Advocacy

5 Inspiring Discussions You Don’t Want to Miss

photos of 5 instagram live guests in a row

There are certain times of the year when we could all use a little boost of happiness. Maybe you’re weeks into a tough new teaching assignment. Perhaps the winter weather is wearing on you, or you can’t fathom how you’ll make it to the next school break. Whatever the reason, AOEU is here to help.

One of our favorite ways to share positivity with our readers and followers is through Instagram Live. Each week on Monday afternoons, Sarah Krajewski chats with the best and brightest voices in the arts. She’s talked with artists, entrepreneurs, and, of course, art educators! Sarah told me, “No matter who our guest is, we always tie the discussion back to art education and give you tips on how to use the information with your students.”

If you haven’t tuned in yet, here are 5 past chats you don’t want to miss.

And be sure to follow us @theartofed, so you can catch all the new chats, too!

Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Bringing People Together Through the Art of Diversity

Image of author and illustrator Vanessa Bradley Newton with a description of the IG Live Chat

Vanessa Brantley-Newton does it all. She’s a celebrated author and illustrator, TEDx speaker, and diversity expert. Vanessa brought such an amazing energy to the chat that she had viewers in tears. If you want to be inspired to build a community of diverse, amazing individuals, this chat is for you!

Follow Vanessa on Instagram @vanessabrantleynewton.

Jason Naylor

Creatively Positive & Positively Creative

Photo Jason Naylor and one of his colorful artworks with a description of the IG Live conversation

You may know Jason Naylor for his uplifting, colorful artwork, but he’s also a designer and an author. In this chat, you’ll hear all about his creative process, including how to stay creative in the midst of adversity. Walk away feeling inspired to spread positivity through artmaking.

Follow Jason on Instagram @jasonnaylor.

Aaliyah Taylor

How to Rock Your Side Hustle

Photo of Aaliyah Taylor with a description of the Instagram Live chat

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to sell your work online, check out this chat with jewelry designer Aaliyah Taylor! Aaliyah uses Perler Beads to create her jewelry and gives some fun tips for exploring this unique medium with students. Sarah and Aaliyah also touch on tips for managing your mental health.

Follow Aaliyah on Instagram @exaltinginbeauty.

Candido Crespo

Art Teachers are Artists

Photo of Candido Crespo with description of Instagram live chat

Candido Crespo is an art teacher who is passionate about finding time to make art. As a dad, he knows time is limited! Join Sarah and Candido for a chat about how to keep the creative pursuit alive even when you’re busy and overwhelmed. Art teachers are artists, too!

Follow Candido on Instagram at @mrccrespo.

Jonathan Juravich

Encouraging Empathy

Jonathan Juravich is a talented art educator with a passion for teaching kids about empathy. He was Ohio’s 2018 Art Teacher of the Year and is a Ted-Ed speaker. He also writes for the AOEU Magazine. In this conversation, Sarah and Jonathan talk about bringing the idea of empathy into the classroom. Walk away with some insightful tips about this topic and so much more.

Follow Jonathan at @jjuravich.

While amazing, these five chats only touch the tip of the iceberg. There are so many inspiring conversations to dive into over on Instagram! You can find all of them right here.

Plus, don’t forget to tune in every Monday afternoon for even more amazing conversations. Viewers who attend live have a chance to win one of these amazing holographic palette stickers. You can’t get these anywhere else!

I asked Sarah if they had any magical powers. While she could neither confirm or deny, she did have this to say, “The sticker has a multitude of superpowers including pride in your listening skills, a deeper connection to the world of art education, and of course, increased cool factor!”

Have you tuned in to IG Live yet? What was your favorite chat? 

What guests would you like to see on Instagram?

Magazine articles and podcasts are opinions of professional education contributors and do not necessarily represent the position of the Art of Education University (AOEU) or its academic offerings. Contributors use terms in the way they are most often talked about in the scope of their educational experiences.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amanda Heyn

Amanda Heyn is AOEU’s Director of K–12 PD & Media and a former AOEU Writer and elementary art educator. She enjoys creating relevant and engaging professional development just for art teachers.

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