Art Made Easy

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: [email protected]

The absolute worst experience for any teacher is receiving a negative comment from a parent or peer. When the negative comment comes in the form of an email asking why you disciplined a child the way you did, you start to question everything. But it doesn’t have to derail your efforts. By examining the perspective of both the parent, student and the teacher, you start to see that everyone is after the same thing. This week’s episode answers a question from a Sparkler. Here’s the question: How do you balance all the positive feedback with that one email from a parent about how you've disciplined their child and they dread coming to art? IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN: How there are three groups of people involved in an escalation of emotions Why it’s beneficial to establish relationships with as many parents as you can Why you should try to avoid connecting with parents via email How it’s important to get to know the children outside of the classroom (like on the playground, for example) Why feeding the negative energy of a parent will not provide a resolution Why children respond best to a consistent classroom management plan and how that builds trust LISTEN TO THE SHOW HERE ARE A FEW THINSG TO KEEP IN MIND: 1. Parent's Perspective Allow parents to explain or vent or say what they have to say. Don’t feed or antagonize the situation by explaining what was really going on. They don’t want to hear it...at least not yet. You never know what kind of day this person has had. It feels horrible to be on the wrong end of someone’s bad day so allowing space for the person to vent is the fastest way to resolution. Accept responsibility and suggest a solution. Tell her you understand how hard it can be to understand what goes on inside a classroom. Students are very different with parents than with teachers. And kids are different with one teacher than another. 2. Student's Perspective All students want to be good. They want to learn. They want to come to class. No kid wants to go to class with a grumpy teacher or a teacher who is always mad at them. Every kid wants to be liked or talked to in a kind, encouraging way. Every kid wants to be the kid the teacher likes....BUT only if they like and trust you. Building trust through a very consistent classroom management plan is the most important thing you can do. Building trust with consistent behavior is the second most important thing to do. Always ask yourself...how can I be more consistent with this child? Sometimes the answer is to be very firm with expectations. Some kids just push the boundaries. If they do, they must deal with the consequences. You need to be able to explain in crystal clear terms why and what the student did that broke the rules. 3. Teacher’s Perspective Look for the golden nuggets (or piece of truth) inside every negative comments or criticism Accept that you may get it wrong. If you do. Apologize. Find the humor in the cycles of teaching. The end of the year can be challenging for kids because there are more opportunities for classroom management strategies to fall by the way side...more field trips, more assemblies, more school fairs, etc. This sounds harsh, but try to accept that you’re not perfect, nor are parents and nor are students. Cultivate the “we’re in this together approach” and just try to improve. SHOW NOTES Sign up for Smart Classroom Management Newsletter Easy Classroom Management Tips for Creating Your Dream Class with Michael Linsin: AME 012 Smart Classroom Management Interview with Tips to Help you Succeed YOUR TURN: What is your strategy for dealing with parents in the classroom? Do you have a Classroom Management Plan that holds students accountable? Share your experiences below:

Do you deal with disrespectful students and general low engagement in the art room? If you just raised your hand, you are not alone. There has been a flurry of advice-seekers in our Facebook group recently that are struggling with this very problem. So what's an art teacher to do? An effective classroom management plan is necessary yet sometimes our plan is not clearly defined or easily attained. In fact, we may start the year with a great plan only to have it waver. Students test the system and soon you find yourself immersed in a situation that isn't benefiting anyone. The first thing we might do is try new strategies: a new reward system or a new game only to find the class back where we started. When practical solutions are no longer serving you, it helps to take a look at what's going on in your own head: Here are some questions I used to ask myself when I felt a bit threatened in my class: 1. Is it my ego talking or is this student truly evil? Another way of saying this is: Have I looked for solutions for this problem or justifications of my feelings? 2. Am I qualified to help this student? Have I reached out to my peers or admin for assistance? 3. Is my art room set up in a way that meets the needs of this particular group of students? WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - How to tell when your losing control of your classroom - What role your ego plays in your classroom management process - Why there's power in confiding in your fellow teachers - How to determine if your art room is set up for the needs of your students - How past episodes of AME can help you with your classroom management skills LISTEN TO THE SHOW LINKS & RESOURCES: Make sure you participate in our 7 Sparkly Days Giveaways Podcasts mentioned in this episode: Classroom Management Strategies That Work For You: AME 088 How To Cultivate Craftsmanship in Your Art Room: AME 092 Head, Heart & Hand: The Waldorf Approach to Managing Young Artists: AME 090 6 Factors for a Successful Management Plan: AME 053 You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Patty Palmer At Home Instagram [email protected]

Have you ever considered what it must feel like to be overweight? Most of us can understand how it feels to be 20 pounds over-weight and even underweight, but weight on a grander scale - like 100 lbs. might be more challenging to understand. Today's guest, fellow art teacher and friend Cindy Ingram, bravely opens up to share her story of what it was like to move through the world with the challenges she carried around: not just her weight but suffocating debt. Her story is inspiring and uplifting and shows that with the right mindset, you can accomplish anything. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - The struggles Cindy faced and her ability to conquer them - How losing a significant amount of weight has benefited Cindy personally and professionally - Cindy's three main goals with her weight loss, debt reduction and building a business - What has been the biggest business challenge she's faced and the mindset shifts she's made to get to where she is today - What advice Cindy has for others experiencing similar situations and how she is pursuing her next big goal LISTEN TO THE SHOW LINKS & RESOURCES For more information on the Art Class Curator, visit their Website and Podcast. Podcasts and blog posts mentioned in this episode: How to Talk to Kids about Art: AME 019 Art of Simple Podcast James Wedmore Podcast Keeper of the Home Travel Blog You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Patty Palmer At Home Instagram [email protected]

It's the end of January and while many of you are well on your way to integrating new year's resolutions into your life, I feel like I'm lagging. Two months of family, work and holiday bustle has left me worn out and uninspired. But today is a new day and it's because I realized one important thing: the cause of my depletion was actually depletion. The lack of creativity (or not enough of) had a profound effect on me: weight gain, lack of tolerance and the feeling that I just wasn't myself. I started to spend more time on social media seeing what others were doing and then feeling the opposite of inspired. I noticed I was cooking less and eating out more. NOT my normal preference. Watching TV every night instead of reading. OK for a few nights, but a whole month? Nope. Not me. I knew what was happening. I've always been diligent about my daily habits: 1. Rest, which means a full 8 hours a night 2. Eat healthfully with treats in moderation 3. Create something daily: art, food, blog post, etc. 4. Spend at least 1/4 of my day alone doing the above (the introverted me requires this) And when one of these is eliminated, I know I've gone off my own little rails and need to make a change. And the solution lies where all solutions lie...in a good book. But I need your help if I'm going to get my creative mojo back. Join me for my very first Deep Space Sparkle Book Club selection and how I plan to use it to help me banish my creative depletion. In this episode, I share 3 ways to identify burnout and what to do about it. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: - Why I felt the need to take a break from the podcast - How my recent experiences could apply to you, and help you in your own situation - What are 3 telltale signs you're ready to take some time off - How I've noticed I've been changing, as a result of not being creative enough - What I plan to do to refill my creative cup and a special invitation I have for you to join me on this journey - Why you won't want to miss next week's special Art Made Easy episode... DOWNLOAD THE FREE BOOK CLUB CHECKLIST LISTEN TO THE SHOW LINKS & RESOURCES The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram Patty Palmer At Home Instagram [email protected]