About the Author

Jennifer Borel

In 2014, I was teaching art and running an art teacher blog sharing resources with my readers about activities in my classroom. Little did I know, Jessica Balsley was one of my readers. I contemplated moving on from blogging when Jessica emailed me and encouraged me to apply to be a writer with AOEU. I did and spent two wonderful years writing for the Magazine.

Before my work with AOEU, I taught elementary and middle school art in a large district in northeast Kansas. I taught elementary art for six years before switching to middle school. I loved helping my students engage their creative sides while navigating the challenging middle school years. There is nothing better than watching your students understand and use the concepts they’ve learned long after leaving the classroom.

Currently, I work as an adjunct graduate instructor and academic advisor for AOEU, and I run my own photography business. I enjoy spending time with my husband, John, and our two children. I also love to snap photos from behind my camera, cook up recipes from the excessive number of cookbooks I own, and travel whenever I get the chance.

Professional Accomplishments:

  • Master of Science in Curriculum and Instruction, Concentration as an Effective Practitioner. (2013)
  • BAE in Visual Arts Education, Minor in Art History, Concentration in Architecture and Interior Design (2009)

Posts by Jennifer

Content Type
  • All
  • Article
  • Podcast
  • Video
Topic
  • All
  • Assessment
  • Classroom Management
  • Curriculum
  • Instructional Strategies
  • News
  • Professionalism
  • Studio Practices
Subtopic
  • All
  • Assessment Design
  • Assessment Implementation
  • Expectations
  • Physical Space
  • Relationship Building
  • Curriculum Approaches
  • Curriculum Design
  • Differentiation
  • Engagement
  • Advocacy
  • Professional Learning
  • Professional Practice
  • Connections
  • Creativity
  • Media & Techniques
Video

Wow Your Families With This Simple Collaborative Art Display

The approach of spring often means art show season. As much as I love seeing my students’ individual artwork up...
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Article

Why It’s Okay to Feel “Teacher Burnout”

Near the end of my undergraduate experience, an education professor decided it was his job to inform us of the...
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Sheet music with paintbrushes on top
Article

How to Partner With Your Music Teacher and Why It’s Important

I’ll be the first to tell you that I don’t have a musical bone in my body. I quit clarinet...
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snowy tree
Article

The 10 Stages of Snow Day Anticipation

It seems like Mother Nature just doesn’t know what to do with herself this winter. One day, I’m wearing flip-flops,...
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Article

35 Hilarious Observations Made by People Married to Art Teachers

    A while back, I asked my husband if he wanted to go with me to the National Art...
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Video

How to Spruce Up Your Room With This Secret Trick

Have you ever wanted to create a mural for your art room but didn’t want to commit to a permanent...
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Article

Forget Glazing! 15 Other Innovative Ways to Add Color to Clay

    A few weeks ago, I was desperately looking for solutions to get some color onto my students’ clay...
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Article

Why You Need to Post Consequences in Your Art Room

One of the first things that I was asked to do when I became an art teacher was to decide...
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Why Not Set Up a Cart
Video

Why Not Set Up a Volunteer Cart?

If you are lucky enough to have volunteers come in to help you hang artwork, you may want to consider...
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Article

How to Hang Up Artwork Without Losing Your Prep Time

I have a love-hate relationship with one of my job responsibilities–hanging up artwork. On the one hand, I love the...
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Article

A Surefire Way to Kill Creativity in the Classroom

    The word “no” sets boundaries. Often boundaries are good and healthy for us to establish in our lives....
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Article

10 Essentials to Bring to Your Next Art Ed Conference

    Earlier this year I attended my first ever National Art Ed Convention. As I proudly walked around New Orleans with my...
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