Art Made Easy

It's 5 minutes before the end of art class, the room is a mess. Some kids are finishing up their projects, others are not. The clock is ticking and you know what comes next... clean up time. What do you do next? That depends on you... today on Art Made Easy, I help you outline the best clean up routine for YOU. That little phrase always puts me in panic mode. Why? Because I didn't have a system... at least, not one in which I identified as sound. I've always been honest about this failing of mine. I like to create not clean! This use to worry me and make me feel like a fraud. Real art teachers know what to do! They have their classroom procedures used control. What I know now that I didn't know then... But lucky for you, I have a few strategies that will help YOU identify the best clean-up routine for your art room. There are three phases of clean up: 1. Getting Attention: How do you transition from actively working on projects to stopping? Do you ring a bell? Play a clean up song? Yell? Dim the lights? 2. Cleaning Up: What do you want the kids to do? Why? What will help you the most? 3. Exiting: Do you need time to offer rewards or calculate class points after the clean up? Exit games? Or do you just need them to get out. All three parts are unique to you. YOU get to decide how each phase looks for your classroom. The kids will respond to whatever YOU decide. The real trick is to do it consistently. I've found that there are 4 different styles of teaching art. Figuring out which style fits your personality can help you decide on a way to get your students' attention, and that style will flow into the rest of your clean up routine. It’s all about knowing what is best for YOU and sticking to it. The Manager: This is the art teacher who manages every minute of an art session: entering, transitioning, demonstration, creating, etc. They often use repetition as their classroom management tool—few bells and whistles. This is the teacher who thrives on managing expectations by never deviating from the plan. Clean up for the Manager often looks controlled, orderly and efficient. In fact, a good allotment of time is spent on transitions. The Manager does this systematically, so notes or complex charts are often not needed. The Minimalist: This is the art teacher who likes to keep things very simple: as few steps as possible. 1. Art on Rack 2. Brushes & Paint on Sink Counter 3. Tools in Tray 4. Recycle paper The Minimalist gives the students simple tasks and oversees the execution. The Counter: This is the teacher who incorporates countdowns into every facet of the art sessions. Counting how many paper scraps children pick up or counting down to get kids to pay attention. There may be overlaps between the Manager and the Counter personalities, however the counter uses numerically based tactics. The Performer: This is the teacher who relies on fun antics and high engagement to get their kids excited about clean-up. There may be a song, dance moves, hand drawn clean-up posters, and/or props to get the party started. There’s often a reward system to motivate the students. This takes a lot of brain power and work if you aren’t naturally gifted in this area. I have included a helpful poster that may work for you and your class room. You can find the poster at the end of this blog post as a free PDF download. THINGS YOU’LL LEARN: - How different clean up methods work for others in their classroom - The three phases of a clean up routine - Four teaching styles and different strategies that work for them - The importance of finding your style and fitting it into every aspect of your teaching method LISTEN TO THE SHOW LINKS & RESOURCES: Download your free cleanup checklist poster by clicking the button below. Add your name and email and we’ll email it straight to you...

Whether you are a brand new teacher preparing for your first art class or an experienced art teacher looking to change things up, knowing what to do on the first day of school can be challenging. We all have questions: Do you create art right away or do you establish a management plan? You may wonder what projects to do or what supplies to prep. This episode offers a few ideas to think about as you start to plan for your big day back. Download the First Day of Art Class Freebie and Back to School Guide, and start planning your awesome week! IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: How deciding what you want your students to experience when they step into your art room is a great way to begin your year What painted paper is and how children can have fun with it. Why I created student portfolios and the best system on how to do this. How line drawings can be used as a project technique (and may be the most effective one) How self-portraits can be a great option for demonstrating student improvement in art throughout the year LISTEN TO THE SHOW DOWNLOAD THE FIRST DAY OF ART CLASS FREEBIE Download our back to School Guide | Resources to help kickstart your art program.It’s a 3-part strategy on how to use the Elements of Arts when planning your art curriculum including ordering supplies, a grade level checklist for the scope and sequence of K-7 Elements of Art and What I’ll Learn in Art Class posters. SHOW NOTES PDF – First Day of Art, with lessons and resources How to Make Painted Paper Dot Day on Sept. 15th THE DOT by Peter H. Reynolds AME:013 Scoping the Sequencing on Portrait Making Managing Artwork with Student Portfolios Watch this video to see how to make painted paper

Which statement rings true for you: summer is too short OR summer is long enough? If you're like most of us, you probably feel as though it is way too short. By the time you’re back in the classroom in August or September it can feel as those past two months was just enough time to catch your breath, but not enough to fully recharged and get aligned. So how do you make the most out of your time? Do you tackle all the stuff on your to-do list early on so you can relax later? Do you completely veg and catch up on Netflix? Our summer plans feel differently for all of us, because we are all unique in how we restore ourselves. If you’re coming off a chaotic teaching season into a chaotic summer, an introverted teacher can feel completely overwhelmed. If you have nothing on your plate and your days are unstructured, an extrovert may feel completely unfulfilled. It’s also possible for both personality extremes to overestimate what you can accomplish in this relatively small parcel of time. Introverted and extroverted personality types may require radically different summer agendas, so keeping in mind both personalities... Here are my top 10 tips for making summer feel restful, enjoyable & energizing — WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - Why learning new perspectives is the quickest way to become happy - How you can recognize the small happy moments that occur every day - How to choose one goal you want to accomplish - Why we need to schedule alone time, become more active and in the process, gain more energy - What to do if you are not getting enjoyment out of what you are doing LISTEN TO THE SHOW Download my free Summer Planning & Creating Guide PDF by clicking the white box below. Enter your name and email and we'll send it to you! LINKS & RESOURCES 16 Personalities Test The Enneagram Test (one of Team's Sparkle's favorite personality test) You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook & Instagram support@deepspacesparkle.com Our 2018 and 2019 Online Workshops are on Sale for your all your Summer creative PD hour needs —

The Coronavirus is certainly shaking things up. It's early on in the cycle of school closures, social distancing and home-based learning and people are just plain confused. Folks deal with these types of events differently. There is a tremendous amount of pressure to stay put, not travel, hoard toilet paper and stock up on Chardonnay. So I thought it might be helpful to offer you a permission slip to slow down, calm down and take this pandemic day by day. There are so many opportunities lurking behind every bored moment, teaching challenge and frustrations. You never really know when you'll hit your stride of capturing moments for your students and children during this disruption. This episode shares insights on how boredom is the biggest precursor to creativity. How pulling back maybe the best way to ignite children's creativity. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - What I did to develop and nurture my own creativity when I was a child. - How giving your child unstructured time to think about what they like will lead to so many good things - A simple exercise you can start using today with younger students - Why you don't need a lot of tech or equipment to connect with your students while they're at home - What possibilities exist when children are home for an extended period of time - What I recommend you do (and don't do) while home during this time LISTEN TO THE SHOW: LINKS & RESOURCES: How the Enneagram Broke Me Wide Ame: AME 130 www.deepspacesparkle.com/enneagram-broke-wide-open-ame-130/ The Art Pantry Website www.theartpantry.com/diy/e-guides/ You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram For help contact: support@deepspacesparkle.com

Do you struggle to find the right response when parents complain about your cancellation policy, how you're grading children in art class, or why your art looks the way it does? You're not alone. One of the biggest challenges for many art teachers, classroom teachers, and art volunteers is setting expectations for your art program. This is an often overlooked part of your program and if not addressed early on, can lead to some very uncomfortable conversations. And believe me, I've had a few. If you struggle with any of the above, then I'm happy to say that the solution is easy. Today, I'm sharing how a communication plan will empower you with a clear message that will virtually eliminate any confusion with parents, teachers and your administration. Download my worksheet below that will help walk you through each step of your communication plan. "When you are confident in your approach, art philosophy, rules and procedures, you can bet others will be confident in YOU." - Patty Palmer WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - How to draft an effective communication plan - Why it's never too late to send out a communication letter to the parents - How you can use social media to get your message out - Why this practice has been a positive experience for me - What can happen if you delay sending this information - Which topics to cover in your communication letter LISTEN TO THE SHOW: LINKS & RESOURCES: Click the yellow button below to download my worksheet to help you draft your own art program letter: You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram For help contact: support@deepspacesparkle.com

As art teachers we have BIG goals for our art programs. Extensive year-long themes and curriculums require many class sessions to complete. And the more classes a project requires, the more likely it is that kids will fall behind. And that means a portfolio of unfinished work. One of the most effective ways to tackle unfinished work is to schedule a make-up art day for your students. Not only are they helpful in building the confidence level of your young artists but they’ll have more finished art to choose from for your annual art show. It’s a win-win! Why you should schedule a Make-up day: 1. Students can select which project means the most to them 2. Students feel a sense of accomplishment 3. Portfolios reflect the full body of work the student has created 4. More projects to select from for the art show HOW: 1. Set up your space to reflect how students will move through their projects. 2. Pull our portfolios and lay on table 3. Determine the projects that have the most unfinished work 4. Set up individual tables with the supplies to work on those projects 5. Allow children to move from table to table LISTEN TO THE SHOW: LINKS & RESOURCES: Podcasts mentioned in this episode: How to Prepare for a School Art Show: AME 148 www.deepspacesparkle.com/how-to-prepare-for-a-school-art-show-ame-148/ You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram For help contact: support@deepspacesparkle.com

Do you sometimes feel that there is a spark missing from your art room? Maybe your students are acting bored, apathetic or disruptive? Don't throw out your behavior management plan just yet. All you might need is a change in how you engage with your students. Here are my favorite - and slightly unconventional ways - to connect with your students so your art room is engaging, happy and fun. 1. Get to know your students There is always a story behind the struggle and sometimes the most gentle way to show a child you care is to sit and ask them about their day/interest/hobbies. 2. Become aware of personality profiles Even younger children demonstrate a tendency towards a certain personality: who is the team player, who is the perfectionist, who is bossy, who demands attention. Play into these strong traits with humor, affection and acceptance. 3. Aim to connect with 1-2 kids each class Pick out 2 kids per class with whom you will sit with and give attention. Sometimes, this act allows you to really see a child for who they are. 4. Practice the Clean Slate Model In my mind, this is a game-changer for building trust, authority and compassion. If you have a classroom behavior plan and implement it, making sure to use the Clean Slate Model afterwards is essential. 5. Help kids be responsible for contributing to the class dynamics Determine who gets to help with prep or clean up or who gets to be the model for portrait demonstrations. Showcase or hi light a student's work of art. Develop a practice of critiquing each others works with kindness and curiosity. Anything that can build on the team dynamics of a class contributes to its overall effectiveness. LISTEN TO THE SHOW LINKS & RESOURCES: Books mentioned in this podcast episode: Classroom Management for Art, Music and PE Teachers by Michael Linsin: https://amzn.to/32t0qVx The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile: https://amzn.to/2Pq41OI Join the waitlist to be notified when our next enrollment opens! You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram For help contact: support@deepspacesparkle.com

Are you a credentialed art teacher? Or are you teaching art without an art related degree? I'm curious because this topic has been a HOT one in our Facebook groups. And truthfully, if I get hate mail at all, it's usually because of two things: selling art lessons or saying you can teach art even if you're not an artist. I do both because I believe in both. Especially the latter. In this episode of Art Made Easy, I talk about the friction that can happen when these two types of art educators collide. I'll go over my strategies that can help you adjust your mindset in order to stay positive and be confident with the skills that you have. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - Helpful practices from my experience as a non-credentialed art teacher - How to overcome your feelings and change your mindset - Strategies to keep your focus on happy art and happy kids - Tips for staying motivated - How to avoid toxic thoughts LISTEN TO THE SHOW: LINKS & RESOURCES: Podcasts related to this episode: 10 Rules for Art Teachers: AME 099 www.deepspacesparkle.com/10-rules-art-teachers-ame-099/ The Life Coach School Podcast by Brooke Castillo: https://thelifecoachschool.com/podcasts/ How to Lead for Female Entrepreneurs Podcast by Kris Plachy: krisplachy.com/podcast/

Hosting an art show is undeniably the best way to celebrate your student's year long efforts in art education. But the logistics of an art show can be overwhelming. Whether you're excited to put this together (or expected to) it's always a good idea to plan ahead. In this episode, I'll take you through each step to prepare yourself and what you can do to make sure your art show is a success. Download my Art Show Checklist below and follow along with me in today's podcast. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - How to select the right projects for display - Who you should contact to help coordinate your event - Why student portfolios are important - What are the most important things you'll need to do one month, one week and a day before the show LISTEN TO THE SHOW: LINKS & RESOURCES: Make sure to DOWNLOAD my free guide to setting up your own art show. Add your name and email and we'll send this PDF straight to you! Podcast's mentioned in this episode: 3 Steps to a Successful Art Show: AME 084 https://www.deepspacesparkle.com/3-steps-successful-art-show-ame-084/ Art Inspired Instagram Accounts: Sparkler Krista Hillman's Instagram: https:///www.instagram.com/artsatplaceracademy/ Sarah Krajewski's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artroomglitterfairy/ Additional Resources: You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram For help contact: support@deepspacesparkle.com

When you demonstrate a project, your goal is to communicate the process in a way that connects to the students. A demo lays out the steps, so each student can fully understand the steps and complete the lesson. The question is how do you do that? In this episode, I'll go over my experiences with different tools and technology that I've tried for art demos (what worked and didn't work.) Plus, classroom management tips that will really help you nail your art demo. Need some more art lesson inspiration? Click below to check out more lesson posts on my blog: https://www.deepspacesparkle.com/category/art-lessons/ WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - Answers to the most common questions I get about art demos - How you can switch up your demos for different grade levels - What you can do to command their attention during a demo - How to teach a guided drawing to a class - The pros and cons of using a document camera versus demonstrating on your whiteboard and teaching around a table LISTEN TO THE SHOW: LINKS & RESOURCES: Yvette Ackerman's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ackermans_amazing_artists Emily Gould's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sierramadres You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram support@deepspacesparkle.com

I read so many comments from teachers in our Facebook Groups expressing how their students behavior has changed. Some teachers feel like kids aren’t able to work on the same project for extended periods of time — even as little as 30 minutes. They get bored or anxious, so they rush through the project in a haphazard way just to get to the next activity. If this is the reality then perhaps we can reconsider how we engage with our students. To hold a child’s attention, a new strategy might be the best way to get them excited to participate in the lesson. In this episode, I’ll offer my tips and tricks to keep your class focused and teach your students how to enjoy the creative process by slowing down. I've included a free handout for early finishers below, because there's no magic formula for timing lessons just right. This is a gift from us to help you with your early finishers. This is a condensed lesson from our Quick Activities for Early Finishers Bundle. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - How to keep early finishers engaged - How your energy affects students (*if you get this down you're golden) - How to help kids make a connection to art using different mediums - How to encourage students to be invested in the project and develop craftsmanship LISTEN TO THE SHOW: LINKS & RESOURCES: DOWNLOAD a PDF from the Quick Activities and Early Finishers Bundle by clicking on the the yellow button below! Learn More About the Sparklers Membership Club Podcasts & blog posts mentioned in this episode: Perfect Timing: Solutions for Early Finishers: AME 029 What to do with Early Finishers Easy Tissue Paper Art Project for Early Finishers You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram support@deepspacesparkle.com

When I was getting started as an art teacher, I was excited. But, I didn't really know what I was doing. I had little to no experience - a few sessions in my kid's classroom crafting quilt squares, but no elaborate art projects. I felt like I jumped into the deep end without any preparation... But what I did have was a vision for what I wanted to accomplish. I knew I had a unique opportunity to inspire these kids. I knew it could be fun, exciting, and I knew I could make an impact. I decided to dedicate myself to making art class special for them. I backed my ideas up with lessons, then plans, and finally a curriculum that I was proud of. As the years went on, I recognized that I was getting better and I started to ask myself what's next? I created goals and identified milestones for myself. I wanted to maintain focus and stay confident in my teaching skills, without getting stale. In this episode, I'll walk you through the 5 Stages of Teacher Growth and give you the tools to move to the next stage. Listen in as I share my roadmap and help you identify where you might be in your teaching career, and how to start creating your own milestones. Be sure to download a copy of my 5 Stages of Teacher Growth below. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - How to define a Stage One teacher, and the way that their passion for art leads them to teaching. - What the goals and milestones are for Stage One teachers, including art fundamentals. - How you develop your style and start using different media and techniques as a Stage Two teacher. - Why a Stage Three teacher focuses on building confidence and adopting an art philosophy. - What ways a Stage Four teacher shares their expertise with others. - How Stage Five teachers can use his or her mastery to set and use processes. LISTEN TO THE SHOW: LINKS & RESOURCES: Click the yellow button below to DOWNLOAD my free, 5 Stages of Teacher Growth PDF. Add your name and email and we'll send it straight to you! About Guided Drawings: AME 125 Don Massey Art You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram support@deepspacesparkle.com

My word of the year for 2020 is: clarity. For most of us, January is all about change: being a healthier, happier version of yourself. But that isn't always the case. We don't have to radically reinvent ourselves in order to find happiness. To quote one of my favorite authors, "the primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but your thoughts about it." - Eckhart Tolle The most important thing that you can do for yourself, to live a happy life is to be present. Don't worry too much on what will be in the future. Don't dwell on what was in the past... But be happy in the now. In this episode, I'll share my recipe for inner peace. Part of that is finding clarity, and using that clarity to help you create a more focused and intentional lifestyle. In this podcast, I will talk to you about how I use "I CAN" statements in my own life to help cultivate happiness and give you advice to help you align your thoughts with your goals. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - What lead me to choosing my word of the year, and the different approach I use for reflecting and planning. - Why our thoughts are so powerful, and specific examples of how they can change your life. - Why I don't like to use the word "resolutions" (and what I say instead). - What it means for me to have clarity going into 2020, and beyond. - And more! LISTEN TO THE SHOW LINKS & RESOURCES: Oprah & Eckhart Tolle: A NEW EARTH Brooke Castillo Podcast You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram support@deepspacesparkle.com

In all of my years of teaching, there is one thing that has lead me to scratch my head literally every single time I hear this phrase... and that's "cookie-cutter art". It really drives me nuts. It used to send me into a tail spin of feeling upset and discouraged about myself as an art teacher. But today I see it as judgemental and feel that it's time we have a very frank conversation about what it means when we say "cookie-cutter art" and what do we really mean to say. This episode is for all the newly hired art teachers to the well experienced art specialists, who can benefit from learning the various expectations we have of teachers, because we could all use more tools in our tool box that we can get! So we're going there... sharing how I think the term "cookie-cutter" should be used and the truth behind it's connotation. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN - What are people implying when they say "cookie-cutter art" - My personal definition of "cookie-cutter art" - How so called "cookie-cutter art" can be a perfect platform for growth - How the many nuances of teaching art creates different results for every child. - Why we need to give grace and support to all the new art teachers LISTEN TO THE SHOW LINKS & RESOURCES TAB: Teaching for Artistic Behavior You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram support@deepspacesparkle.com

Being successful as an art teacher means more than teaching kids how to draw or paint. It means getting kids to listen and sit and follow directions so that they have the capacity to learn to draw and paint. It isn't easy. If you've been feeling a bit discouraged with how your students are behaving in your art room - especially if their behavior is really causing you to rethink your occupation-- then it might mean it's time to take a step back and give yourself a little check up. Even if everyone tell you that you're doing fine or you're doing the best you can, sometimes there is a knowing that we can do better. Have you ever felt that? It's super hard to articulate. It can feel sticky ...that something isn't right but you brush it off and hope it goes away. I see it happening to member in my groups. It comes out of frustration. Something relatively easy to fix or solve feels monumental to the teacher. When that happens to me...when I get frustrated, or super annoyed or starting to really complain about someone...I know I'm blocked or unable to shift my perspective. Basically, it's on me to fix it. So this episode is all about the stickiest of things: behavior management (or lack of) in your art room. Yes...I'm going there...sharing what I think teacher need to hear if you truly want to love your job. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - How children are always changing and why we have to adapt how we connect with them - The steps to take to create a classroom management plan (and stick with it) - How building a trusting relationship with your students before getting into the classroom will positively impact your entire year - Why teachers need to treat all students equally, and wipe the slate clean each and every day - How your emotional responses to misbehavior can affect the energy in your classroom LISTEN TO THE SHOW LINKS & RESOURCES Classroom Management for Art, Music & PE Teachers by Michael Linsin Smart Classroom Management Website Easy Management Tips for Creating Your Dream Art Class: AME 012 Classroom Management Strategies that Work for You: AME 088 You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Facebook Instagram support@deepspacesparkle.com

Janey Strong is the photographer, writer, mother and early literacy advocate behind Darling Readers. Her passion is finding unique ways to encourage parents read to their children - and children are never too young or old! Janey shares strategies on what to read, when to read, and how to manage reluctant readers. Make sure to download Janey’s Freebie on her favorite books to read before Kindergarten. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: - When Janey started reading to her own children and why she says it’s something you should never stop doing - What parallels exist between teaching art to children and reading to them - How reading can be used as a tool to bond with your children - Why you need to be 100% present when reading with them - Janey’s top book recommendations and how the children’s books of today are different than ones from earlier years - What makes for an amazing children’s book, how Janey’s blog is helping so many people, and so much more! LISTEN TO THE SHOW - Darling Readers Website - Darling Readers Instagram - Darling Readers Facebook Page - Janey Strong's Pinterest - What Do You Do with an Idea?* by Kobi Yamada *Affiliate Link You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Patty Palmer At Home Instagram Join the Sparklers Club waitlist HERE support@deepspacesparkle.com

Patty chats with Gold Star Sparkler, Jennifer Ford Pace, who was recently named Teacher of the Year in her community of Henrico, Virginia. It’s a dive deep conversation on how Jennifer engages with her emotionally disabled students. If low attention spans, below grade level art skills, or technology hungry kids are part of your classroom landscape, listen in to hear how Jennifers transcends these issues by creating connection. If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, I’d love to hear how it impacted you. Take a screenshot of you listening on your device, post it to your Instagram stories and tag me @deepspacesparkle. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: - What type of school Jennifer teaches in and how she is able to help her students through art - Jennifer’s journey to becoming an art teacher - How to meet children at their level and strategies that can help you connect with them - Why it’s such a good idea to captivated your students through story (and how to do it!) - How to deal with obstacles that may come with using technology in the classroom LISTEN TO THE SHOW 1. What do you love most about being an art teacher? My favorite thing is when a student makes a mistake and then turns the mistake into the most interesting part of the project. When one of those precious moments presents itself, I will say, “Did you see what just happened? You just tripped and fell into a puddle of art! Accidents can be awesome things!” I simply love instilling a “can do” attitude within my students. I work at a school that services student with emotional disabilities. Self confidence and stamina are huge areas of struggle for my students. I teach that, in art, a mistake is an opportunity to learn. One of my most important classroom rules simply says: “OOPS! Making mistakes is OK! Don’t give up! Keep on trying!” 2. When are you happiest in your art room? I am the happiest when I see the stresses that my students struggle with melt away when they allow themselves to disappear from the world, and disappear into their work. Those quiet moments when I am hanging up finished pieces, anticipating the look of pride on their faces when they see their piece, and hear all of the positive comments. Nothing beats that feeling of giving them these moments to shine! 3. Can you share an experience or moment that defines you as an art teacher? When I arrived at my current school, the art room and the program was not where it needed to be. The room was a mess. Weeks before school starts, I came into school to clean and organize the room. I wanted my room to be a place the kids would be proud to visit. I wanted them to see that they were important to me and I wanted to give them the most welcoming environment possible. Their faces as they walked in on day one was priceless. One of my goals for this program was to show my students, and the community, that anything our students would do in the art room would be on par with any other school in the county. Yes, our school is an exceptional education center, but that doesn’t mean that our work will look any different than any other school. At the annual county wide art show, I took time to survey the works of the comprehensive schools. My kids nailed it. Many of my fellow art teachers commented on the quality of their pieces. 4. What’s your favorite thing about the Sparklers Club? Yes, I am an art teacher. I am also a mom of 3 amazing kids. I am a friend. I am a nerd. DSS gives me the gift of time. DSS allows me to plan at school and do all those other things when I am not. My evenings and weekends are mine thanks to DSS! 5. What advice would you give to a brand new art teacher? My most important art room rule applies here too: “OOPS! Making mistakes is OK! Don’t give up! Keep on trying!” Not every lesson is going to be a hit. Be organized with your materials.

Do you have a studio based art business? If so, my conversation with Meri Cherry will be a game-changer for you. She doesn’t just offer strategies on filling your classes or how to decide what art to create--she goes much, much deeper. We chat about how to know if you’re ready to expand, and at the same time, how to slow down. We talk about the bigger issues of running a studio program for students: intention, environment, energy…all the good stuff! And of course, we talk about her new book, Play, Make, Create: A Process-Art Handbook. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: - What Meri’s journey of growing and expanding has looked like - How you, too, can be ready for that next step - Where to begin transforming, scaling, and growing - Why word of mouth advertising and the power of ‘moms’ is so important to your success - How your environment will become your third teacher LISTEN TO THE SHOW LINKS & RESOURCES: - Meri Cherry's Website - AME 039: Success Secrets of a Process-Based Art Studio - Play, Make, Create: A Process-Art Handbook by Meri Cherry - Send screenshots of your rating & review on Apple Podcasts to support@deepspacesparkle.com *Affiliate Link: we get a portion of the profits from products purchased from this link You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Patty Palmer At Home Instagram Join the Sparklers Club waitlist HERE support@deepspacesparkle.com

Kristin is a full-time public school art teacher who is passionate about living a balanced and mindful life. She’s been practicing yoga, mindfulness, and meditation since 2007, and has been teaching it since 2014. Growing up and moving around a lot in the public school system, she experienced 23 different classroom settings by the time she was 28. She noticed the tense or chaotic nature of some classrooms vs. the calming and nurturing feel of others. It wasn’t until recently, at her own school, she noticed just how much support teachers needed when it comes to dealing with stress and anxiety, and how those feelings transfer over to the students. She made it her new mission to help teachers reclaim the joy in their classrooms. She can help you to create calming learning environments while also reducing your stress, by incorporating simple mindfulness practices into your daily routine. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: - How the relationship you have with yourself will impact the relationships with those around you, especially your students - How you can attempt to transfer negative energy away from you - Why you absolutely CAN create your own environment - Kristin guides us through a mindfulness practice! - How gratitude has evolved and why it’s so important for each and every one of us to practice LISTEN TO THE SHOW LINKS & RESOURCES: Make sure to download Kristin’s Weekly and Monthly Planner below - Kristin's Website You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Patty Palmer At Home Instagram Join the Sparklers Club waitlist HERE support@deepspacesparkle.com

Felicia Merrick is a veteran classroom teacher of 22 years before becoming an art teacher. It’s a position she feels embodies all that she loves: creativity and children. But a series of devastating losses lead to a debilitating battle with anxiety and depression. Through daily calming practices, the right medication, and a full self-help toolbox, Felicia is determined to manage anxiety. She hopes that by sharing her story, other art teachers will earn to identify the trigger points and to find the necessary help. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: - Felicia’s journey to become an art teacher - How she deals with anxiety and the best tools available to help others do the same - What effect influential people will have in your life - Why it’s so important to say “goodbye” to challenging times in your life and career - How Patty finds her calm and reenergizes LISTEN TO THE SHOW Felicia's Autobiography: Being the youngest child, I always wanted to be “the boss” and was given an opportunity in Kindergarten. I was determined to be a teacher. I became a 2nd grade teacher and did so for 22+ years. After graduating from SDSU, my husband (of 32 years this month) and I moved to Northern California to get a teaching job, because I refused to be a sub! I loved it! I felt alive. I was in control. I had it all going on. I did a job-share for 10 years with many fabulous teachers, (some questionable) while I had my 4 children...Teaching was my passion. I was right where I belonged! Unknowingly, my path led my family and I to relocate to Southern California. For the past 5 years, I have been an ART teacher at the elementary level. This, amongst other roles I play, mom, sister to 8 other sisters and 8 brothers, friend, colleague, etc. I became an Art teacher! Who would’ve thunk? I guess I did! I didn’t even know it! As well as 2nd grade and ART, I have taught “Computer Coding” and “Health and Wellness” (both in which I am not formally trained). I am so thankful I have DSS as my go-to for art instruction and realtime art teacher support. I have a loving God. I have a loving family, (both immediate and extended) that have supported me 100% thru this journey called life. I do know that this thing we call Art is more than just that. It is a healthy, healing boat to be on, and I am embarking on it “full steam ahead”! I do intend to “sail around the world” of art and share it with my students who have not had such an amazing path to follow, strong support, or a loving ocean to sail on. May I be a conduit to help these young humans recognize this through “this thing called ART” as I boss them around. LINKS & RESOURCES: - AME 136: Finding Your Voice as an Art Teacher with Cassie Stephens - Summer Beach & Biz Book Reads - An Unquiet Mind* by Kay Redfield Jamison - The Power of Now* by Eckart Tolle - A New Earth* by Eckhart Tolle - Calm.com *Affiliate Link: we get a portion of the profits from products purchased from this link You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Patty Palmer At Home Instagram Join the Sparklers Club waitlist HERE support@deepspacesparkle.com