A book co-authored by 25 Arizona State University Art Education Students, their teacher Dr. Cala Coats, and visiting lecturer Jorge Lucero. Taking up the question of “What posture should we have in terms of classroom management?”, the group unpacked the etymology of the word management, finding out that it has a correlation to horse-handling and riding. Everyone in the group identifying as having ridden a horse (duh! we were in AZ) then wrote limericks attempting to mush together thoughts and memories about both classroom management and horse-riding. We also made drawings in relation to horse-riding and made a small dance with some sticks, focusing on the necessary tension in mutually wanting to succeed (alongside our differences). In the end, the group authored a tremendous list of postures and sensibilities that one needs in relation to a horse. That list curiously maps over postures we aspire to when thinking through classroom management—not as a set of controlling techniques—but as a way to be alongside/with our students. Watching, testing, feeling, anticipating, knowing our partner, finding when to push back, looking for comfort, communicating through our bodies as well as through our voices, keeping rhythm in the symbiosis of the relationship, looking for alignment or common ground, and always being willing to follow, as we say, “Oh, okay. We’re going this way…” .

This book is not for sale in a conventional sense.

If you would like the book, we would like you to produce a work of horse, horse-riding, or horse-riding and classroom management related artwork. You can interpret “artwork” as you wish. Send this work of art to: J. Lucero, School of Art & Design, 408 E. Peabody Drive, Champaign, IL, 61820, along with a mailing address for you and we will send you the book free of charge.

If you order the book through this portal, we will send it to you as soon as we receive your artwork through the mail. At the CHECKOUT, click “STORE PICKUP” option under Shipping.