About the Author

Melissa Purtee

Hi! I’m Melissa Purtee and I teach visual art at Apex High School outside of Raleigh, North Carolina. I’m passionate about student choice, supporting diversity and creating pathways for authentic self-expression. I’m also the author of The Open Art Room, which is all about incorporating Choice in the secondary classroom. Read more of my writing on my blog, Thoughts on Arting.

 

Posts by Melissa

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student artwork dealing with LGBT issues
Article

How to Support LGBT Students in the Art Room

There’s no sugar-coating it: school is hard for LGBT students. In some ways, it may seem like our culture is...
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calendar with last day of school circled
Article

12 Signs You’re Ready for Summer Vacation

Ah, May – the month in the school year where we realize the end is near but it’s going to...
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students creating spray paint dots
Article

Teaching Skills for the 21st Century: Creativity

Our job as educators is to prepare our students for life after school. However, the rapid development of technology means...
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person typing
Article

Get Your Students Blogging in 3 Easy Steps

Writing in the art room is a great way to get your students thinking more deeply about their work. Plus,...
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chalk mural
Article

5 Projects to Combat Spring Fever

When the sunshine of spring comes out, behavior tends to disintegrate like the gray piles of snow left in the...
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results of The Art Game
Article

3 Ways to Motivate Your Students on Tough Days

Motivation and engagement are two things we are continually striving for in our art rooms. If students don’t like being...
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art in trash can
Article

When Art Goes in the Trash

Have you ever seen a child throw away weeks worth of hard work on the way out the door? It’s...
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yarn bombed tree
Article

4 Innovative Ways to Display Your Students’ Work

Sometimes the best ideas come out of challenging circumstances. The high school where I teach is about 5,000 years old....
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teacher entering principal's office
Article

How to Advocate for Yourself in 4 Steps

As art teachers, we are often alone, the only ones in the building who do what we do. Frequently, the...
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Article

8 Things Art Teachers Hate More Than Glitter

Glitter can be the worst. It gets everywhere and it’s hard to clean up, plus it never goes away. Just...
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Article

Where Does Black History Month Stand in the Art Room?

Every February, Black History Month gives us a moment to highlight the important contributions of Black artists. Since 1976, when...
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hand pointing to place on artwork
Article

The Art of Giving Meaningful Student Feedback

The words we use with students have long-lasting power. They build or damage relationships and influence a child’s perception for...
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