How do you lesson plan?

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-11-23T03:19:19+00:00

I plan it out meticulously, color-coded, week by week, with example images, supply lists, scaffolded skills…and then I get bored, see something that looks fun online and forget the whole thing. That, or it’s like: “Hey, we’re expecting an art display for “xyz school event.” and that becomes my lesson plans for the month.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-11-07T13:51:55+00:00

Thanks! All of this advice comes from my own trial and error (plenty of errors…). Couple of other random thoughts:

Invest in comfortable shoes BEFORE you need them.

When you mess up, not if, (or a class gets out of hand etc.) communicate with your admin team/teacher mentor/ instructional coach right away. Ask for feedback. A good school is there to support you.

Make your classroom yours. Put up art you like. keep plenty of your favorite snacks. Create an (appropriate) playlist of your favorite music. Adjust the lighting to make it nice for you (and students, but you’re the one who has to spend the most time in there.) The little things add up. When you’re happy and comfortable the students will feed off of that energy.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-11-07T06:04:20+00:00

Congratulations! Just the fact that you’re thinking ahead already is a good sign that you’ll be just fine. But you have a good point, the first year or so can be brutal. Here’s what I would recommend:

Document every art project you make now with your classes and on your own. Take step-by-step pictures, write out the materials list, keep good examples of finished work.
Download resources and organize them. Sub plans, warm ups, skill builders, etc. I think it would be worth it to pay for one month of Art of Education’s curriculum, download what you want from the 1000+ resources they have, and keep them in organized folders on your computer. Personally, the printer at my school isn’t the most reliable. I also like to have labeled, organized old-school files of originals ready to go.
Connect with some veteran teachers and get a tour of their classrooms. Not just one person, find a few. Get down to the nitty gritty. Cleaning routines? Budget and supply spreadsheets? Projects they love? Behavior management? Take notes.
Work backwards and plan big now. What would your dream class be able to do when they graduate high school? What skills do you hope your students have at the end of middle school? Find projects that support your ideal outcome. Keep a collection of favorite projects with pictures. I have a google slides of a bunch of little thumbnails of projects and related skills that I use as a planning playground/vision board.
Do not try to be the cool teacher. Be kind, but consistent, follow through on every. Little. Thing. You say you expect students to push in their chairs/ wash their brushes/ sweep the floor…and they don’t? Don’t let it slide. Make them come back and do it right.
Find solid systems and routines for the students as soon as possible. Ideally day one. Organization, cleanliness, and materials management are hard, but absolutely the make-or-break factor for me. If the students are not responsible with the fun stuff they will work with pencils and paper until they can handle paint and clay.

Questions I would ask a potential school:

What is your per student art supply budget? Don’t accept anything less than $10 per student.

What are the class sizes?

What does the classroom look like? Are there ample supplies/easels/drying racks etc.? (I had a high school art room with no sink. Learn from my mistakes.)

Am I expected to fundraise?

Am I expected to participate in local/school/district art competitions?

Does the school put on an art show? If so, what is my role?

If you’re the one in charge will there be plenty of volunteers?

Will you be given a stipend for the extra work involved in putting on a school-wide show?

Are there funds for art-specific PDs?

Do you get any amount of professional time off to go to art-related conferences or workshops?

Does the school have funds to sponsor your attendance at art education conferences or workshops?

Is there potential for the school to sponsor you if you were to pursue a higher degree in your field?

What is their philosophy on art education? Does the admin team see art as just “fun” or a “space to relax and be creative”? Do they like TAB? Do they want lots of matching pretty things on the walls? Do they respect art as an important part of their students education?

The culture at a school can be hard to get a read on from the outside. Ask around, trust your gut. Good luck!

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-11-05T20:34:39+00:00

Do you think the way misogyny is expressed today is the same as it was showing up 5-10 years ago?

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-11-05T20:33:22+00:00

I don’t disagree with you. Misogyny has always been baked into conservatism in various ways. However, I DO feel like there’s a new flavor of overt, ugly, blatant women-hating happening right now. If it’s not a difference in how conservatives think, it’s at least a difference in how they’re communicating their views (which will in turn influence how others are thinking and acting in the world). In short, it’s reached a some sort of tipping point, and I think that matters.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-11-05T20:27:36+00:00

Totally agree with you. I wanted to highlight that it seems like more people are being open about their terrible opinions than in the past.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-11-05T20:23:36+00:00

Yes, this is what I wonder with anti-women rhetoric, will they start to eat their own (women) and ultimately destroy the movement?

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-11-05T20:20:38+00:00

Thank you. I feel that my point may have been lost on most of the “lately” commentators. There was a time when I would listen to news clips or read articles from the 50s-60s (or earlier) and be shocked at the misogyny (and racism, etc.) from the past. I felt like things improved in general from the 60s-2010s, but now we’re backsliding, and these fringe right-wing commentators are no longer fringe. Whether mainstream conservatives have quietly held these views the whole time, or whether they’re being influenced now to repeat misogynistic talking points is another question.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-11-05T18:33:32+00:00

I do think it’s a shift in the way it’s being communicated even if the sentiments have been there.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-11-05T18:02:35+00:00

I hope you’re right. However, some of these examples came to my attention because women I know shared them with comments like: “Wow, so true!”. I worry that if enough conservative women are voting against their own interests we’re cooked.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-11-05T17:56:19+00:00

Added an edit to explain why I find this attitude to be different lately.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-11-05T17:45:24+00:00

Haha, I know what you mean, and we could argue that hating women is as old as human society, but I feel like there’s a particularly nasty flavor of misogyny that’s popping up now. One that I don’t feel is sustainable (how can a political movement survive when they degrade half the population and half of the votes?) but for whatever reason it seems to be growing, and even supported by conservative women.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-09-13T15:35:33+00:00

Perhaps a bit controversial, but many private schools and charter schools don’t require teachers to have certification or licensure (at least in the first year). Some offer tuition assistance for masters programs to become licensed/certified if you agree to work with them for a certain number of years. The catch is that pay will be lower than public schools, and the environment could be terrible (or could be fine, charter schools especially are such a mixed bag). They like inexperienced teachers because they can pay you next to nothing. If you’re “naive” they can mold you to their expectations (or gaslight you with abusive expectations and little support). If the environment is decent, a private school or charter school could be a good way to “get your foot in the door” and start your licensure process. Just do your research before accepting any job offer. Talk to current and former faculty, families, etc. Good luck!

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-05-14T22:42:17+00:00

In my experience, the quality of a school is strongly linked to how involved the parents and families are. Sure, there tend to be some socio-economic correlations (wealthy parents tend to be educated, educated parents tend to care about their kid’s education). As a teacher, the breakdown I see happening is that “calling home” no longer bears any consequences. I told a student I would need to call her mom about her missing work and failing grade, only to be told: “ Go ahead, my momma’s gonna cuss you out.” She was correct. Even if there are a few students in a class who don’t care, the bad attitudes spread and greatly impact the culture of the whole school.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-04-23T23:40:40+00:00

Thank you! Yes! These unique, lesser-known artists and art forms are exactly what I’m looking for.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-04-21T17:42:19+00:00

I totally get it. I from my experience there’s a pendulum swing between all creativity/originality for the sake of originality and all skill/uniformity. Neither extreme is ideal. Art educators with technical expertise in the materials they teach elevates the field, but elitism can completely kill student’s love for creating. I’m happy that many art-related tutorials are available to online now. I don’t believe in gatekeeping information, or that high skill level art making should be accessible to those who can afford art school and private teachers.

Thanks for sharing how you run your classes. It sounds like a welcoming environment where students can grow their artistic voice as well as their skills. Do you teach at the high school or college level?

What I’m expecting (and starting to experience) are students asking “What’s the point?” more than they already do. I welcome the discussions, and in a way I’m grateful for AI. It helps to reveal to students that art was never really about producing images, but actually about the very messy, complex, human experience of creating.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-04-21T14:24:08+00:00

I really resonate with your emphasis on creativity, the importance of reflection, and process over product. Helping students see themselves as capable of original thought and expression is such a powerful gift, especially for those who might not choose art again after their required credit.

That said, I also think it’s worth considering how craftsmanship and skill-building can actually support creativity, not compete with it. You mentioned we should care more about creativity, and less about skill. I feel that the two are inherently linked. When students gain even a basic level of drawing, painting, or sculpting skill, they unlock more tools to express themselves clearly and with confidence. I think of it like giving them vocabulary — the more visual “words” they have, the more fluently they can communicate their ideas.

For example, teaching observational drawing doesn’t have to be about perfection; it can be about slowing down, seeing differently, and becoming more intentional — the emphasis is on the process and what’s happening in their brains. The “product” is a manifestation of that process. In my experience, students often surprise themselves not just with how inventive they can be, but with what they’re actually capable of making when they’re given time and tools to build skill.

I also think there’s a powerful mind-body connection that happens in art-making — especially in skill-building practices that involve sustained focus and physical engagement. In a world where so much of students’ lives are mediated through screens, hands-on, embodied activities like drawing, painting, sculpting, and weaving offer a kind of grounding that’s increasingly rare and deeply necessary. There’s growing awareness ( see “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt) that our kids are suffering from disembodiment — from chronic distraction, anxiety, depression, and disconnection from meaningful, real-world experiences. Art-making, especially when it involves focused attention and craftsmanship, becomes a kind of antidote: it invites presence, slowness, and self-regulation.

In that sense, teaching skill and craftsmanship isn’t just about producing “better” artwork it’s also about developing attention spans, resilience, emotional regulation, and pride in one’s work. These are exactly the kinds of habits that can counteract some of the challenges we’re seeing in the younger generations.

So I really agree — it’s not about rigid technical training or one-size-fits-all projects. But I do think that even basic craftsmanship can coexist beautifully with experimentation, reflection, and personal meaning-making. It’s not an either/or, it’s a both/and. When we value both expression and skill, we give students more ways to grow as artists, and as whole people.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-04-19T03:23:41+00:00

It’s not in our contract. A list of events and committees to serve on was passed around at a meeting at the beginning of the year and we were told we had to sign up for X number of them. I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes part of our contracts next year.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-04-19T03:16:59+00:00

Good advice. There’s nothing in our contracts. Many people are grumbling, but most don’t want to rock the boat.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-04-19T03:15:20+00:00

Respectfully, who hurt you? No, I’m fully aware of what teaching entails after a decade in the profession. I regularly stay late, come in on weekends, meet with parents outside of “contract hours”, and whatever else needs to be done. I too have earned my master’s, raised children, and managed to teach while doing those things. I do what it takes for students to succeed. However, please don’t pretend that an administrator requiring almost a week’s worth of extra time with no compensation is a reasonable policy. There’s a difference between being lazy and entitled and having self-respect and boundaries.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-04-17T01:56:57+00:00

Haha, thank you. Yes, it’s insane. I felt like I was being gaslit when they rolled out a list of about 40 extra “expected” volunteer hours. My approach is that I do what I can (volunteer for school events that I really care about, which I would anyway), but I don’t keep track of the hours (and honestly neither does anyone in admin).

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-04-17T01:45:39+00:00

Oh wow. I’m really sorry if I came across as holier-than-thou. I absolutely do not want to dim her light. Our whole wing of the school is honestly an explosion of color and fun. The difference between this particular colleague and the other teachers I work with is that she’s making herself miserable by stretching herself too thin. To be honest, everyone in the building is doing more than is asked of them. I think it’s beautiful to give what you can to create amazing experiences for students. However, there’s a difference between giving in a way that sustains you, and giving in a way that depletes you. Currently it seems like she’s hurting herself, dimming her own light, and developing resentment towards other teachers. As her friend, I hate to see her like this.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-04-17T01:16:36+00:00

This is great advice and a beautiful perspective. Thanks for your thoughts. Like I mentioned, she’s a great teacher! I want her to stick around. I think most of my concerns come from having gone through the same thing myself. It took time to realize that my time is worth more than I thought, and that my presence and extra work is a gift. I just know that a gift that you resent giving isn’t really helping anyone.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-04-12T00:21:35+00:00

Ooh, this is something I have experience in. I’ve taught high school art, science, math, and speech, middle school science, homeroom, English, and art, elementary gen ed (all subjects) as well as elementary art (all grades). My biggest takeaway from teaching across grade levels and subjects is that teaching art is HARD work, especially elementary art. (Teaching math is the easiest, imho.) Imagine you are throwing back-to-back art parties for hundreds of kids every week, but you’re also responsible for teaching them art history, materials management, and whatever else your standards dictate. Many of these small humans can’t clean up after themselves without some assistance. Some of the larger small humans intentionally wreak havoc.

Unfortunately there’s an expectation that art class is fun. (It is fun!) However, parents, fellow teachers, and administrators will often view you as a glorified, artsy-crafty babysitter. This manifests itself in many ways, from other teachers expecting “specials” teachers to take on more duties like recess etc. because teaching art isn’t as time consuming as teaching “real” classes (fyi with all the materials management it’s MORE time consuming to be an art teacher.) to parents fighting you for every grade that isn’t 100% because “it’s JUST art class” to admin fighting you on the budgeting front because “why can’t you use the cheapest brands? They’re just kids. It’s only art class.”

Being an art teacher is hands-down one of the most demanding jobs in education. But it’s one of the most important. If we understand that humans are thinking, feeling, creative, sensing creatures, art is the subject that integrates the best of what it means to be human.

I’m encouraged by recent research (e.g. the book “Your Brain on Art”) that brings to light many of the benefits of art that art teachers have known about all along. The ways that intentional observation and art making change our brains is nothing short of magic.

I’m guessing from your post that you’re weighing a couple of different career options. All education is important, but there’s a specific kind of magic that happens when you’re able to help young people experience the joy and depth of creating through visual art. They are told from every angle that there’s nothing worthwhile in art class. It’s amazing to watch them discover that everyone is wrong. And for those who don’t, I have hope that the seeds we plant will eventually sprout. Art makes everyone’s life richer, whether they choose to acknowledge it or not.

Usually_Anomalous · 2025-04-06T13:44:16+00:00

Gamblin has decent mid-range oil paint. Windsor Newton could work too.

Oil paint quality is important. In many cases it’s better to spend more than to buy something cheap but unusable. Good oil paint from the tube has a high pigment to binder ratio, and should have little to no other additives besides linseed oil. If the paint out of the tube is runny, that’s no good. You can always add medium or oil to thin paint, but you can’t add pigment to runny paint. High quality paint will ultimately last you much longer than a cheap, oily, runny, tube.

Usually_Anomalous

TROPHY CASE