About the Author

Mariana VanDerMolen

Hi! My name is Mariana VanDerMolen, and I am a writer for the AOEU Magazine. I have been involved with Art Education for five plus years and have taught art from grades K–8. Real-life skills, language learning strategies, and therapeutic practices lie at the heart of my instruction.

In 2020, I turned to AOEU courses to get my bearings in the world of virtual instruction. This turned into two years of honing my instructional practices, teaching philosophy, and research skills through the AOEU Master’s Program. With my degree in hand and the confidence I have built, I am eager to help you in any way I can!

When I am not writing or teaching, I like to use my aesthetic instincts to design and decorate the interior of my home. Visual journaling, scrapbooking, and video editing are other ways my creativity shines! You will often find me reading, spending quality time with my cat, or exploring the various corners of the tropical island I call home.

I am excited to be a part of the AOEU team, and I look forward to growing with you!

Posts by Mariana

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heart artwork
Article

15 Genius Ways to Advocate for Your Art Program During Youth Art Month (YAM)

There’s a month to celebrate and recognize all sorts of causes including things like jazz, ice cream, and even bikes....
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folded drawing
Article

6 Fantastic One-Day Art Lessons to Engage Your Elementary Students

Many art projects have multiple steps and take several days. So when you have a good one-day art lesson, it...
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cassette tape
Article

Blast from the Past: 17 Fascinating Things Veteran Art Teachers Remember Doing

Once upon a time, long, long ago, there was a little art room quite unlike anything you’d ever seen before....
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students making a rainbow together
Article

Unmuddy the Rainbow: Best Practices to Support Artists with Color Vision Deficiency

What if the rainbow looked like a muddy paint palette? Your art teacher heart may wither at the thought, but...
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old classroom
Article

Makeover Your Art Room to Start the New Year with a Fresh Inspiring Space

Who doesn’t love a makeover with a good before and after? Makeovers are the perfect blend of creativity and practicality—every...
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Devon subway sketches
Article

How to Leverage TikTok Superstar Devon Rodriguez to Inspire Your Students

Note: Be sure to review all resources and preview all artists before determining if they are appropriate to share with...
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student building tower
Article

6 Secrets You Need to Know About Your Generation Alpha Art Students

Forget Gen Z—let’s talk Gen Alpha! Generation Alpha takes up the seats in your elementary and middle school art room...
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students paper mache together
Article

6 Truths Generation Z Art Students Wish You Understood Now

It’s time to spill the tea about post-pandemic Gen Z! It’s no secret that COVID-19 astronomically impacted the entire world...
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laptop
Article

How Executive Functions Help You Beat Stress Better in Your Art Teacher Life

Art teachers can do anything, but not everything. Read that again. You can do anything, but you can’t do everything....
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table art
Article

Determine the Teaching Approach Mix That Fits Your Art Room Best

Note: This article was written in collaboration with Janet Taylor.  TAB, IBL, STEAM, PBL—What’s with all of these acronyms? Art...
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clipboard
Article

7 Reasons Everyone’s Favorite Coach Comes from the Art Room

Bring it in, bring it in, art teacher friends! How much time have you spent considering the integration of art...
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jumbo crayons
Article

The Greatest Giant Art Supplies to Super Size Your Artists’ Learning Today

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Go big or go home!” Giant art supplies are not only great for adding color...
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