In this episode, Oral Historian Dr. Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz, Matt Grundler, and Connected Arts Network (CAN) members Kimberly Olson and Kyla Davis share how they integrate storytelling in their arts classrooms. Hear how sharing their personal stories impacts their teaching. Learn how allowing students to express themselves openly and how observing students in the artmaking process can inform what they’d like to see more of in the classroom. Listen in and discover how Kimberly and Kyla make their arts classrooms a healthy environment for students to tell their own stories. 

In this episode, Oral Historian Dr. Mi'Jan Celie Tho-Biaz, Matt Grundler, and Connected Arts Network (CAN) members Meghan Wlodarczyk and Martin Rodriguez share how they foster student feedback in their arts programs. By making adaptations to classroom environments and encouraging open conversation with students, these educators have created environments where everyone’s voice is heard. Listen in and discover how Meghan and Martin make their arts classrooms trusting, engaging, and effective learning environments where students feel supported and valued. 

Raine Valentine, the Past Chair for NAEA’s Caucus on the Spiritual in Art Education, joins The Creativity Department to explore spirituality as the expression of self and discuss how that manifests in the art we make. Listen in to hear what that can look like in the art room as she shares her personal experiences and methods. From personal beliefs and how they translate to art making, to how approaching art making from a different perspective can be beneficial, learn how entwined art and spirituality are when you approach it as passion for self-expression.

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by Dan Ryder to talk about student success in and out of the art room! Helping students be successful and not burn out takes balance. It feels like an impossible task but as educators it’s what we strive to do. From teaching effective time management skills and balancing schoolwork and extracurriculars, to helping students set goals for themselves, discover tools and educators can use to assist. Listen in to hear more from Dan!

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by Illinois Art Education Association (ILAEA) leaders to discuss their success of leading an organization collaboratively. Sarah Ackermann, Nick Hostert, and Chris Grodoski share their experience with collaborative leadership, how they restructured their organization, and the part the community played in their success. Listen in to hear more from ILAEA!

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by returning guest Holly Bess Kincaid to talk about her experience being a long-serving art educator at a new school. Holly has taught across multiple states and grade levels, which comes with its own challenges – Matt, Laura, and Holly discuss how hard it can be to advocate for your program and yourself as an educator at a new school, as well as setting new goals to help foster student’s creativity and advice for educators in similar situations. Listen in to hear more from Holly! 

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by members of the Trace Layer Play Collective to talk about their work in public participatory art making and how their collective came to be in the wake of online learning in 2020. Their most recent work included inviting 120 middle schoolers into their exhibit to explore the concepts of asking research questions through the lens of the art making process and how these students surprised them with their understanding of the ideas. Listen in to hear more from Trace layer Play!

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by artist, educator, and author of “The Power of Popular Culture in Education: History, Music, and Visual Imagery” Zerric Clinton. Dr. Clinton joins Matt & Laura to share his expertise and insights on the role pop culture plays in our students lives. As well as, how pop culture is defined, the importance of pop culture accurately representing diverse groups of people and the effects of when it doesn’t, and how art educators can help students think critically when engaging with pop culture. Listen in to hear more from Zerric! 

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by returning guest Paula Liz, Youth and Preservice Program Manager at NAEA, to talk about National Art Honor Society (NAHS). Listen in to learn what it is, projects and activities students can participate in, and the amazing opportunities available to members. For example, during NAEA 2024 in Minneapolis, students worked with world renowned mural artist Alice Mizrachi to create a mural that is on exhibit at the Davis Art Gallery. Discover how to start your own chapter!

In this episode, Matt & Laura gear up for another eventful year! Sharing tips and techniques they've used in the past to help prepare their students and themselves for creative success in the art room. From time management to beginner projects, they cover a wide variety of topics from over their combined years of teaching. 

In this episode, The Creativity Department is joined by Alexis Thomason an art educator whose classroom is entirely digital! She shares her experiences with transitioning education paths, the difficulties of fostering student creativity and collaboration in a virtual environment, as well as some of her greatest creative challenges and the innovative teaching techniques and tools she employs to overcome them.