We all know that it's easier to go to school sick than it is to write sub plans. And who knows what kind of a sub will even be in your room? Today, Cassie tackles the topic of substitutes and how to prepare for them. Listen as she discusses the two types of sub plans, why you need your specials team on speed dial, and everything you need to put ...…

Could the most dangerous store for an art teacher to visit actually be the bookstore? For Cassie, it is, and in this episode, she talks about some of her favorite children's books. Listen as she discusses her favorite children's books, her favorite authors, and how she uses books in her classroom. Resources and Links 10 New Books You Need in Yo ...…

When opportunities come your way--whether that be presenting, bringing art to your community, sharing lessons, or anything else--should you put yourself out there? Cassie says yes. Listen as she discusses her own story on how and why she started sharing ideas from her art room, how to promote your unique voice, and how presenting can actually i ...…

A lot of days throughout the year, we're just feeling 'okay'. Not great, not amazing, and definitely not comparing well to all of the art teachers you see on social media. But it's okay to be just okay. Listen to Cassie's advice on working through those days, the ways in which you can stay positive, and how you can still provide a positive expe ...…

Art shows are absolutely the most stressful time of the year for art teachers. How can we simplify, and how can we make the art show as effective as it can be? Cassie has some ideas, and she's going to share her top 10 tips in this episode for your art show. Listen as she discusses what has changed in her 15 years of art shows, how to know how ...…

For everything you say yes to, you have to say no to something else. What are you willing to give up, and is it worth your students' instructional time? In this episode, Cassie talks about her decision making when it comes to all the extras, including her thoughts on art contests, fundraisers, and what she chooses to do instead in her classroom ...…

Every teacher faces feelings of burnout in their teaching career. Why don't we talk about it more? In this episode, Cassie talks about the issues every teacher faces, and how to approach those issues. Listen as she discusses saying no to anything that doesn't benefit your students, the many reasons you might be experiencing burnout, and what yo ...…

How did you become an art teacher? What (or who) was your inspiration? In this episode, Cassie shares her own story and encourages other teachers to do the same. Listen as she discusses her own history as an artist, her experience in college, and her first job as a teacher. Resources and Links 10 Things I Wish I Had Known My First Year of Teach ...…

What happens when we don't do art on a regular basis? Does that make us less successful as an art teacher? Absolutely not, says Cassie. But at the same time, we should still be creating and working to improve both as an artist and as a teacher. In this episode, she discusses why you need to spend some time creating work, why and how you need to ...…

Getting help from your specials team or other colleagues, why observing classroom teachers can be worthwhile, and how to deal with kids one-on-one when dealing with behaviors. Resources and Links Creating a Calm Down Corner All Things Classroom Management Discovering Your Classroom Management Style Why Building Relationships is So Important…

We have a lot of struggles as art teachers, and sometimes it's best to just talk about how we are feeling. Are we doing enough for our students? Can we really do it all in the art room? The answer is probably not--and that's okay. We don't need to feel guilty about it! Listen as Cassie talks about all the things she wishes she could do in her a ...…

Tidying Up is all the rage on Netflix right now, and Marie Kondo has everyone throwing out their treasures. But can any art teacher reconcile that thinking with what is actually happening in their classroom? In this episode, Cassie talks about why we need to hoard a lot of different things, including toothbrushes, pom poms, and about 20 other i ...…

Today, Cassie devotes the entire episode to answering listener and reader questions from Facebook, Instagram, email, and other social media. Take a listen as she talks about what we should love and appreciate about our jobs, why you need some bingo daubers in your room, and how you can deal with 42 Pre-K kids at the same time. Resources and Lin ...…

We all see the spotless, perfect classrooms with impeccable organization. Should an art room look like that? Can an art room look like that? Probably not--but there are still ways to stay organized. In this episode, Cassie discusses why keeping things simple is the way to go, her systems for organization, and why these ideas can make your life ...…

We know that the life of an art teacher is hectic, and the schedule can be nonstop. So how do you calm the chaos and make the most of your instructional time? In today's episode, Cassie talks about what to do when you need an extra minute to set up at the beginning of class, strategies for more effective transitions, and ideas to keep kids enga ...…

Winter break is the perfect time to step away from school and start making some things happen for yourself. Whether that is a New Year's resolution or takes some other form, now is the time to get started! Listen to Cassie as she discusses her past resolutions, why you should share goals with your "yay"-sayers, and why you have to start somewhe ...…

As Cassie looks back at 2018 and reflects on what is and isn't working, she is starting to determine her goals for 2019. Listen as she talks about her upcoming plans for dealing with student behavior, time management, and how to make your supply organization and preparation easier when there's so much to do. Resources and Links Cassie's Favorit ...…

Hosting a craft night can help you unwind, reflect with friends, make some art and have some great conversation. Listen as Cassie talks about the usual suspects on her invite list, the best time to host a craft night, and the best activities that can get everyone involved. Resources and Links A Simple Craft Night Idea Get Crafty and Try Somethi ...…

How important is it for our kids to know the correct techniques and the right ways to utilize supplies? For Cassie, it's vital. Listen as she talks about the benefits of students learning to use supplies correctly, how students' knowledge of supplies can eliminate frustration, and how you can develop confidence in your kids when they learn the ...…

We all know the struggle of actually making it through the last few weeks until winter break. But how do we survive, and maybe even thrive, in that time? In today's episode, Cassie shares her 5 best tips on getting through until break without pulling out your hair. Listen as she discusses how to be flexible without being taken advantage of, how ...…

Mistakes are a part of artmaking, but it can be difficult to explain that idea to our students--especially our kids who want everything to be perfect. It is important to help kids find the joy in art and teach kids to learn from their mistakes. In this episode, Cassie shares some ideas for doing so. She discusses how to talk about growth mindse ...…

Last week, Cassie talked about what to do when it's time to find a new situation. But what do you do if a new job isn't an option? There are ways to make the best of a bad situation. In this episode, Cassie talks about why you need to stand up for yourself, speak up for yourself, and how to come up with solutions to help better your situation. ...…

Should you stay or should you go? How do you know when a teaching situation has become toxic, and how do you know when it's time to move on? In this episode, Cassie talks about deciding whether you are in the right environment, how to deal with colleagues and administration, and why you need to always be open to a new opportunity. Resources and ...…

Do you teach guided drawing to your students? Cassie thinks she has found just the right balance between those strategies and a more open-ended emphasis. Cassie goes through the pros and cons of guided drawing, how she incorporates individuality and creativity in the guided drawing experience, and how to make that experience stress-free for her ...…

As Cassie continues to talk about her love for fibers, it's time to dive into sewing in the art room! In today's episode, Cassie discusses everything you need to get started sewing with your kids in the art room. Listen as she talks about when and why to try new things in the art room, her favorite ways to teach sewing basics, and why kids love ...…

What do you do when you have a class where everything seems to crash and burn? It doesn't need to be the end of the world. Cassie has 10 tips for you to help everything run more smoothly in your classroom. Listen as she gives advice on how to read your audience, strategies on how to calm your classes, and why a slow transition to quiet talking ...…

Today, Cassie devotes the entire episode to answering listener and reader questions from Facebook, Instagram, email, and other social media. Take a listen as she talks about working with chalk on ceiling tiles, why she hates glue bottles, and how she takes care of herself and keeps her energy up throughout the year. Resources and Links Cassie's ...…

You are at your best when you are teaching where your passion lies, and for Cassie, fiber arts is one of those passions. In particular, she wants to share her excitement about all things weaving! In this episode, she talks about why weaving is a great introduction to fibers, her favorite books to help teach weaving, and how to begin teaching vo ...…

There are so many ideas out there about the best ways to teach painting and organize the supplies in your art room. Cassie has decided to put all of her ideas on the topic into a single episode. Listen as she talks about her favorite supplies, her best management strategies, and sprinkles some of her best tips and tricks throughout the episode. ...…

No matter how long you have been teaching, there are still areas of instruction that can make you apprehensive. So what are those weak spots, and how do you deal with them? Join Cassie in this episode as she discusses teaching clay with no kiln or ceramics experience, dealing with the expectations of your colleagues, and how to begin teaching i ...…

Most teachers are feeling the excitement of coming back to a new school year, but what if that isn't the case? What if you're losing your passion? Cassie wants you to know that you're not alone, and in this episode, she discusses how to combat those feelings. She talks about paying attention to how you feel about the new school year (4:00), ide ...…

It is back to school time, and after 20 years, Cassie might finally have all the answers. Okay, probably not. But she does share some of her best practices for the beginning of the year, the first routines she teaches (4:45), why she uses video to reinforce some of the most important ideas (9:15), and how she establishes a collaborative culture ...…

It's back to school time, which means it's time for PD as well. But what if you are the one in charge of your school's PD? Cassie has some advice and some plans for you, including why it can be intimidating presenting in front of your colleagues (7:00), how to find and focus on your 'why' (10:45), and how to deal with the pushback that you migh ...…

Cassie is not a fan of evaluations, and she is ready to tell you all the reasons why. Listen to her experiences and opinions as she talks about the cyclical nature of teacher evaluations over the years (7:45), how she handles evaluation scores and discussions with her administration (11:30), and then gives some suggestions as to better ways to ...…

One of the toughest things to do as an art teacher is to find exactly where you belong and discover how to make meaningful connections with your colleagues. In this episode, Cassie discusses her own story and her own feelings of isolation (5:15), the importance of connecting with other teachers (7:30), and suggestions for stepping out of your r ...…

It can be difficult to find the time to be creative and make your own art. But if you can develop your own creative space, it makes it so much easier when it comes time for your studio practice. Cassie tells the story of her own studio today, including why it took her so long to set up her own creative area (3:30), the inspiration she drew on t ...…

Cassie has been receiving a lot of questions lately on how she makes everything run with such limited time. So today, she's diving in to exactly how she spends her time both inside and outside of school. Listen as she talks about how she handles classes with no time in between (5:15), how effective routines can eliminate wasted time (10:45), an ...…

Some people believe that you always need to be energetic and "on" in order to be a successful teacher, but that's just not the case. Often the most introverted teachers are the most successful. Join Cassie as she explores the topic, including her takes on the difference between being an introvert and being insecure (5:30), why we underestimate ...…

As an art teacher, it can be hard to find the time to create. But what if you were making art and extra money? You can do it by selling your work! Cassie discusses the three things she learned selling her art (4:15), why craft shows are perfect for extroverts (12:30), and why you need confidence to get your work into boutiques (15:45). Resource ...…

Developing the confidence to be who you are can be a difficult process. In this episode, Cassie discusses some of the ways you can follow your passions and meet your own goals. Listen as she talks about why you should spend some time listening to your own feelings (8:00), how to set goals that truly work for you (10:45), and why you need to con ...…

Every once in a while, Cassie's mailbag overflows and it's time for a full episode of listener questions! Today, she takes on a huge variety of topics. Listen as she discusses how to create more time for yourself (6:45), how to embrace your own originality and creativity (13:15), and getting more parent involvement in your art room (16:30). Res ...…

Like most teachers, Cassie can't quit learning, even during the summer. This episode is all about the books that keep you inspired throughout the summer months and help you generate ideas for the coming school year. Listen to Cassie share her favorite reads and what those books have taught her, including drawing instruction (3:00), how to set u ...…

Cassie shares her own stories about moving into her new art room, and gives some tips as to how you can look at your old art room with new eyes and a fresh start. Listen as she discusses how to assess your art room (5:00), why you need quality supplies (7:45), and why organization and flow are far more important than decoration (12:00). Resourc ...…

Schoolwide collaborative art projects are a great way to promote community in your art room and throughout the school. Cassie tells the story of her field day project she undertook this week (7:00), why collaborative projects are great for the beginning of the year (9:00), and the projects her students work on to build positivity and community ...…

Whether you are looking for your first job or trying to find something new, you will undoubtedly go through the interview process. This can be nerve-wracking, but Cassie is here with her best advice on how to nail that interview! Listen as she shares why you need to edit your social media presence (11:30), how you can dress to impress (12:45), ...…

As we move through the last weeks of schoo, it can be tricky to make sure your kids are still learning and progressing. The weather is getting nicer, spring events mess with the schedule, and we need ideas for finishing the year strong. Join Cassie as she talks about her best end-of-the-year strategies, including her Maker Kits (3:45), strategi ...…

Summer break actually isn't that far away for a lot of us. So it's time to start thinking about how to make the most of that precious vacation time. Whatever your goals for the summer months, Cassie has some strategies to help you make the most of them. Listen as she discusses making her summertime list (2:30), who can help push you and keep yo ...…

Last week, Cassie talked about all of her tips and tricks for basic supplies, along with a few recommendations. This week, she takes the discussion into what you need for more special projects. Listen as she discusses her favorite materials to order when teaching ceramics (3:00), clay alternatives like modeling clay and celluclay (6:00), and id ...…

In this episode, Cassie talks about the basic supplies everyone needs for their art room, and some of her best tips for finding quality supplies for your kids--without spending too much money. Listen as she discusses her favorite paper (3:00), paint (9:30), brushes (14:00), and some other additional supplies (15:00). Resources and Links The Dre ...…

When you start teaching, the list of things you don't know is expansive. It's important to talk about the routines, supplies, and essential strategies to help you be successful as a teacher. Listen as Cassie goes through the 10 things art teachers can't live without, including a great greeting for primary students (4:30), her word of the day (8 ...…