Teachers are always looking for new ways to help students demonstrate what they know. For Crystal Oswald, a reading specialist in Illinois with more than 20 years of experience, creative materials like paint, chalk, glitter, and modeling clay have become powerful instructional tools that support literacy, engagement, and student choice. We asked Crystal how she used art supplies from School Smart—School Specialty’s own line of quality, affordable classroom supplies—with her students and why she plans to keep them within easy reach all year long.
How did you use School Smart art supplies in your classroom?
I love using art materials as a way for students to show what they know rather than simply telling me what they know. I also love thinking outside the box when it comes to using art supplies, especially in reading.
For example, after reading a picture book, students could use tempera paint or pastel chalk to create a scene that represents an important part of the story. They could then explain their artistic choices to a partner or write a short response about how their artwork connects to the text.
Modeling clay is another great way to bring learning to life. In addition to using the modeling clay to create book characters, I used it for segmenting sounds. Students used the clay as a tactile way to “tap out” each sound as they segmented.
To practice encoding, we used the glitter in a basket. Students received a word and then wrote it using the glitter.
I also love using these materials for choice-based projects. After a lesson, students choose to paint, draw with pastels, build with clay, or combine materials to practice and extend their learning.
How did your students react to using these art supplies?
My students were excited to have the opportunity to work with materials that felt different from their typical classroom supplies. The paint, chalk, glitter, and modeling clay immediately created a sense of excitement and curiosity.
I especially noticed how engaged students became when they had creative choices. Instead of everyone producing the exact same project, students were able to make their own decisions and explain their thinking.
One of my favorite parts was listening to students talk about their creations. Their conversations often revealed a deeper level of thinking than I might have seen from a traditional worksheet or written response.
What stood out to you most about School Smart art supplies?
What I love most is that these supplies can be used as instructional tools, not just art supplies. Tempera paint, glitter, pastel chalk, paper, and modeling clay give students multiple ways to communicate their thinking and practice a skill they are learning. A student can paint an idea, build it with clay, sketch it with chalk, write it in glitter, or combine materials to create something completely their own.
Not only can these supplies be used as instructional tools, but they are of top-notch quality. In 21 years of education, I have used a lot of art supplies, but these by far are my favorite due to their quality. Now that I have experienced them in my reading class, I know they will last. They are also easy to clean, and I know I will be reaching for them often. I love resources that are high-quality, versatile, and easy to integrate into instruction, and these materials checked all of those boxes.
How do School Smart art supplies save you time and support instruction?
Now that I have introduced the supplies and the expectations, I can easily incorporate them into more lessons and my students will be engaged in a fun, creative way.
We all know how quickly teachers have to move, and time is precious. They save time because I can incorporate them into lessons I am already teaching rather than creating an entirely separate art lesson. Plus, I truly appreciate how quickly I was able to clean up these supplies!
They also make differentiation easier. Students can work toward the same learning target while using different materials or approaches to demonstrate their understanding. For example, one student might write a detailed response about a character while another student creates the character with modeling clay and explains their thinking orally. Both students are demonstrating comprehension in meaningful ways.
How do you plan to use School Smart art supplies again in the future?
I plan to continue using these supplies to integrate art and creativity into my reading lessons. I especially see myself using them for stations in my classroom for when we are finished with our lesson. I have a variety of centers that the students can choose from when we are finished. I will have the art supplies out in bins for them to use as a way to practice the skill we are learning. After their initial reactions to using these supplies, I know they will be eager to use them again as a choice.
What advice would you give other teachers about using School Smart art supplies in the classroom?
My biggest suggestion for teachers is to think beyond the traditional art project. Start with your learning objective and ask, “How could my students demonstrate this understanding through creating?”
I also love giving students choices between materials. I want to allow them to explore the materials and make sense of them for their lesson and what works best for their learning.
Remember, these aren’t just “fun” art supplies. They’re also tools for engagement, differentiation, literacy, and content areas.
Watch Crystal’s video review of School Smart art supplies:
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Teacher Picks is a sponsored program available from We Are Teachers. All opinions shared in the review are honest and based on the teacher’s direct experience. To learn more about our guidelines and review process, click here.
