create a clean design. Artistic decisions must be based on the art…

Organizations such as National Art Education Association (NAEA), local, and state art education associations offer workshops and institutes to help art educators develop and maintain their art and teaching skills. Conventions provide an opportunity to hear and meet famous artists and educators. It's also an opportunity to try out new art…

Abstraction has long been a concept difficult to define for students. Students often feel the pressure of making their artwork "look real" and frustration can often lead to burnout in the classroom. In this article, the author describes how her lesson on abstraction has alleviated much of that pressure as students created an abstract acrylic…

In this article, the author relates how she learned knitting and how she taught this craft to her own students. She learned knitting at the age of 40. After learning how to knit, she introduced the craft to her students as part of the art curriculum at Shady Hill School. She realized how knitting not only promotes intimacy, but it also helps…

French Dada artist Marcel Duchamp was one of a group of artists who created art that ridiculed contemporary European culture and traditional art forms. It is said that the movement got its name when one of the artists randomly opened a dictionary and blindly pointed to the word dada. The word made no sense at all but the artists considered it an…