Pottery Teacher Notes on iPhone: Student Progress, Glaze Recipes & Kiln Firing Records

Teaching pottery combines craft instruction with studio management, glaze chemistry, and kiln operation. A glaze that fires beautifully in one kiln load may behave differently in the next if the pack changed. A student who struggled with centering last session needs a different approach than one who centers easily but collapses at pulling. Nemos gives pottery teachers a field-ready place to capture both the technical and pedagogical observations that make teaching effective.

What to Capture in Nemos

Student Progress Observations For each student: - Current skill level and techniques mastered - Specific challenges observed and teaching approach tried - Breakthrough moments — what worked and why - Goals set and timeline discussed - Work submitted and outcomes

Student progress notes personalize instruction. When a student returns after two weeks, you pick up exactly where you left off rather than re-assessing from scratch.

Glaze Recipe Records For each glaze developed or tested: - Ingredients and percentages (Seger formula or batch recipe) - Target cone and atmosphere (oxidation, reduction) - Application method tested (dipping, brushing, spraying) - Fired result: color, surface quality, any defects - Substrate tested on (stoneware, porcelain, earthenware)

Glaze recipe notes are the studio's technical library. A glaze that works reliably for student use is worth documenting in detail.

Kiln Firing Records For each firing: - Kiln load description (student work, glaze tests, production) - Cone and firing schedule used - Any witness cones result - Firing anomalies (stalling, overfiring, power issues) - Result assessment by shelf position

Firing records help diagnose why a load underperformed — and replicate successful firings.

Curriculum Planning Notes For each class series: - Technique sequence and rationale - Demo materials needed - Assessment criteria - Timing adjustments from prior run

Planning notes make curriculum iteration efficient — you know exactly what to adjust before the next cohort starts.

Studio Safety Records Document: - Chemical hazard assessments for materials used - Student safety orientation completion - Equipment inspection dates - Any incident documentation

Safety records are essential for studio insurance and demonstrate professional practice.

FAQ

Can I use Nemos offline in a studio with poor signal? Yes. Full offline.

How do I organize notes across multiple class cohorts running simultaneously? Create a note per class section with student sub-notes. Tags by cohort and skill level keep the teaching record navigable.

Is Nemos useful for open studio sessions where many students work simultaneously? Yes — quick observations about each student during walkabouts, captured as brief notes, are far more reliable than trying to remember everything at session end.

Can I attach photos of student work? Yes. Attach photos of work at each stage. Visual progress documentation is especially motivating when shown back to students.

Why not just use a class register? Registers track attendance. Nemos tracks teaching — what was observed, what was tried, and what worked.

Related Reading

• /blog/ceramicist-notes-iphone — ceramic material and firing documentation
• /blog/recipe-developer-notes-iphone — iterative formula development documentation patterns
• /blog/private-chef-notes-iphone — student and client preference records
• /blog/quality-control-inspector-notes-iphone — systematic assessment documentation

Sources

• Ceramics glaze chemistry: Digital Fire (digitalfire.com) technical glaze resources
• Studio safety documentation: OSHA ceramic studio hazard communication guidelines

Download Nemos free on the App Store.