What Artists Do: Tab Pedagogy and Practice for K-12 Choice-Based Art Classes

By Jennifer R. Ferrari and Jillian Hogan

This book explains why Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) is an influential art education movement, addresses misconceptions about TAB, and shares real-life examples from practicing teachers.

With a diverse range of examples from teachers and school districts who use the Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) approach, What Artists Do provides a strong argument for the place of TAB in today's K-12 visual arts education landscape. After beginning in the 1970s as a grassroots movement, TAB's growth has been fueled by passionate teachers sharing ideas through social media, conferences, workshops, and professional development events. TAB's continued expansion is driven by its student-centered approach to artmaking, the creativity of its practitioners, and a growing demand for educational models that prioritize innovation and self-direction. With chapters tailored for a wide audience--including experienced and new art teachers, administrators, and teacher educators--this book serves as a practical resource for understanding and implementing TAB in art rooms everywhere.

Book Features:
Includes over 40 full-color images of student artwork, classroom resources, and art teachers practicing in their studiosOffers ideas and guidance for using a choice-based approach to visual arts education that values student agency, classroom community, and artistic process and thinking.Cites evidence-based research that supports TAB as a best practice in contemporary art education and explains the psychological underpinnings of choice and student engagement.Addresses the growth of this approach over the past 50 years, as well as TAB's place in the historical evolution of art education.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0807783978
• ISBN13: 9780807783979
• Release Date: June 2026
• Publisher: Teachers College Press
• Length: 176 Pages