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
154 episodes
Are You Solving the Wrong Problem?
What if the reason your lessons (or your students’ projects) fall flat isn’t the solution, but the problem itself? We're explore why defining the right problem is the secret to creative breakthroughs and how something as simple as draw...
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Season 1
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Episode 153
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33:57
Every Day is a School Day
Teacher communication shapes how lessons land, how parents engage, and how colleagues collaborate. This week, Susan and Paul unpack proven techniques from advertising that help educators cut through jargon, build empathy, and make every message...
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Season 1
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Episode 152
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39:14
Evolution or Revolution? A New Path for Creativity in Schools
Big changes in education often fail because they come in like a revolution... loud, disruptive, and exhausting. Cyndi Burnett invites us to think differently: what if the secret to lasting creativity in schools is small, evolutionary shifts tha...
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Season 1
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Episode 151
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31:46
The Secret Ingredient to Student Creativity
If you’re ready to finally see creativity as a teachable, practical skill (and discover the simple shift that could change the way your students think, solve problems, and innovate), you can’t afford to miss this conversation.
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Season 1
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Episode 150
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34:21
Future-Proofing Students: Teaching Creativity for an Uncertain World
The future is full of unknowns, so how do we prepare students for challenges we can’t yet see? April Michele, Executive Director of Future Problem Solving, is with us to share how a six-step model is equipping students with creativity, critical...
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Season 1
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Episode 149
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32:45
The Mindset Flip: How to Truly Become the Leader You Want to Be
In a world that values "human doings" over "human beings," this episode challenges the traditional focus on achievement in education. Susan introduces the Be, Do, Have model, a powerful framework for educators to shift their mindset and truly b...
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Season 1
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Episode 148
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20:48
Education at the Edge: Teaching in a Time of Uncertainty
There’s a growing sense among educators that something fundamental isn’t working... but most of us don’t have the time, space, or support to name what’s really going on. In this powerful conversation, we explore how community, clarity, and a wi...
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Season 1
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Episode 147
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29:42
The Brave Art of Teaching
What does it really take to lead creative work under pressure and how do we help students do the same? In this episode, we unpack the rhythms and risks of creativity, the emotional labor behind teaching, and how to foster true bravery (not just...
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Season 1
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Episode 146
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32:12
Can Testing and Creativity Coexist?
Is it possible to honor both creativity and accountability in today’s test-driven schools? In this episode, Harvard psychometrician Dr. Andrew Ho joins Susan to unpack what test scores really mean and how educators can use data without sacrific...
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Season 1
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Episode 145
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39:25
Jumpstart Creative Thinking from Day One
Ever notice how your best ideas come when you’re short on time? This episode flips the script on creativity and shows why setting limits can actually lead to better thinking—for you and your students. If you’re planning for back...
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Season 1
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Episode 144
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21:32
Creativity Isn't One-Size-Fits-All
Too many kids think they’re “bad at art” when really, they just haven’t been shown how to trust their own taste. Illustrator Andy J. Pizza unpacks how neurodiversity, guilty pleasures, and personal struggle can fuel breakthrough creativity... a...
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Season 1
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Episode 143
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34:49
Now What? Funding for When Funding Disappears
With major funding shifts underway, many educators are asking, “What now?” In this vital episode, Susan shares practical, creative ways to move forward... without panic. Discover where funding still exists and how to build lasting support throu...
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Season 1
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Episode 142
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21:49
Build Systems that Stick: Stop Chasing the Next Big Thing
Tired of chasing the latest tech trend only to see it fade? In this episode, Jeff Bradbury shares how he went from orchestra conductor to edtech leader, and why real school transformation happens not through tools, but through purpose-...
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Season 1
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Episode 141
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32:08
Yes, And... Is Not What You Think
If you’ve ever wondered what improv comedy, creative problem-solving, and health education have in common, this episode will blow your mind. Jane shares her journey from stage to strategy and reveals how Yes, And... is more than a punc...
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Season 1
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Episode 140
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37:39
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