Felicia Merrick is a veteran classroom teacher of 22 years before becoming an art teacher. It’s a position she feels embodies all that she loves: creativity and children.
But a series of devastating losses lead to a debilitating battle with anxiety and depression. Through daily calming practices, the right medication, and a full self-help toolbox, Felicia is determined to manage anxiety.
She hopes that by sharing her story, other art teachers will earn to identify the trigger points and to find the necessary help.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
– Felicia’s journey to become an art teacher
– How she deals with anxiety and the best tools available to help others do the same
– What effect influential people will have in your life
– Why it’s so important to say “goodbye” to challenging times in your life and career
– How Patty finds her calm and reenergizes
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
My best advice for teaching art to kids.
Felicia Merrick is a veteran classroom teacher of 22 years before becoming an art teacher. It’s a position she feels embodies all that she loves: creativity and children.
But a series of devastating losses lead to a debilitating battle with anxiety and depression. Through daily calming practices, the right medication, and a full self-help toolbox, Felicia is determined to manage anxiety.
She hopes that by sharing her story, other art teachers will earn to identify the trigger points and to find the necessary help.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:
– Felicia’s journey to become an art teacher
– How she deals with anxiety and the best tools available to help others do the same
– What effect influential people will have in your life
– Why it’s so important to say “goodbye” to challenging times in your life and career
– How Patty finds her calm and reenergizes
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
Felicia’s Autobiography:
Being the youngest child, I always wanted to be “the boss” and was given an opportunity in Kindergarten. I was determined to be a teacher. I became a 2nd grade teacher and did so for 22+ years. After graduating from SDSU, my husband (of 32 years this month) and I moved to Northern California to get a teaching job, because I refused to be a sub! I loved it! I felt alive. I was in control. I had it all going on. I did a job-share for 10 years with many fabulous teachers, (some questionable) while I had my 4 children…Teaching was my passion. I was right where I belonged! Unknowingly, my path led my family and I to relocate to Southern California.
For the past 5 years, I have been an ART teacher at the elementary level. This, amongst other roles I play, mom, sister to 8 other sisters and 8 brothers, friend, colleague, etc. I became an Art teacher! Who would’ve thunk? I guess I did! I didn’t even know it! As well as 2nd grade and ART, I have taught “Computer Coding” and “Health and Wellness” (both in which I am not formally trained). I am so thankful I have DSS as my go-to for art instruction and realtime art teacher support.
I have a loving God. I have a loving family, (both immediate and extended) that have supported me 100% thru this journey called life. I do know that this thing we call Art is more than just that. It is a healthy, healing boat to be on, and I am embarking on it “full steam ahead”! I do intend to “sail around the world” of art and share it with my students who have not had such an amazing path to follow, strong support, or a loving ocean to sail on. May I be a conduit to help these young humans recognize this through “this thing called ART” as I boss them around.
LINKS & RESOURCES:
– AME 136: Finding Your Voice as an Art Teacher with Cassie Stephens
– Summer Beach & Biz Book Reads
– An Unquiet Mind* by Kay Redfield Jamison
– The Power of Now* by Eckart Tolle
– A New Earth* by Eckhart Tolle
– Calm.com
*Affiliate Link: we get a portion of the profits from products purchased from this link
You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram
Patty Palmer At Home Instagram
Join the Sparklers Club waitlist HERE
support@deepspacesparkle.com
Felicia’s Autobiography:
Being the youngest child, I always wanted to be “the boss” and was given an opportunity in Kindergarten. I was determined to be a teacher. I became a 2nd grade teacher and did so for 22+ years. After graduating from SDSU, my husband (of 32 years this month) and I moved to Northern California to get a teaching job, because I refused to be a sub! I loved it! I felt alive. I was in control. I had it all going on. I did a job-share for 10 years with many fabulous teachers, (some questionable) while I had my 4 children…Teaching was my passion. I was right where I belonged! Unknowingly, my path led my family and I to relocate to Southern California.
For the past 5 years, I have been an ART teacher at the elementary level. This, amongst other roles I play, mom, sister to 8 other sisters and 8 brothers, friend, colleague, etc. I became an Art teacher! Who would’ve thunk? I guess I did! I didn’t even know it! As well as 2nd grade and ART, I have taught “Computer Coding” and “Health and Wellness” (both in which I am not formally trained). I am so thankful I have DSS as my go-to for art instruction and realtime art teacher support.
I have a loving God. I have a loving family, (both immediate and extended) that have supported me 100% thru this journey called life. I do know that this thing we call Art is more than just that. It is a healthy, healing boat to be on, and I am embarking on it “full steam ahead”! I do intend to “sail around the world” of art and share it with my students who have not had such an amazing path to follow, strong support, or a loving ocean to sail on. May I be a conduit to help these young humans recognize this through “this thing called ART” as I boss them around.
LINKS & RESOURCES:
– AME 136: Finding Your Voice as an Art Teacher with Cassie Stephens
– Summer Beach & Biz Book Reads
– An Unquiet Mind* by Kay Redfield Jamison
– The Power of Now* by Eckart Tolle
– A New Earth* by Eckhart Tolle
– Calm.com
*Affiliate Link: we get a portion of the profits from products purchased from this link
You can visit Patty through Deep Space Sparkle on Facebook and Instagram
Patty Palmer At Home Instagram
Join the Sparklers Club waitlist HERE
support@deepspacesparkle.com
My best advice for teaching art to kids.
Yes, the day has come!
After a long time deciding if, I finally said when.
Thank you SO much for your encouragement, show suggestions and help getting Art Made Easy off the ground.
Many of you were so pumped about this show but confessed that you had no idea what a podcast was. I love you guys for your unbridled enthusiasm.
Here’s a quick definition of a podcast & what to expect from Art Made Easy:
A podcast is a free radio show. The host (me!) interviews guests or talks about a favorite subject. You get to listen through your computer, laptop or smart phone. I like to listen to my favorite podcasts in my car during long travel days or on my walks via set of ear buds and my iPhone.
You can subscribe to the show via iTunes and Stitcher radio. The benefit is that your free podcast ap on your iPhone will automatically be updated with all the podcast episodes from any show you subscribe to.
Go ahead and give it a try!
To listen on your laptop or computer, just click the play button in the colored box below.
To listen via iTunes, click on the “play in iTunes” banner and click subscribe.
And now onto the show…
For my first show, I wanted to tell you my story of how I became an art teacher. We all have different paths and this one is mine. I’ll share advice to those who are just starting out as an art teacher and some of my best tips for teaching art to kids.
This episode is for anyone who thinks they may not have the qualifications to be an art teacher. Teaching art to kids doesn’t have to happen inside a classroom. You can teach art at home, at a summer camp and even as a volunteer (like I did).
If you are an art teacher just beginning your journey, I’m sharing my best advice to get you through that tough first year. Download my free handout and keep it in your teacher planner and refer to it when you have a tough day.
LISTEN TO THE SHOW
SHOW NOTES:
Drawing With Children: A Creative Method for Adult Beginners, Too
Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media-For Budding Artists of All Ages (Lab Series)
National Art Convention
CreativeLive- free online classes
Art Teachers Facebook Group
Website: Painted Paper in the Art Room (Laura Lohmann)
Website: Art of Education
Book: Classroom Management for Art, Music, and PE Teachers
PS – Please leave a review on iTunes!
Art Made Easy is now live on iTunes! Subscribing to the show and leaving an honest review really helps the show gain visibility and allows me to tailor the show to your needs.
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I suppose I was expecting to see only art related podcasts here.
This is definitely art related…many art teachers struggle with the affects of anxiety. And I’m here to help them share their story. If you dig deep, you can find opportunities to identify who others (perhaps some of your co-workers and peers) suffer form stress and you can have some perspective. But, of course, not every podcast appeals to every one. So definitely scroll through the topics and I know you’ll find one that suits you. Thanks for having a listen.
Teachers can get a free subscription to to Calm. I have and use it.
Oh my! How do I request this? Thanks for the tip!
This was a great podcast! Loved it!
Oh my! How do I request this? Thanks for the tip!