It is time for the November mailbag, and Amanda Heyn is back with Tim to answer listener questions and offer advice. They begin with some recommendations for art-related streaming shows, then move on to a conversation on how we keep multiple classes aligned on the curriculum schedule. Finally, they tackle the debate on whether we should be taking of points when students turn in their work past the due date. And stick around for some of Amanda's unhinged food takes during This or That: Thanksgiving Foods Edition.

• Find and Join the Art of Ed Community
• Between the Folds documentary
• See the Art21 website
• Made You Look on Netflix
• And the corresponding Made You Look podcast
• Get The Picture by Bianca Bosker
• What to Do When You've Only Got a Pencil and Paper
• Resources from AOEU on One-Day Lessons
• Resources from AOEU on Parent-Teacher Conferences

In the AOEU Community, we asked for teachers to share some horror stories from their time in the classroom, and the submissions did not disappoint! Some of the most hilarious and awful stories you can imagine are being shared, and Amanda Heyn is here with Tim to react to everything teachers have seen, done, and experienced. Listen as they discuss art rooms full of ghosts and apparitions, weird animal sightings, injuries, and horrific behaviors!  

• • Find more horror stories in the AOEU Community
  • Listen to the original Episode of Horror Stories
  • 6 Creepy Artworks to Celebrate Halloween
  • The Best Art-Inspired Halloween Costumes
  • Art History Costume Ideas

In today's episode, Jen Leban joins Tim to talk about artificial intelligence and how it might affect the world of art education. In this conversation, they discuss their curiosity when it comes to AI and share some of their own explorations with various AI tools. Listen as they discuss their ethical concerns with these tools, the possibilities for teacher use and artistic creations, and the importance of thoughtful use and AI literacy.

• • Find Jen on Instagram and in the AOEU Community
  • Learn about the AI and Art Education graduate course
  • AI Prompt Engineering for Art Teachers
  • Creating Digital Surrealism with AI
  • AI and the Environment
  • How AI is Changing Photography
  • Check out Claudio Zavala and Adobe Express

Kyle Wood is back as a guest today as he and Tim talk about their favorite sci-fi artists to share with their students. Listen as they discuss the connections between art and science fiction, as well as explore various artists whose work intersects with themes of futurism, technology, and imagination. Hear what they have to say about Salvador Dali, Yayoi Kusama, Cai Guo-Qiang, and so many more artists--both historical and contemporary--who explore speculative themes, blurring the lines between reality, imagination, and science in their work.

• • Read Kyle Wood's articles, and listen to the Who Arted? podcast
  • Tony Oursler's Alien Invasion
  • Check out the work of Rosemary Lee and Lynn Hershman
  • You know you want to see a Cowboy Shooting a Dinosaur
  • Vija Celmins, Umberto Boccioni, and Salvador Dali

Following her NOW Conference presentation this summer about teaching with authenticity, Lyndsay Rose joins Tim today for a longer conversation on the topic. Listen as they discuss how not only authenticity, but also the importance of vulnerability and honesty when it comes to our role as teachers. The conversation also delves into suggestions on how to deal with burnout, and Lyndsay offers some of her best advice on how we can learn to fall in love with teaching again.

• • 3 Things to Appreciate in Each Phase of an Art Teacher's Career
  • Supportive Ways for Art Teachers to Deal with Burnout
  • 5 Ways to Take Care of Yourself
  • With Gratitude: A Love Letter to Art Teachers
  • What We Love About Art Teachers and Why They Matter

In the October mailbag, a variety of questions have come through, and Janet Taylor joins Tim to answer those queries and offer some of their best advice. They begin with a good discussion of best practices for student teachers, then move on to a conversation on what kinds of lessons you can teach when your supply order still hasn't arrived. Finally, they try to answer the age-old question of what to do when a student asks "Am I Done Yet?"

• Find and Join the Art of Ed Community
• What do New Teachers Need to Know About Classroom Management?
• What to Do When You've Only Got a Pencil and Paper
• First-Year Art Teacher's Guide
• See Francisco Matas's presentation on Working with Student Teachers
• Check out Janet's Instagram
• AOEU Resources on Critiques

Last week, AOEU announced its brand new community space for art teachers, the Art of Ed Community. Today, Online Community Manager Jen Leban returns to the podcast to talk all about your new favorite place on the internet! Listen as Jen and Tim talk about their favorite parts of the online platform, why teachers need a space free from the pitfalls of social media, and how teachers can connect and support each other through the Art of Ed Community. 

• • Join the Art of Ed Community!
  • See Jen's welcome video for community members
  • Read about the community on the AOEU Magazine
  • Download the community app for iOS and Android

In another episode celebrating National Literacy Month, Tim is joined by author, artist, and professor Kate Kretz to discuss her book Art From Your Core: A Holistic Guide to Visual Voice. Listen as they discuss how Kate's book explores obstacles to the development of artistic voice, and how it also provides exercises and strategies to help artists dig deeper into their personal experiences, interests, and perspectives to find ongoing sources of interest and inspiration. Stay around after the end of the episode, when Kate does a reading of a chapter from the book.

• • View Kate's website and find her book
  • See AOEU's Resources on Literacy
  • Teaching Students to Find and Use Their Artistic Voice
  • 3 Strategies to Help Students Find their Voice in the Art Room
  • How to Support Student Voice in 4 Steps
  • A Powerful Project to Amplify Student Voice

To celebrate National Literacy Month, this episode from the archives features author and artist Peter Reynolds--along with his twin brother Paul--as they join Nic Hahn for an episode of Everyday Art Room from 2020. Listen to their wide-ranging conversation about literacy, creativity, opening a bookstore, the beginnings of Dot Day, and so much more!  

• View Peter Reynolds' Website
• FableVision Studios
• The Blue Bunny Bookstore
• Reynolds TLC
• Dot Day
• Make Your Mark: A Coloring Book-ish

School has started (for most of us), and Tim and Amanda are back to answer those back-to-school questions in the September mailbag. After quickly celebrating some teacher wins, Amanda relishes the opportunity to break out her bulletin board skills. The conversation then moves on to pre-K classes, art club, and what to do with projects that aren't exactly going the way you planned.

• What do New Teachers Need to Know About Classroom Management?
• 8 Ways to Sing, Dance, and Play Your Way to a Successful Pre-K Art Period!
• Check out the Running an Elementary Art Club PRO Pack
• Also see Sarah in Art Show Secrets!
• First-Year Art Teacher's Guide
• Take a look at what you need to know about the NOW Conference

After last week's back to school episode with Janet Taylor, Tim brings Kyle Wood on the show to catch up and share some of his best strategies for starting the year. They discuss neurographic drawing and chat about some of the ideas Kyle will be exploring in the upcoming year. Listen as they dive in with a conversation about tempera cakes, and why going back to basics can be good for teachers and students alike this school year.  

• • See AOEU's Back to School resources for 2024
  • Keep an eye on the AOEU Magazine for Back to Basics articles!
  • Check out the Who Arted? podcast
  • Find out about all of the PD and Curriculum offerings from AOEU