I remember when I first began teaching I wanted to learn all that I could from others, but I wanted to keep my really good ideas to myself. I know. Sound pretty selfish, doesn’t it? However, I seemed to share this characteristic with a lot of other art teachers at the time who would share certain aspects of a lesson, but leave out a few minor details..like a really good cook who leaves out a secret ingredient, so no one can make that delicious pie quite the same! I think this had to do with a competitive spirit..but that has no place when it comes to focusing on our purpose for teaching, which is reaching the students through art.
As I got older and as I taught longer, especially when I taught art education at the University of Memphis, I began giving away all my best plans to pre-service teachers. As I did this, it gave me so much joy to know that they would be using my best practices in their classrooms and even improving upon them. This way, I was even helping to teach children that I would never see. Amazing thought, right?
Sharing my best lessons and practices in SchoolArts Magazine and on social media, reminds me of those days in Higher Ed. I write up two or three articles a week and share as much as I can in the time I have left on this planet with the memory I have left. At this point in my life..I want to give it all away.
I would encourage you to start giving it all away sooner than I did. Learn from your colleagues. Share with your colleagues. Don’t hoard those lessons like you do those egg cartons that you’ll never use. Write that article and submit it! Take tons of pictures as examples in your classroom. Learn to use dropbox and google drive! Write the blog. Share the handouts. Write the book. Start today to GIVE like an Artist! Trust me, “it is more blessed to GIVE than to receive.”