BONUS: One Skill Art Teachers Say Matters More Than Technique
Schoolutions: Curious Educators. Evidence-Based Strategies. Classrooms Where Every Child Thrives.
12/05/25
•14m
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In this S5E14 @schoolutionspodcast BONUS, I unpack @katedriscoll931 's revolutionary approach to education that prioritizes observation over analysis, pride over perfection, and joy over data. Whether you're teaching art, math, or anything in between, Kate's strategies for classroom belonging, student engagement, and inspiring students will transform how you think about effective teaching.
What if the most important thing we could teach students isn't in any curriculum guide? Art teacher Kate Driscoll, whose video reached 80 million people, believes the answer is simple: teach them to notice.
What You'll Learn:
• Why teaching observation before interpretation changes everything for student participation and attention in class
• How to create conditions for authentic pride (not participation trophies) that boost student motivation
• Kate's assessment philosophy that starts with "What do you like about your work?" – a game-changer for low engagement
• The power of using contemporary, local artists to increase student engagement and create meaningful home-school connection
• 5 concrete strategies you can implement Monday morning for active learning across any subject
Kate sees 400 students for just one hour each week, yet every child leaves her classroom carrying pride and creative confidence. This approach to inclusive teaching and culturally responsive teaching works because it honors the whole child while building student success through real autonomy and choice.
Perfect for teachers, education coaches, school administrators, parents, homeschoolers, teacher mentors, instructional leaders, and anyone committed to education transformation and empowered educators.
Referenced Episode: Season 5, Episode 14 - "Why This Art Teacher is Making Kids Love Creating" with Kate Driscoll
5 Try-It-Tomorrow Strategies:
1. Practice noticing – really seeing without devices
2. Create conditions for pride through real challenges with autonomy
3. Find contemporary, relevant connections to your curriculum
4. Ask "What do you like about your work?" before offering feedback
5. Remember the joy you bring
Weekend Challenge: Take a noticing walk with your students. Count colors in a leaf, observe shadow patterns, really see your environment. Email your observations to schoolutionspodcast@gmail.com.
Chapters
0:00 - Introduction: The 80 Million View Video
1:00 - The Power of Teaching Students to Notice
3:00 - Observation Before Analysis: What Students Are Missing
4:30 - The Radical Skill of Paying Attention
5:30 - Creating Conditions for Pride (Not Trophies)
6:45 - Contemporary Artists: Making Curriculum Relevant
8:00 - Assessment That Starts With Self-Reflection
9:30 - Remember the Joy You Bring
10:30 - 5 Try-It-Tomorrow Strategies
12:00 - Weekend Challenge: Take a Noticing Walk
13:00 - Final Thoughts: Teaching the Extraordinary in the Ordinary
🚀📚 Watch the full S5E14 @schoolutionspodcast interview here (https://youtu.be/wWpZsQCFHvI)
Join our community of educators committed to cultivating student success, inspired teaching, and creating i
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Previous Episode
Why This Art Teacher is Making Kids LOVE Creating
December 1, 2025
•31m
In this S5E14 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, join me with Kate Driscoll (@art_teacher_life) an Australian art educator whose first Facebook video reached 80 million people! With 37 years in education (23 as a primary teacher, 14 as an art specialist), Kate shares transformative strategies for nurturing creativity in students.
In this episode, discover:
• How to build student engagement through art education strategies
• Innovative teaching methods that foster student motivation and classroom belonging
• Assessment techniques that promote student success while maintaining creative freedom
• The power of connecting students with contemporary artists for authentic learning
• Practical tips for classroom behavior management in creative spaces
• Why teaching students to "notice" is the ultimate educational gift
Kate reveals her approach to inclusive teaching, working with 400 students weekly in hour-long sessions that prioritize joy, autonomy, and storytelling through art. Learn how she creates an inclusive classroom where every child feels proud and empowered.
Some Episode Mentions:
💫Mulga - Australian artist who creates incredible creatures/animals and writes stories about his artwork
💫Anya Brock - West Australian artist with murals around Perth and Fremantle area
Perfect for teachers, education coaches, instructional leaders, school administrators, parents, and homeschoolers seeking effective teaching strategies that inspire student participation and active learning.
Chapters
0:00 Introduction & Kate's Viral Impact
1:00 Kate's Teaching Background
2:00 Professional Development & Teaching Philosophy
3:00 Classroom Structure & Student Numbers
5:00 Daily Routines & Question of the Day
7:00 Teaching Observation & Noticing Skills
8:00 Finding Contemporary Australian Artists
10:00 Making Real-World Art Connections
13:00 Assessment & Self-Evaluation
15:00 Literacy Integration & Storytelling
17:00 Mentoring New Teachers
18:00 Global Art Education Perspectives
20:00 Fostering Lifelong Creativity
22:00 Autonomy in the Art Room
23:00 Art is Everywhere Philosophy
24:00 Lightning Round: Misconceptions & Must-Haves
26:00 The Joy You Bring as an Art Teacher
Join our community of educators committed to cultivating student success, inspired teaching, and creating inclusive classrooms with a pro-kid mindset focused on the whole child.
📧 Connect: schoolutionspodcast@gmail.com
🎵 Music: Benjamin Wahl
Don't forget to 🔔SUBSCRIBE for more teaching tips, and 💬SHARE with fellow educators!
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
Next Episode
Launching Students into High-Level Work They Care About
December 8, 2025
•45m
In this S5E15 Schoolutions Teaching Strategies conversation, join me with teacher and author Sarah M. Zerwin as she shares strategies from her book Step Aside: Strategies for Student-Driven Learning with Secondary Readers and Writers (Illustrated by Jane Zerwin).
🚗 The Driving Course Metaphor: Student-driven learning isn't about abandoning students—it's like teaching someone to drive. You don't toss them the keys; you sit beside them, teach the rules, create a safe course, and strategically step back while staying present.
📝 The Power of the Humble Post-it Note: Discover how Original Thought Annotations (OTAs) using simple sticky notes can revolutionize student engagement, classroom belonging, and student motivation. Students write "I noticed... I think..." and build complex thinking from small observations.
🎯 The Three Step Meaning Making Process:
1️⃣Start Small (notice details through OTAs)
2️⃣Seek Connections (through rambling writing and discussion)
3️⃣Take Action (apply thinking to authentic work)
Resources:
- Pointless by Sarah Zerwin
- The Courage to Teach by Parker Palmer
- Reading With Presence by Marilyn Pryle
- A Novel Approach by Kate Roberts
- The Anti-Racist Writing Workshop by Felicia Rose Chavez
- The Quickwrite Handbook by Linda Rief
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction: Working Harder Than Your Students?
1:00 Meet Sarah Zerwin and Step Aside
3:00 Parker Palmer & The Third Thing
5:00 The Driving Course Metaphor
8:00 Phantom Policies We Don't Need
12:00 Collaborating with Jane
15:00 The Humble Post-it Note Revolution
17:00 Original Thought Annotations (OTAs)
20:00 Building Thinking from Small Observations
23:00 The 3-Step Meaning-Making Process
26:00 Start Small: What Students Notice
28:00 Seek Connections: Rambling & Discussion
32:00 Take Action: Thinking into Learning
34:00 Evolution from Pointless
36:00 Learning Progressions
38:00 Student-Generated Goals Using AI
42:00 Lightning Round
44:00 Misconceptions About Student-Driven Learning
46:00 Where Can You Step Aside?
48:00 Final Invitation
When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.
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