Inside the Art Room 

Opening My Classroom: What Mentoring Taught Me About Instructional Leadership Feb 28, 2026

I have taught for over 17 years.

I can run my art room in my sleep. I can feel when the energy is about to shift and I know exactly which transition needs tightening. I know how to bring 26 students ...

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No Rules, Just Voice: A Creative Conversation with Reginald Laurent Feb 17, 2026

Creative Conversations: Art With No Rules (But So Much Purpose)

A 15-Minute Conversation with Reginald Laurent

There are interviews…
And then there are conversations that stay with you.

This one sta...

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From Survival Mode to Creative Grounding healing meditation personal journey Feb 02, 2026

Four years ago, I started meditating daily.

Not because it was trendy.
Not because I had it all figured out.
Not because I was calm.

I started because I was overwhelmed.

My nervous

...
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When a Comment Turned Into a Collaboration Jan 25, 2026

A few weeks ago, I posted a reel with a simple message:

I (almost) always say yes.

Because so many of the questions students ask in the middle of creating are not really about the project.

They are...

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Steal This Art Routine: The Focus Fountain That Changed the Feel of My Classroom classroom management Jan 04, 2026

There are moments in teaching when you hear an idea and your whole body says, Yes. I need to try this.

That’s exactly what happened when I attended the Art of Education Conference and listened to ...

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Our New Gallery Wall art teacher inspiration school beautification student artwork display Nov 30, 2025

A PTO-Sponsored Vision Brought to Life

Every once in a while, a project comes along that feels bigger than décor. This new gallery wall is one of those projects — a true collaboration of vision, supp...

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🍁 Fall Landscapes: Kindergarten Artists Welcoming the Season collage fall art project kindergarten art landscape painted paper Oct 05, 2025

There’s something about fall art that just feels different. Maybe it’s the colors, maybe it’s the energy, but as soon as the paint comes out, you can feel the excitement in the room. I am so ready for...

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🎨 Jasper Johns-Inspired Name Designs: Embracing Imperfection Through Art 2nd grade art jasper johns art lesson name art wax resist Oct 05, 2025

When our second graders stepped into the art room for this project, I told them, “We’re going to make art inspired by an artist who loved to break the rules.” You could see their curiosity light up in...

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Radial Name Designs: Finding Balance, Symmetry, and Self elementary art radial name design symmetry art lesson Oct 04, 2025

There’s something magical about watching 4th and 5th graders discover the beauty of symmetry through their own names. This year’s Radial Name Design project turned our art room into a swirl of color, ...

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🎨 Abstract Name Designs: Practicing, Choosing, and Creating with Purpose abstract art elementary art name design oil pastels Oct 04, 2025

 

Turning Names Into Art: Why This Lesson Always Matters

Every year, there’s one project that quietly reminds me why I love teaching art.
This year, for my third graders, it was Abstrac...

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