We Teach Clay

Leah Shuck is a High School ceramics teacher in Pennsylvania. In this episode we talk about her role in the planning and presenting of the PAEA Webinar, COVID and Clay, which took place online this past August.  While teaching in-person this Fall, she explains the changes she made in the classroom to accommodate the COVID guidelines and best practice suggestions.  She talks about which changes will stay a part off her regular classroom management post pandemic.  We talk about tapping into eager students for leadership roles to help manage all the extra work.  She also focuses on ways we can continue to grow and learn as educators.  We discuss getting involved with Professional Organizations to connect with other art teachers.

Karen Witham Walsh is a Ceramics teacher from the largest High School in Ohio.  In this episode we talk about managing the shift between in person, hybrid, and remote teaching.  She describes her process of making damp boxes and tells us how she plans for the students to use them in all of the potential learning scenarios.  We discuss what she will put in her kit and how to teaches safety in the classroom and at home.  She details her approach to the standards by using formative skill builders and then summative learning projects.  Lastly, we talk about her amazing YouTube Channel, Karan's Pots and Glass.  She lets us in on the strategies that work for supporting student learning during normal times, AND during our COVID season. 

Have your students shown you social media videos of the magical “trees” that are created by the mocha diffusion process? IF SO, the video was most likely created by Kevin Kowalski.  Kevin is a High school ceramics teacher in Orange County California.  In this episode we talk creating positive connections with Kids.  He explains how excited he is by the interaction he is getting from his students using social media and the chat function in Zoom.  We discuss the challenge of being in 2 places at the same time in the ceramics classroom when teaching both hand building and wheel throwing.  He tells us how this ONLINE LEARNING has given him the opportunity to create reusable content that he plans to use AFTER we return to in person teaching.   We dive deeper into what’s working during virtual learning and he details a new procedure he uses for monitoring student progress and final projects. Lastly, he tells us about several workshops he is developing for all of us to learn about Mocha Diffusion and Soda Firing.

DeAnn Hanisch is a ceramics teacher in Omaha, Nebraska.  In this episode we talk about her focus on classroom management.  She explains her approach as, “Students come into class and know exactly what to expect.  They can take a breath, sit down, relax, and take in what I have to teach them but also create in their own headspace.”   We discuss her mantra “it’s not personal, its procedural” and how a Ready Board helps to provide clear expectations and classroom protocols for her students.  She focuses on ways to call out positive behavior to support her classroom community and provide behavioral support for students who need it, in-person, and online.  She offers ideas for this year’s ceramics curriculum with a focus on process over product.

Biliana Popova is a ceramics teacher at a small private school.  In this episode we talk about her successes and challenges with sending clay kits home with the students during the COVID-19 shut down.  We discuss the supplies and tools she included in her kits.  Only sending a small amount of clay home provided valuable lessons in recycling and reusing the clay for several projects.  She focuses on the positive opportunities that are presented by our “at home” situation.  She offers ideas for finding objects for texture, teaching students how to take quality photos of their artwork, and making tools with simple supplies. She also offers so many other projects ideas that she is using throughout her multi-level ceramic program.  This year five of her students were recognized at the American Museum of Ceramic Art (AMOCA) SoCal High School Student Exhibition.

Ryan Reich is a ceramics teacher Southern California.  In this episode we talk about everything and one thing at the same time.  We discuss changes in grading.  He tells us how he grades using rubrics with a 1 thru 4 scale.  He says “The joy of art class is NOT being in front of the computer”.  He calls himself a little “crazy” when he discusses being so busy with his own kids.  If you are in this situation, you are probably feeling a little crazy too!  We discuss how to manage all the partially formed greenware and fired bisqueware projects sitting in your classroom right now!  We talk about “our kids”… you know the ones who come to school just for Ceramics?  We sympathize about the fact that our students need our class to fill that primal desire to create. We wrap up with work-life balance for the teacher and artist.  He says the only disciplined thing in his life is making.  

Jeff Pabotoy is a ceramics teacher in Singapore.  In this episode he tells us about the path he and his wife took to become international teachers.  We discuss how Covid-19 affected Singapore, his school, and the region.  He shares with us how he is continuing to teach students about design in this online format with an artist research project.  His lesson includes specific instructions about contacting artists to gather ideas and inspiration for their design.  We also discuss a beautiful basket weave project.  He provides some tips and tricks to help you bring this project to your classroom.

Shannon Furst is a High School ceramics teacher in Florida.  In this episode she tells us about a successful cardboard sculpture project. During instruction she offered prompts that focused on family and relationships. She tells us how she gives her students choices so they can express themselves in their own way.  The results gave her goosebumps as she looked through the project submissions.  We also discuss the struggle to pick relevant projects when there are so many ideas and lessons plans at our fingertips.

Julia Cardone teaches at a high school in Virginia. She teaches 5 different levels of ceramics.  Her insight will inspire you as we move from Survive to Thrive in this remote learning environment.  In this episode she will share specific assignments geared toward giving students permission to create within their Home Studio environments.   We discuss how the emergence of student skill can be inspired through a “coilaboration” of mentors and makers.  

Yvonne Cavanagh is one of the LAST ceramics teachers is Bakersfield CA.  She started the Facebook page High School Ceramics Teachers and she is extremely active in the collaboration of this group.  In this episode she talks about how she helps a struggling student and meets them right where they are.  She also gives us the idea of having virtual Artist Talks to expose our students to practicing ceramic artists.   She talks about a chalk art project she created in her front yard.  We discuss how “the ideas come when you are doing” and how to allow your artwork to evolve in real time.

Emmanuel Crespo shares a project that gives students a chance to process through their emotions.  In this episode he discusses how he provides a safe place for them to express their fear in this COVID-19 world.  He details the sculptural assignment and submission process.  He tells us how the students describe the sculpture and their fears.  He follows that up with another project that gives the students a chance to remember, find, and foster HOPE!

Gina Brownstein talks about her feelings as we move deeper into the COVID-19 school shut down.  She tells us how she is checking in with students and meeting them wherever they are.  In this episode, we discuss how she is virtually connecting with students to create that unique community that only comes from a ceramic classroom.  We discuss ideas she uses during normal times and new ideas for this unique situation.

Ysabel Gray is a ceramics teacher in Orange County California. In this episode she discusses making our online assignments relevant and not just busy work.  She talks about how to front load WHY we are actually doing this assignment.  She gives excellent samples of Unit Concepts and Big Ideas that you can take to develop your OWN curriculum.

Mike Tillson is a ceramics teacher in San Francisco Bay area. In this episode he discusses moving to online instruction and the technology learning curve.  We discuss the challenges with our instructional delivery systems.  He offers several lesson ideas that you can begin to incorporate into your online curriculum.  We also discuss how to take basic online assignments to the next level.

Lisa Walle is a middle school art teacher in Ohio.  In this episode she offers engaging lesson ideas with a confident and encouraging voice.  Lisa’s approach to our new normal is “We Got This! Game on! Challenge accepted!”  She also suggests ideas that would be just for fun to encourage her students play outside of the curriculum.

Mike Flower has been a High School ceramics teacher in Southern California for 13 years.  He also is the founder and administrator of the Ceramics Teachers K-12 Facebook page.  Mike shares how he is preparing and adapting to this new online learning model during the COVID-19 school shut down.  He leads by example with his “be kind to yourself” approach.  He provides project ideas and student activities that can continue your curriculum and also be kind to our students.

WE TEACH CLAY was started as a place for ceramic teachers to discuss lesson Ideas, technology, classroom hacks, work life balance, etc.  Unfortunately, in March 2020 there has been a shift from classroom to online teaching due to COVID-19. While we are all isolating in our homes teaching our students online, WE TEACH CLAY can help us connect with each other in a different way.  In light of this unusual challenge, a beautiful community of teachers who are willing to share has emerged.