Educator PD
Free Play & the Arts
This is about how arts integration and STEAM offer similar benefits as free play to the creativity of children.
Amanda Koonlaba
Amanda Koonlaba, Ed. S. is an educator and educational consultant with over 12 years of experience teaching both visual art and regular education. Her career has been driven by the power of the arts to reach all learners. She is a published author and frequent speaker/presenter at education conferences. Amanda was named the Elementary Art Teacher of the Year for the state of Mississippi in 2016 and received the Arts Integration Service Award from the Mississippi Whole Schools Initiative (Mississippi Arts Commission) in 2015. She holds an Elementary and Middle Childhood Art certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. As a coach for The Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM, Amanda is on a mission to ensure every student in America has access to a high-quality arts-based education. She blogs at partyintheartroom.com.
New here? Start with the essentials
What is Arts Integration?The complete guide · 7 min readWhat is STEAM Education?The complete guide · 23 min read
Teaching another subject? Browse all free lessons
Browse the library
Resources
The Importance of Process
In the arts, the process is many times overshadowed by the product.
Resources
Microscopic: Science and the Elements of Art
Microscopic art integrates the Elements of Art with scientific observation.
Curriculum
Your Guide to STEAM Design Challenges
STEAM Design Challenges offer so many opportunities for hands-on learning and experimentation.
Curriculum
The Ultimate PBL Resource Guide
We all know that Project Based Learning can provide a deep and meaningful learning experience for students by allows the them to really drive their own learning.
Strategies
Visuals and the Classroom: A Winning Combination
Using visuals in the classroom is an easy way to get your students' minds going.
Strategies
Build A Classroom Community Through Singing
One of the best ways to build classroom community is by singing together.
Classroom Management
Back to School: The Infamous Phrase We Will Always Remember
What to do about the stress and anxiety of a new school year?
Strategies
The Art of Writing
When a nearby art museum's program proved too cost prohibitive for one teacher's school, she took matters into her own hands and recreated the program with the help of the local high school.
Classroom Management
Changing Classroom Culture for the Better
Though we have curriculum to barrel through, nothing can get authentically accomplished if students are feeling insecure and preyed upon.
Strategies
Doodling into the School Year
While doodling has carried negative connotations in the past, more and more research is showing the benefits of doodling.
Educator PD
Back to School with International Dot Day
Dot Day was started in 2009 as an effort to promote creativity, bravery, and self-expression.
See all 1,812 items
You’re viewing 6 of 1,812 items. Unlock the whole library free with our weekly email, or look yourself up if you already get it.
Signups open when the new site launches.
Free. We respect your inbox. Privacy Policy
Join 50,000+ educators. You’ll get our weekly email with free strategies and tools. Unsubscribe anytime.
We’ll look you up and get you back to the full library.
Latest Art Works for Teachers podcast episodes
Learn how to successfully integrate the arts in any classroom.
Learn how to successfully integrate the arts in any classroom.
Join 50,000+ K-12 educators receiving creative inspiration, free tools, weekly strategies, and practical tips once per month in the Monthly SmART Ideas Digest.