Guest Blog by PAEA Region 10 Representative Benjamin Hoffman:

As you enter your first few years of teaching, there are several obstacles that you will
encounter. But know that everything you experience is okay, and more so, there is so much to
love within our profession. Let me start with introducing myself. My name is Benjamin
Hoffman and I am the High School Art Teacher at Kutztown Area High School. I am a master’s
student, an artist, a regional representative, a musician, a volunteer firefighter and somehow
still finding the time to plan a wedding. Though it seems overwhelming, it is not, and it is
because of the following 15 tips and tricks that have not only helped me grow as an educator,
but enhance the overall quality of my program.

In just a few short weeks, I will be entering my third full year in education. As the only High
School Art Teacher, I have been very fortunate to have the ability to completely transform the
Visual Arts program to my liking. Though our school may be small in numbers, I would argue
that our program is equally competing with introductory college-level courses. And this is not
because of who I am, or the students themselves, but the collective time and effort that was
put together to cultivate an incredible first year for me. With two years under my belt, I have
to say that the excitement to return to school is overwhelming. And even within that
excitement comes the fear of the unknown, but it is because of the following list that has
helped me be successful throughout these first few years.

Note, some of these concepts have been pulled from other resources along with input from
colleagues to compile what I believe is the crash course on what to expect when starting from
scratch. Furthermore, I invite you to add and adapt each to your liking to be successful within
your own setting. And always remember to have fun. Though it seems silly to say words like
playful and silly, know that we absolutely have one of, if not, the most rewarding and enjoyable
professions. Who else can say that they will have had such a profound impact on a student’s
life? Not many, and it is over and over again that we will continue to see our field grow. We
simply need to be willing to put in the time and effort to make it successful. If you should have
any questions, comments or concerns upon reading, please do not hesitate to contact me
directly. I am always happy to be a resource and equally so, I too am learning for a lifetime, and
greatly appreciate what I can learn from others every day. Enjoy!

1) TAP INTO STUDENTS INTERESTS

• Whether or not you are handed a curriculum, know that there are always creative
  ways to hone a skill while still adapting to student’s interests. When I was first
  teaching in Baltimore, Maryland, students were obsessed with street art. In an
  effort to tap into their interests, we would use found materials and basic color
  theory to construct spaces where tagging and street art was welcomed. This
  opportunity to freely create within our classroom not only changed the space as a
  whole, but infected the school with energy and excitement.

2) COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS

• Though it seems impossible your first year, be open-minded and attempt to reach
  out to other teachers. And with that being said, it goes for both para-professionals
  and students. Do not take anything personal. There will be days when others,
  including yourself, want to be left alone. That feeling is okay. But when you are once
  again ready, start to step out of your comfort zone and share common interests with
  other teachers. You will be surprised where that will lead you. One example for me
  included pairing up with my chemistry teacher to learn about oil paints and their
  properties as color is separated from each base. What an incredible find this was for
  not only be, but for our students collectively.

3) BE RESOURCEFUL

• Work with what you have. There is no sense in reinventing the wheel when you first
  start teaching. Though you may be entering teaching having just come off a exciting
  clinical experience, you are now being handed several more tasks than you were
  before. Trust me, there was much more that your cooperating teacher was handling
  behind the scenes while your only responsibility was to teach. It is almost always
  that there will exist more work behind the scenes than there will on stage. But it is
  knowing what you have available and how you can be resourceful to make the most
  out of your first year.

4) DON’T MAKE YOURSELF AN ISLAND

•  It seems rhetorical, but it is common to find yourself becoming overwhelmed and
  caught within the never-ending cycle of grading. But even when you do in fact find
  that you are becoming overwhelmed, continue to prevail and reach out to
  colleagues to help re-spark that right side of the brain. Other opportunities include
  hosting lunch in your room rather than be subject to the teacher’s lounge. It goes
  without saying, we truly have some of the most inviting and creative spaces within
  the entire school.

5) IT IS OKAY TO SAY NO

• So many new teachers, including myself are apprehensive to say no their first year,
  but it is okay. Collectively, we are all human and need to understand our breaking
  points. However, do politely decline requests or offer suggestions on how to do
  something so that those individuals who reached out once before, will hopefully
  continue to return, building a friendship that may one day extend beyond the
  classroom.

6) IF YOU ARE DROWNING, YOU ARE DOING IT RIGHT

• Along with being a new teacher comes the misconception that you get no sleep. I
  can honestly say that this was stride and true for some weeks, while other nights, I
  would be asleep well before the sun even set. Having worked in several different
  settings, I can honestly say that there will be moments when the bell rings for
  transition and you are still prepping a material for that class. Again, that is okay.
• There will be moments when you are teaching something for the first time having no
  knowledge of what may occur. It is okay. A motto that I had in place my first year
  was simple. As long as I was more than 30 minutes ahead of my students, I felt good.
  But now going into my third consecutive year, I have a plan, a syllabus, a curriculum
  and so much more. It comes with time, but the reward is overwhelmingly positive.

7) EXTRA RESPONSIBILITIES

• Similar to what was mentioned with taking on too much, be aware that you may be
  expected to assist with extra responsibilities. However, whether it is as simple as
  hallway or lunch duty, take advantage of the opportunity. My first year, I was
  assigned a study hall. Though it was a relaxing end to my day, it was frustrating to
  know that during that exact time slot, I could be offering an additional studio course.
  A few emails later, I had negotiated with administration to offer an additional studio
  that block for my second year, and in place, would host detention every other week.
  Though that seems like an unfair trade-off, know that detention duty for me is both
  afterschool in my room and paid. As I am sure you can assume, the increase in pay
  is rewarding, but the relationships I have fostered with that population has helped
  greatly in so many other avenues both in and out of the classroom. Remember, just
  because you may not love your current duty, there are means to adjusting what is
  expected of you.

8) CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

• Every educator will share what they believe is the most effective way to arrange
  their classroom and how to structure daily procedures. But at the end of the day,
  you need to do what is right for you and your students. Additionally, you need to
  remain consistent to avoid any discrepancies along the way. Below you will see the
  acronym ARTIST. This is truly the only set of expectations that I go over with High
  School students and it has proven to work exceptionally.
  • Always be on time and prepared.
  • Respect everyone and everything in the art room.
  • Take responsibility.
  • I can.
  • Stay focused and on task.
  • Try your best.

9) HOARDING

• I say this undoubtedly, but be prepared to take on a lot of stuff. You will be
  surprised by the emails you will receive from parents and teachers asking if you
  would like bulk quantities of such random, but useful materials. Just recently, I was
  asked if I wanted over 500 National Geographic Magazines, almost 1,000 baby food
  jars and 10-foot sections of bamboo. Needless to say, I accepted it all, but only
  because I know what kind of space I have available. Just because it says free, does
  not mean that your students will benefit from those materials. A personal rule of thumb for myself is if I have yet to use a material over the course of two years, to discard. It is heart-breaking to get rid of what we believe are such wonderful raw materials, however, at some point, you do need to absorb what your student’s interests are and tender to their immediate specific needs.

10) PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Even after you complete an extensive education program, your district will continue
  to stretch your limits through professional developments that may range from
  presentations on differentiated instruction all the way up to inquiry-based learning.
  It can become overwhelming. You will find that these professional development
  opportunities may never directly apply to our discipline, but believe it or not, they
  do. Something that I have challenged myself with again has been trying to adapt the
  content from those presentations to materials that can be shared with other
  disciplines. In is then through these encounters that I hope to disseminate how the
  arts can be infused into each class through each of the various models and teaching
  strategies shared. Every new opportunity opens up pathways for new uncharted
  discoveries to be made.

11) FAILURE & FRUSTRATION

• As previously mentioned, it is okay to pull from what you already know to help get
  you started. And even more importantly is taking risks. There will undoubtedly be
  assignments that fail and have you frustrated. But again, it is okay. There are
  techniques that I attempt in even my own artwork, and still to this day, make
  mistakes, or simply the process did not turn out as expected. That is okay. As
  glamorous as it sounds to have a model for each assignment ahead, I personally
  believe that those days are behind us as students should be stretched to follow a
  path that meets their own interests and ideas. The bigger the mistake, the more we
  learn. Another point to make is allowing students to experiment on their own. This
  inclusion of inquiry-based learning not only helps to foster a rapport with students,
  but help those individuals discover something for themselves. In turn, those failures
  then become the grounds for discussion, a time in which those students are the
  voice of the class.

12) ASK FOR HELP

• Everyone needs help at some point or one another. I have been very fortunate
  within my job experiences to have mentors and first-year advisors to help guide me
  along. But in the case that you are not assigned a mentor, reach out to anyone and
  everyone. A personal favorite is making amends with the janitorial staff and the
  secretaries. As soon as you have helped to establish those relationships, no longer
  will you struggle or ever run out of paper towels. And when specific questions arise
  with artistic practices, get connected and join a social media platform that supports
  specifically what you are after. Though I have not fully plunged into the world of
  Instagram, I have however found several fantastic forums and Facebook pages that are exclusive to art teachers per discipline and grade level. And as always, PAEA and NAEA offer exclusive benefits to members that encourage participation and calls for proposals that can help you stay connected on a global scale.

13) BARGAIN AND PLEAD

• Never can you have too much. No matter the case you make, budgeting will always
  become something you dread, however, with the appropriate language and
  understanding that what you are doing is benefiting your program, the outcomes
  are much more positive. Just recently, I have found that I have wanted to dabble
  into several different types of clay bodies without having to purchase such large
  quantities of each. After making a simple phone call and explaining my position as an
  art teacher wanting to expand my palette, the manufacturer was gracious enough to
  send just enough samples that my students would have access to new materials at
  no cost. Donations can exist in several forms, but no matter the means to which it
  was acquired, always send thank you’s and stay connected. You may never know
  where that contact will get you down the road. For me specifically, my close
  proximity to the university and previous employment with the gallery has helped me
  to secure pedestals each year for our end of the year spring showcase.

14) ADVOCATE

• Along with budgeting and displaying artwork comes advocating. As a painter, my
  passion is murals. Murals help to liven a space and transform the environment from
  which the individual interacts. It was not until my second year that I took on the
  challenge and started an Art Club. Every week, students could stay after school to
  paint and collaboratively make decisions on the walls that they would be walking
  through every day. This is one way in which you can promote the Arts, but
  furthermore, attending school board meetings. Though they may not be the most
  eccentric event on your most likely one free evening, it does help to strengthen your
  presence in the district. One final part, that is not always accessible for some is
  living amongst the district you teach. Growing up, I had always heard that teachers
  would never live where they worked, however, several of our staff live in town, and I
  have to say what a rewarding experience it is to interact with our students in public
  daily. It truly does help to strengthen your program both in and out of the
  classroom as well as the relationships we have with students.

15) ENJOY YOUR STUDENTS

• Every day will present new challenges, but it is because of those risks that we
  stumble upon something that is so beautiful. Even on the days that I believe nothing
  is going right and behaviors were disrupting a class, I remind myself that I have such
  an incredible job unlike any other field. I get to inspire, I get to lead, I get to learn
  and I get to love. My students mean the world to me and there is nothing more
  rewarding than seeing your student’s walk across the stage and receive their
  diploma. As many great scholars have shared, teaching is not a field that demands immediate gratification, but a profession that spans a lifetime. A lifetime that will
  take many years before coming back to say thank you and acknowledge just how
  impactful you were when they had you as a teacher.

I hope that you find much of these tips and tricks to be inspiring and infer questions that you
may had not once posed before. If you should have any further questions, comments or
concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly. I am more than happy to be a resource
for you by any means. I wish you nothing but the upmost success in your future endeavors. “Art
is not what you see, but what you make others see.” –Edgar Degas

Respectfully,
Benjamin E. Hoffman
Visual Arts Teacher
Kutztown Area High School
bhoffman@kasd.org
Pennsylvania Art Education Association
Region 10 Representative
paearegion10@gmail.com
http://www.paeablog.org/
https://www.facebook.com/PAEAregion10