Art Works for Teachers
The Art Works for Teachers Podcast helps teachers crack the code of creativity and use it as a hidden advantage in the classroom. You will receive simple, yet innovative ideas for teaching math, reading and writing in and through the arts - while filling your own creative cup.
Episodes
140 episodes
Curiosity: The Quiet Superpower
Too often, we treat feedback like a threat and creativity like a talent. But what if the real key to both is something far simpler... and more powerful? In this episode, Anne Jacoby reveals how practicing curiosity can transform the wa...
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Season 1
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Episode 139
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27:23
Creativity Isn't Magic, It's a Method
Think creativity is just for the “artsy” types? Think again. In this game-changing episode, Dr. Amy Climer dismantles the myths around creativity and reveals the proven method that any teacher or team can use to spark innovation... on ...
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Season 1
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Episode 138
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35:29
The Secret Life of an Idea: How Creativity Really Works
What if ideas had their own life stories? In this episode, Harvard researcher Edward Clapp reveals how creativity really works, and why it’s less about genius and more about collaboration, agency, and systems thinking. This conv...
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Season 1
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Episode 137
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38:48
The Ungraded Classroom: Where Meaning Replaces Measurement
What if removing grades could actually deepen student learning? In this episode, educator Arthur Chiaravalli shares his journey toward "ungrading" and explores what happens when we focus less on measurement and more on meaning, inviting us to r...
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Season 1
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Episode 136
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37:33
Joy as a Teaching Strategy
What do dancing, disruption, and hip-hop have to do with school? Everything. Aysha Upchurch invites us to rethink how we show up in classrooms and reminds us that joy and creativity aren’t luxuries... they’re the work.
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Season 1
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Episode 135
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36:46
The Principal Path: Clarity, Culture, & Connection
Most school leaders didn’t plan to end up in this role... and neither did Darrin Peppard. But what he discovered along the way might just change the way you lead. In this conversation, Darrin breaks down how servant leadership, crystal-clear pu...
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Season 1
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Episode 134
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36:18
Beyond the Eyeroll: Overcoming Resistance
Overcoming resistance is a sign you’re on the right track, not a setback. In this episode, learn why resistance to arts integration, STEAM, and creative initiatives is a survival instinct... and how to turn that friction into momentum. Creativi...
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Season 1
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Episode 133
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33:45
Belonging Starts with Listening
What does it really take to make every student feel seen and valued? Dr. Sheldon Eakins challenges us to examine the way we build connections in our classrooms and schools, and why creating a sense of belonging starts with how we listen. <...
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Season 1
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Episode 132
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34:33
Open-Hearted Mistake Making: Shifting from Shame to Curiosity
What if your classroom was a place where it felt safe to be wrong? In this heart-opening episode, we explore the power of open-hearted mistake making - why perfectionism takes hold so early, how it quietly shapes our classrooms, a...
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Season 1
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Episode 131
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40:04
Testing Creativity: 4 Models to Explore
Ready to rethink how we assess creativity in the classroom? In this episode of Artworks for Teachers, Susan Riley takes you on a journey beyond the “right or wrong” mindset, revealing why focusing on growth is the key to unlocking stud...
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Season 1
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Episode 130
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31:20
Why Not? Making Space for Makerspaces
What if instead of asking why, you started asking why not? Educational technology coach Jesus Huerta is with us this week to share how this simple mindset shift can open up a world of possibilities for teachers and...
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Season 1
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Episode 129
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40:44
The Science of Reading & the Arts
The Science of Reading is backed by decades of research, yet much of it has remained disconnected from classroom instruction... until now. In this episode, we break down what it is, what it isn’t, and why it’s gaining momentum in schools. Wheth...
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Season 1
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Episode 128
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30:56
Leading with Vision: Creating Meaningful Change in Education
From the power of classroom presence to the game-changing potential of technology and AI, Justin Baeder is here to unpack how leaders can break free from time constraints, foster collaborative cultures, and make bold, student-centered decisions...
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Season 1
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Episode 127
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31:34
Ready, Fire, Aim! A New Mindset for Seeing Success
Ever feel like you’re stuck in planning mode, waiting for the perfect moment to take action? In this episode of Art Works for Teachers, Susan dives into the Ready, Fire, Aim mindset - jumping in, taking action, and refining as...
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Season 1
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Episode 126
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31:13
Have Confidence and Have Fun
As a first-generation American, Edwin Lovo knows firsthand the barriers many students face in accessing the arts... and he’s on a mission to change that. In this inspiring conversation, Edwin shares how his own struggles shaped his teaching app...
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Season 1
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Episode 125
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35:54
Revolutionizing Classrooms: How Self-Paced Learning Transforms Education
From his early days teaching in Washington, DC, to launching the Modern Classrooms Project, guest Rob Barnett has seen firsthand the challenges of traditional education. He unpacks why differentiation is no longer optional and shares the mindse...
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Season 1
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Episode 124
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34:33
The Future of Teaching
What would happen if teachers had more support to truly make a difference in their classrooms? Kimberly Eckert shares her perspective on how practical changes - like better teacher preparation and more diverse experiences - can help overcome th...
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Season 1
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Episode 123
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35:31
Mission Impossible: Unrealistic Expectations for Teachers
Teachers are expected to be miracle workers—juggling overcrowded classrooms, shrinking budgets, endless paperwork, and ever-increasing demands (all while somehow keeping their sanity). In this episode, we’re breaking down the most unrealisti...
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Season 1
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Episode 122
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35:32
The Science Behind Arts Integration
Science is finally catching up to what great teachers have known all along - creativity is the secret to deeper learning. In this episode of Artworks for Teachers, Susan Riley dives into the fascinating ways arts integration rewires the brain, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 121
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27:10
Beyond the Score: Supporting Students through Testing Season
Standardized testing season is on the horizon... but do we really need it? In this episode, Susan unpacks the frustrations, hidden agendas, and practical ways to support students, including some arts-based strategies.
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Season 1
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Episode 120
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19:36
Integrated Learning: Teaching, Learning, Leading
What if creativity and connection held the key to solving education's toughest challenges? Susan sits down with Kate Cassada and Rob McAdams to talk about how arts integration and bold leadership are transforming classrooms and inspiring meanin...
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Season 1
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Episode 119
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38:35
Let Them: 3 Takeaways for Teachers
In this episode of Artworks for Teachers, Susan Riley unpacks the "Let Them Theory," offering strategies to empower students while maintaining teacher boundaries and well-being. Learn how letting go of unnecessary control, setting firm boundari...
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Season 1
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Episode 118
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23:16
Finding Funds to Fuel Creativity
Struggling to fund your arts integration or STEAM efforts? This episode of Artworks for Teachers busts the myth that there’s no money available and reveals untapped funding sources like Title I, II, and IVa funds, grants, and community partners...
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Season 1
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Episode 117
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22:12
Year on a Page
Ready to start the year with purpose and focus? In this episode of Artworks for Teachers, Susan Riley shares how to kick off the school year by setting powerful goals, simplifying your planning, and staying on track with a single-page overview....
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Season 1
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Episode 116
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37:36
Sparking Curiosity & Creativity through Math
Ever thought math was boring? Cindy Lawrence once felt the same—until she became the Executive Director of the National Museum of Mathematics (MoMath), where math is anything but dull. In this episode, Cindy shares her journey from avoiding mat...
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Season 1
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Episode 115
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42:13