What are the top tips for teaching art in secondary school?

Art is a multi-faceted subject that helps to build crucial skills such as problem-solving and perceptive thinking, and emotional intelligence. Having the necessary skills to effectively teach art to children plays an essential role in helping students to learn and develop, especially in secondary school where the subject becomes more challenging.

Education sectors across the globe have recognised the importance of art, and most schools regard the subject as a fundamental topic. According to the UK’s Cultural and Learning Alliance, secondary schools are working hard to increase and stabilise the number of art teachers after years of decline. This is great news for passionate educators who are seeking art teacher jobs.

If you are eager to make a positive contribution to this movement and secure yourself a position where you can make a significant improvement in learner development, then you need to equip yourself with the right tools. Here are 4 art teacher tips that are useful and easy to apply:

Art comes in many forms and if you want to engage your students, it’s important that you give them the opportunity to explore and expand their horizons so that they can find a form that appeals to them. To do this, you can introduce art from different cultures, or you can discuss unusual materials and art techniques (visual presentations are key here).

When we allow students the freedom to explore, we can use their interest to develop a deeper appreciation of more sophisticated and relevant syllabus-related sources.

In secondary school, learners are taught that art is more than just a pretty picture. Each masterpiece has a history and a story, and to truly appreciate it, you need to understand its whole value.

Teach your students how to research their topics, introduce them to verified resources online, or provide them with access to a library of books on art. This way, they can be encouraged to put more thought into the art process and draw inspiration from their findings.

In an English lesson, students are provided with an outline to help them write an essay. Students in Mathematics are given formulas to solve equations. These tools help students understand what they need to do to achieve success. Art should be approached in a similar way.

For example, in secondary school, you can show your students how to succeed by connecting techniques to popular artforms, or you can demonstrate a variety of brush strokes and pencil techniques. The tip here is, before you send your students out to explore the world of art, provide them with a formula that gives them the confidence to perform.

Finally, adopt an assessment strategy that develops skills and confidence. At this age, you do not need to apply harsh criticism to transfer a skill. Instead, provide your students with rewards and praise in areas where they have excelled. This will encourage them to keep learning and participating while you bring areas of improvement to their attention.

At Teaching Personnel, we’re looking for teachers who are passionate about art and education and are ready to equip themselves with knowledge so that they can help their students thrive.

Our team understands that the role of teachers is more than tracking progress, it’s supporting students through education so that they learn to be independent and capable individuals with a passion for learning. If you are looking for a position where you can put your tools to practice and offer this type of support as an art teacher, then we invite you to apply for one of our rewarding secondary art teacher jobs today.