What Do I Need to Know to Become a Teaching Artist?
A list of competencies and capacities follows. This list is broken down into three categories: 1. Understanding your art form; 2. Understanding the classroom environment; pedagogy, human development; and 3. Understanding the collaborative process; working in an educational environment.  Use this list to assess your abilities.  Are there gaps in your abilities?  What are your strong points?

How Can I Get My First Teaching Job?
If you do not have teaching experience, you may want to begin in a less formal setting such as working in a community center or summer camp.  After-school programs also provide a good place to begin.  If you can, volunteer first in one of these areas. This is a great way to gain experience, to determine your interest, and it can be listed on your resume.  Working as an intern will also help you gain experience and understanding of working as an artist in education.  Volunteerism and internships are great ways to try it out and see if you really want to work as a Teaching Artist.  Contact your local Arts in Education Roundtable or arts council to identify appropriate organizations and for assistance in identifying neighborhood cultural providers. 

How Can I Learn More About The New York Learning Standards?
Visit http://www.emsc.nysed.gov/deputy/Documents/learnstandards.htm
OR http://accelerateu.org/standards/index.cfm to learn about the academic AND arts standards.

How Can I Learn About Classroom Management?
There are many books on classroom management, positive discipline, planning instructional lessons and curriculum units published by The Association For Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) www.ascd.org. The books can be accessed through the publications section of their web site.

Basic Capacities of All Teaching Artists 

1. Understanding Your Art Form

a. Knowledge of basic formal language
b. Knowledge of trends, history, and styles of the discipline
c. Knowledge of key practitioners of the discipline, both
    historical and contemporary
d. Understanding of the creative process (e.g., inspiration,
    planning,  developing an idea, using materials and techniques,
    expression)

2. Understanding Classroom Environment; Pedagogy, Human Development

a. Process and product, the continuum in experiencing the arts
b. Planning a lesson, including modeling, demonstration,
    differentiated instruction
c. Time management
d. Hallmarks of early childhood, middle elementary, junior high and
    high school human development
e. Curriculum unit and residency planning
f. Classroom management
g. Evaluation and assessment, strategies and practices

3. Understanding The Collaborative Process; Working in a School
    Environment

a. The residency planning process
b. Working with administrator, teachers, and parents