Art Teachers Share Strategies for Co-Teaching in a Shared Art Room

A guide for art teachers who share a classroom emphasizes that while art teachers are often independent, sharing a space can be rewarding. The article suggests preparing for the transition by establishing shared expectations and creating a space that works for everyone. Benefits include having a built-in colleague to design curriculum, cover classes, bring different strengths, troubleshoot challenges, plan lessons, answer phones, give reminders, celebrate student growth, and discuss art. To create a peaceful atmosphere, teachers should agree on temperature, air fresheners, lighting, student voice volume, social battery, background sounds, personal spaces, and decorations. Core classroom management systems should be aligned, including student expectations for desk areas, supply access, closets and kiln rooms, hall passes, roaming, and cleanup. Regular check-ins via weekly or monthly meetings with agendas help prevent resentment. For shared supplies, teachers can divide responsibilities, use a shared spreadsheet with company names, item numbers, and links, and watch PRO Learning videos like Routines for Managing Supplies. Discussions should cover storage, ordering, and usage, including aligning materials for units like Clay Week or taking turns with media. The article concludes that sharing a space can be supportive and rewarding with open communication and flexibility.