This document provides information for art teachers on getting published in SchoolArts magazine. It lists several benefits to being published such as enhancing professional reputation, sharing expertise with other teachers, and potentially leading to other opportunities. Details are given on the types of articles and lessons published in different categories for various grade levels. Tips are included for writing submissions, such as keeping articles under 800 words and having others review the content. Guidelines are also provided for submitting high quality digital photos to accompany articles. Contact information is given for the editor in chief and SchoolArts website for more details.
2. Why should you get published?
It makes you (and your school, administrators, and
students) look good.
Your students’ parents will be very happy.
You can use your article as a conference handout.
You can frame it and hang it in your art room.
You can share your expertise with other art teachers.
You are demonstrating your professionalism.
You are instantly recognized as an author.
It can lead to other things (invitations to present, books).
31. Before writing, think about:
• A favorite lesson, idea, or issue.
• How you would express your idea to a fellow art teacher.
• What idea, artist, trend, or issue influenced your idea.
• The main ideas you’re trying to communicate.
• What problems a teacher might encounter.
When writing:
• Use a conversational style.
• Keep it to less than 800 words.
• Read it out loud.
• Have someone else read it.
• Copy your text and images separately onto a CD.
32. Photography Tips
Always have a camera with you.
SchoolArts Magazine requires high-quality digital photo-
graphs, at least 1 MB or 300 dpi.
• Photograph artwork on a neutral background.
• Leave space around the artwork/subject.
• Shoot straight down on 2D artwork.
• Use a curved background to shoot 3D artwork.
• Do not use flash; natural light is best.
• Do not try to photograph laminated artworks.
• Photographs of children should be unidentifiable.
• Make sure your digital camera is on the “Best” setting.
• Turn off the date mode on your camera.
33.
34. Shoot 3D artwork on a curved piece of paper,
using natural light.
Art Education, the journal of the National Art Education Association, is juried, research-based publication.
Your state organization may have a journal. Trends is the name of the one in Texas.
Ken Vieth’s studio lessons are in The Visual Experience.
Art & Activities
SchoolArts pays for articles, plus gives the authors extra copies of the issue, and a subscription to the print edition. SchoolArts has been published since 1901 for art teachers of students K-12. SchoolArts has studio lessons in each issue, in addition to departments such as Advocacy, Managing the Artroom, Meeting Individual Needs, Assessment, and more.
Detail
SchoolArts is based on universal themes. For example, this year the theme is Studio Thinking.
Most SA articles are from 500-800 words.
SA has studio lessons for early childhood, elementary, middle school, and high school every month.
SA Middle School Lesson
SA High School Lesson
SA All Levels
SA Managing the Art Room
SA Meeting Individual Needs
SchoolArts has an advocacy article in every issue.
SA Point of View
SA technology column, @r+, written by David Gran, an art teacher in Shanghai, and the author of the blog, The Carrot Revolution.
SA ClipCards need only one image and about 150-200 words. They are a good entry point for getting published.
SchoolArts and CRIZMAC team up to lead cultural travel opportunities.
http://www.artforsmallhands.com, a self-published book
Craig Hinshaw has published 2 books, Clay Connections and Animals, Houses, and People.
Writing Tips
Photography Tips: The main reason SA articles get declined is the low quality of the photographs of the artworks.
Shoot straight down on artwork; use a photo gray background when needed.
Shoot 3D work on a curved piece of paper, using natural light.
Shoot photos of students so their faces don’t show.
Take photos of the steps of a project if it will help explain it. This shows the steps of paper marbling with chalk and water.
Shoot as close as you can.
When you do show students’ faces, be sure to get written permission. Your school or district may already have one in use. SchoolArts has one on its website that you can print out and use.