In the spring of 2017 at the NAEA annual convention, the Choice-Art Educators officially became a special interest group of the National Art Education Association.  But, the idea to become a special interest group had begun years earlier in the hallway of another convention, when teachers who believed in student-directed learning mostly in the form of TAB, Teaching for Artistic Behavior, were having difficulty finding others among the 5,000+ attendees of like minds with whom to exchange ideas.   Anne Bedrick, the first Co-President of the group, decided that if she was feeling this way, others must be as well.  

With the help of a core group of TAB teachers, bylaws and a constitution were crafted.  The first application as a “TAB” special interest group was rejected due to the name TAB being trademarked.  We had to wait another year to apply again.  This time, we applied as the Choice-Art Educators and we were approved.  Another full year later, we were installed as an official group.  Joy Schultz joined Anne as Co-President and helped to craft the first initiatives that the group took on. 

Choice-Art Educators seek to develop the artistic thinking of their students, through centers and choices; encouraging them and teaching them to come up with their own ideas for art making. This approach facilitates differentiation, which easily meets the needs of a variety of types of learners. 

The purpose of the group is to expand public awareness of choice-based art education and to provide a network for art educators who wish to share their interests in or learn more about teaching art with choice. The organization encourages professional relationships and provides for an informal, yet focused, exchanges of ideas about how to teach through centers, choice, and student-directed learning. 

Choice Art Educators Interest Group was developed from the pedagogy of TAB, but are open to include other methods of choice including Montessori and Reggio. 

Teaching for Artistic Behavior (TAB) is a nationally recognized choice-based art education approach to teaching art.  Developed in Massachusetts classrooms over thirty five years, and through courses and research at Massachusetts College of Art, the Teaching for Artistic Behavior concept enables students to experience the work of the artist through authentic learning opportunities and responsive teaching.

Teaching for Artistic Behavior Inc. is a grassroots organization developed by and for art teachers, and serves to promote and support choice based art education in public and private education settings. MAIN WEBSITE: http://teachingforartisticbehavior.org