About the Author

Raymond Yang

My name is Ray Yang and I teach Middle School and High School Visual Art in Seattle, Washington at an amazing independent school. I have had a long winding path to the classroom that’s taken me through running youth outreach programs at a community art center, collaborating with museums on teen programs, teaching graduate classes to pre-service teachers and educators, working as an administrator in a large urban district, writing curriculum and assessments, and now serving as a teacher and teaching artist for youth and educators. The whole time though I’ve known that my life’s work was in arts education and that ultimately I wanted to be back in a classroom teaching.

I am a born and raised New Yorker, and graduated with a double BA in Biology and Studio Art from Brown University. After college I embarked on my first career in magazine production and freelance graphic design in New York City. I quickly discovered though that this was not my passion and headed back to school to get my MA in Art Education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. I spent the next 15 years in Chicago building my career and work before finally heading arriving in Seattle in 2015.

I am passionate about social justice and equity in the art education and believe that the arts are a method of creating a more just and equitable society. They provide an outlet for students to advocate for themselves, educate others, and express their experiences in the world. Whatever your forum, let’s work together to teach and build a world that supports the arts and justice for all!

I also love playing Ultimate Frisbee and spending time with my partner and our two children, hiking, camping, and enjoying the outdoors.

Posts by Raymond

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Article

How to Get Your Students Thinking Deeply With Photography

One of my favorite ways to wrap up a middle school photography course is with something called the Social Identity...
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art students working
Article

What Is It like to Teach Without Grades?

It’s no secret many people don’t think of the fine arts as real academic subject areas. As art teachers, we...
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frisbee and paint
Article

Can an Art Teacher Coach a Sports Team?

In general, our world lumps “art kids” in a different box than “sports kids.” When you add in media representations...
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student timed drawings
Article

5 Engaging Introductory Activities for Middle Schoolers

Getting class started with middle school students can be a challenge. It’s easy to lose the first few minutes of...
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student work dealing with appropriation
Article

A Project to Help Teach Your Students About Appropriation

People borrow ideas from one another all the time. Good ideas spread because people take them, use them, and pass...
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neon sign
Article

A Guide for Working With Students Creating Controversial Artwork

Some projects lend themselves to controversy. Other times, controversial subject matter can sneak up on you unexpectedly. Schools may not...
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finished student soap carving
Article

How to Create Subtractive Soap Sculptures

Working in three-dimensions is a tough skill to master. Often, students in lower grades are given much more experience with...
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comic compilation
Article

How to Harness the Power of Comic Books in the Art Room

Using images to tell a story is a common thread throughout human history. From cave drawings and fresco murals to...
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journal photo
Article

Why All Art Students Need a Process Journal

I am a big believer in focusing on process over product in the art room. Sure, perfectly rendered drawings and...
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light painting of the word "love"
Article

2 Engaging Projects for Beginning Photography Students

Photography is one of the most popular electives in my school. I think a big reason for this is because...
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rain activated murals
Article

2 Projects to Brighten Your Campus in Unexpected Ways

When the general public thinks about how artwork is displayed, most picture a room with white walls, printed labels, and...
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photo of rubric
Article

How to Write an Effective Rubric for Your Art Students

Rubrics are serious business in the high-accountability culture of education. However, they often come across as dry and uninteresting, and...
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