Support from school partners is absolutely necessary. Every teaching artist knows this, and every arts education organization strives to cultivate this support. In this article, the authors create some powerful strategies for achieving this support, such as agreeing at the outset about the focus of the residency. Lessons that develop meaningful connections between the art form and something the teacher cares deeply about--such as writing--invite collaboration. An emphasis on metacognition for everyone--teaching artist, students, and classroom teacher--creates a space where they become aware of their own thinking and learning, and begin to value their ways of doing so. This also invites further metaphors to emerge and encourages the classroom teacher to join in.