The Sparkchasers Podcast

5 Mistakes Teachers Make with Arts Integration (and how to avoid them)

Ready to supercharge your arts integration efforts? Today, we're chatting about 5 BIG mistakes teachers typically make with arts integration and specific action steps you can take to sidestep these obstacles.

Go to artsintegration.com/sparkchasers for all the show notes and resources from this episode.

Arts Integration Certification: Is it Right For Me?

Arts Integration Certification enrollment is now open for a limited time. Are you wondering if this is the right next step for you? Tune in as Dr. Typhani Harris and Susan Riley chat about this program and how it's impacted hundreds of alumni. For more information, visit ArtsIntegration.com/certification

Creating a Pop Up Experience for Your Classroom

Want to create a high-energy, action-packed learning experience in 2 weeks or less? Try a Pop-Up Lesson! In this week's show, you'll learn how you can use the ideas from Pop-Up Restaurants and Groups to build a purposeful learning experience for your students. Visit artsintegration.com/sparkchasers for the show notes and links to more resources.

Become a CEO Teacher with Kayse Morris

If you've ever wondered how to have success with an online teacher business - whether it's a TpT side hustle or a full-fledged education business - this episode is for you. Today, we're getting real about becoming an empowered CEO teacher with Kayse Morris.

Kayse Morris is the founder of the CEO Teacher, an online space dedicated to helping educators change their lives by learning how to market their online teacher businesses. She does an incredible job of breaking down the process of creating and selling teacher resources online, and then helping teachers build their mindset and their marketing muscles to create the life of their dreams. She’s a mama of 4, wife to a high school principal and just a wonderful down-to-earth woman. Ready to learn how you can take what you know and build a business that impacts teachers and students all over the world? Let’s dive in.

Make Your Class Addicting with Media Arts

Wouldn't it be nice if our students could be as hooked into our classrooms as they are on their favorite social media platforms? They can, if we use a few core ideas from those platforms. In this episode, learn how to create your own "stickiness formula" to engage your students through media arts. View the shownotes and the free download from this episode at https://artsintegration.com/sparkchasers/

Managing the Madwoman in the Attic

Do you ever have a voice in your head that sounds angry, anxious, or disgusted? That's the Madwoman in the Attic talking and there's a way to make it take a back seat. In today's episode, we're chatting about the importance of making our mental health as educators a priority. Tune in for this vulnerable conversation.

Opening the Mailbag

Today we're dipping into the mailbag! Over the last few weeks, we've received so many emails asking a wide variety of questions from listeners. Today, we'll be answering:

1. What’s it like to work at IAS? (Marcie from Indiana)
2. How do you teach STEAM virtually and in-person? (Cara from Washington)
3. I love your graphics! How do you make them? (Janelle from Texas)
4. How do you decide what are free trainings and what are paid? (Matthew from California)
5. I’m nervous that arts integration will replace arts education. So many art positions have already been cut. Is that what you’re suggesting? (Kirsten from California)
6. What do you do when people steal your work? I’ve seen some of your stuff on other people’s powerpoints during conferences. Just curious how you handle that. (Heidi from Florida)
7. I want to make my classes more engaging with new media and podcasts. Do you have any suggestions? (Edna from Wisconsin)

For show notes and to ask your own questions, please head over to artsintegration.com/sparkchasers 

Flexing Your Job Skills

Interested in a new job for the new year? In today’s episode, we’re going to explore the idea of flexing your job skills and how you can use that to pivot into any position you want. View all show notes at artsintegration.com/sparkchasers

Your Job Skills are Elastic

• Think of yourself like a rubber band - each new skill helps to stretch out the band
• Elastic Skills have two components: information and communication
• Don’t pigeon hole your dreams.

Vision Casting

1. Brainstorm your vision by answering questions like “What life would I like to create for my family? What kind of marriage and family relationships do I want? What do I want to create financially? What would I like to create in order to influence the finances of other people in a positive way? How do I wish to be remembered? What will my legacy be?” 
2. Consider if it’s possible. Can you make your vision happen with your current job, skills, or activities? Or do you need alternative skills, mindsets, or coaching to help you reach your vision?
3. Commit to a direction. Once you know what you want and if it’s possible, determine the course of action you need to take in order to get to your goal.

Creating Your Future

Once you recognize what you want and have a plan for how to get there, then it’s time to take action. Now it’s time to create the future you’ve been dreaming about. Start by checking off the items on your action list one at a time. Each time you check something off, you’re making progress and building momentum. 

• Never underestimate the power of momentum
• Know which skills you already have, which you want to expand, and which you want to add.
• Consider the ROI of your investment. How much are you going to get out of what you’re putting in?

Honoring Introverts in the Classroom

How can we honor introversion in the classroom? Here's a few tips for supporting our introverted students without trying to convert them to conform. View full show notes at artsintegration.com/sparkchasers

Holiday and Celebration Discovery Lab

If you're looking for a culturally responsive way to honor all of the holidays and traditions of your students, try this Celebration Discovery Lab activity from educator Barb Sandstrom. View all the show notes at artsintegration.com/sparkchasers