POINT OF VIEW

Melody visits a mural from pop artist POSE at the Richmond Canal Walk in Richmond, Virginia.

Melody Weintraub

When I first began teaching, I wanted to learn all that I could from others, but I wanted to keep my really good ideas to myself. I know—sounds selfish, doesn’t it? In my defense, a lot of other art teachers seemed to share this characteristic at the time. We’d share certain aspects of a lesson, but leave out a few minor details...like a good cook who leaves out a secret ingredient so no one can make that delicious pie quite the same! I think this has to do with a competitive spirit, but that has no place when it comes to focusing on our shared purpose, which is to reach our students through art.

The Joy of Giving
As I got older and had more experience, especially when I taught art education at the University of Memphis, I began giving away all my best lesson plans to preservice teachers. It gave me so much joy to know they would be using my best practices in their classrooms and even expanding and improving upon them. And by sharing my resources, I was even helping to teach children who I would never see—an amazing thought.

By sharing my resources, I was even helping to teach children who I would never see—an amazing thought.

Sharing my best lessons and practices on social media and in SchoolArts magazine reminds me of those days in higher ed. I now write up two or three articles a week, and I share as much as I can in the time I have left on this planet with the memory I have left. At this point in my life, I want to give it all away!

Start Now
I would encourage you to start giving it all away sooner than I did. Learn from your colleagues. Share with your colleagues. Don’t hoard those lessons like you do those egg cartons that you’ll never use. Start a blog! Write that article and submit it! Take tons of pictures as examples in your classroom. Learn to use Dropbox and Google Drive. Share the handouts. Write the book. Start today and give like an artist!

Melody Weintraub is a retired art teacher and art education adjunct at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and frequent contributor to SchoolArts. melodyweintraub@gmail.com