me arts ed

Christmas Wishes from Xerox!

If you go to this web site, http://www.LetsSayThanks.com   you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox will print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in  Iraq . You can’t pick out who gets it, but it will go to a member of the armed services.

This will only take you a short time and it would be a wonderful opportunity to help our service men and woman receive a bit of cheer.

Sculptor Visits Bangor Art Class

Stephanie Leonard, Bangor’s elementary art teacher at Fairmount School, arranged for sculptor Blake Hendrickson to visit her 4th and 5th grade classrooms for three days.

I understand that Stephanie was on the news so hopefully some of you saw the segment. The Bangor Daily News included an article in Friday’s paper about the residency. You can read it by clicking here.

Workshop: Teaching Music: Creative Ideas, Plans And Strategies That Work! by Jake Sturtevant

I thought this session might be just another session of music teachers talking ‘shop’, and complaining about how horrible schools are to music programs. I was pleasantly surprised that the group at the session was a very dedicated and creative group of music educators from around the state. They had some great ideas for how to grow and sustain a productive music program, with an optimistic approach.

Rob Westerberg did a wonderful job guiding and steering the discussion among the teachers at the session, and he took notes for all the world to see by clicking here.

As far as the ‘ideas’ thrown around, I benefited greatly to hear how other schools are building and sustaining music programs creatively.  For instance, one district utilizes Skype technology to meet with all the music educators in the district and discuss common goals and objectives, and work out solutions to problems encountered.  Another teacher discussed his adapting a music program to fit the students, in which case there are guitar classes, intro to music classes, and percussion ensembles, and no conventional “band”.  It was apparent to me that it is precisely these small productive communities that are needed in the education spectrum.  Communities that don’t necessarily have a ridged agenda, but one that exemplifies creativity in a structured approach to formulating and discussing ideas, problems, and solutions.

Though it was just a short discussion sharing forum, the teachers in the breakout session seemed encouraging and creative in approaching problems, and though there were some complaints about how schools and systems make it impossible to teach music, there was a more productive atmosphere of how to work creatively within those systems.  It seems to me this exemplifies the “practice what we preach” mentality,  and it was wonderful to be a part of it in this session.

Good News for Dance and Music

Dance teacher at Lake Region High School, Carmel Collins has good news! The community of MSAD#61 which is Bridgton, Casco, Naples and Sebago voted YES on November 3rd to remodel the high school facility. The plans include a new dance studio to be built on the front of the school. The music room will increase in space as well. They will break ground in the summer.

Carmel sent me this short piece on a recent opportunity her students had working with a  professional dancer:

Students of the Lake Region Dance Showcase class experienced the expertise of professional dancer and choreographer Elizabeth Goulet of the Rhythm Factor Dance Company.  Energy and enthusiasm reached its heights as Elizabeth took the students through their paces of the latest moves on the hip-hop scene.  Original choreography was taught to the students as well as the opportunity for their own creative input towards the end of the workshop.

Hip-hop is a very dynamic intense form of dance, infused with deep felt expression and topped off with a little attitude.  A popular style of dance with our younger population, the hip-hop workshop gave students the opportunity to observe and experience the high level of skill, dedication, and discipline it takes to be a proficient dancer whether it be hip-hop, jazz, or ballet.

Participants from top left: visiting dance artist Elizabeth Goulet, Angelica Beek, Tristan Lacey, Zackary Larrabee, Caitlyn Paul, Shelley Tomacchio, Dance Teacher Carmel Ann Collins,
bottom left; Michaela Rullo, Alesha Schaffer, visiting student April Potts, Sydnee Chainese, Alyssa Hoyt, Sarah Curly,  absent from photograph Bridgitte Kwakk.  Photographer Cheryl Chapman.

I look forward to seeing the changes at the Lake Region High School and know that the students are fortunate!

Possible funding for high school music students- $2000-5000

ImproVox

Martin Swinger is one of an ensemble of 5 professional musicians called ImproVox. They are dedicated to exploring and refining the art of vocal improvisation. ImproVox offers a workshop of 60 minutes to 4 hours on the art of vocal improvisation. ImprovVox introduces simple singing ‘games’ then scaffold into more complex forms which offer opportunities for large group, small ensemble and solo improvisation.

Recently Martin contacted me and let me know that National Education Association grant that is available ($2000-5000) to support implementation of programs to introduce musical improvisation in the high school curriculum. This is a grant that schools must apply for, and it is a program that ImproVox offers.

You can learn more about improVox work by clicking here. And you can learn more about the grant by clicking here.

Adaptive Physical Education Award

MaryEllen Schaper

MaryEllen Schaper worked on the original Maine Learning Results and helped update them in the 2007. One of MaryEllen’s passion is Dance along with Theater and Music. She has acted and directed plays for years. She has devoted more than 30 years to teaching, mostly in at the middle level.

For several years she has been teaching physical education at Bonny Eagle Middle School and was recently recognized for her teaching. She received the Richard H. Bartlett Award from the Maine Adapted Physical Education Task Force for her ‘outstanding work with students in Adaptedd Physical Education.

CONGRATULATIONS MARYELLEN… We’re sooooooo proud of you!

Maine Institute for Human Genetics and Health in Bangor

Randy and her student Whitney Seymour. Whitney's work on top and Randy's on the bottom

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the opening for the grades K-12 art exhibit at the Institute for Human Genetics and Health. Brewer art teachers organized the show with Randy Menninghaus at the helm. Randy has collaborated with the institutes Director, Dr. Janet Hock, in establishing a long term relationship of exhibiting artwork at their facility.

Dr. Janet Hock is delightful and understands the connections of art and science. She is enthusiastic about the partnership that has been established through the art exhibits they’ve been hosting. Many parents and students attended and of course, art teachers were on hand to share in the excitement. The institute provided food and beverages as well.

Throughout the evening tours of the lab were being given by staff including Dr. Hock. It was a treat to be on a tour with three high school students led by Dr. Hock.

Bangor High School photography teacher, Eric Hutchins, with students Melanie Jackson and Brooke Lyons

“My Teacher and Me” is a unique exhibit that contains not only student work but teachers work. In fact, teacher and student work hang side by side. The exhibit is on display for several months and can be visited during regular office hours. The Institute is located at 246 Sylvan Road in Bangor.

Orono High School Art Classroom

Photo from Bangor Daily News

In today’s Bangor Daily News (November 16th) there is a wonderful article about the work student teacher, Mallory Cudlitz is doing with students in Jessica Andresen Barnes class. Mallory participated in a workshop this fall as part of a  curriculum course she is taking this fall at the University of Maine on felting. The workshop was given by artist Jody Clayton from One Lupine Fiber Arts in Bangor.

Students were learning the wet felting method and creating a 14″X14″ using two layers of undyed wool, with a layer of dyed wool on top. Often felting is a different medium for most students and Mallory was sure to make the connections for students that this is something available in their own community. The wool came from One Lupine Fiber Arts. The work will be on display in the school in the near future.

You can read the entire article and see photos by clicking here.

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Communications Beyond the Four Walls of You Classroom

If you are wondering about using ichat, skype, ustream or another “up close and personal” real time communication system I suggest you check read this information by clicking here.

Giving your students and yourself the opportunity to learn using some of the tools we have available sometimes takes a lot of energy and time in the beginning but gets easier each time we use it. Not to mention it makes teaching and learning more fun! And I’m all about having fun! Many great ideas are included in the post.

Gifted and Talented Courses

The University of Maine at Farmington is offering a series of four Gifted/Talented teacher courses starting the Spring of 2010. These courses will meet the Maine Department of Education coursework necessary for the G/T Endorsement 690.

The first course will be SED 530 Introduction to Education of Gifted Learners offered during the Spring of 2009.
This course introduces participants to the theory and practice of education for gifted learners. Topics to be presented: conceptions of giftedness; myths and truths of gifted education; the necessity of gifted education; equitable identification of gifted learners from diverse populations; common cognitive and affective characteristics;
highly gifted students; special populations of gifted learners; common social/emotional issues; necessary components of a gifted program; curriculum differentiation in the regular classroom; acceleration vs. enrichment, appropriate roles for parents of gifted children, necessary skills for teachers of gifted children. This course will be offered using a hybrid format, with four classes meeting on the UMF campus and the remainder of the class
work being completed online.
Instructor: Helen Nevitt, Ph.D.
Day/Dates/Time: Saturdays, January 23, February 27, March 27 and May 8
9:00 am -12:00 pm and online between class meetings

The other three courses will be offered over the next year as follows:                                                                            Summer 2010: SED 531 Curriculum and Instruction for Learners Who Are Gifted
Fall 2010: SED 532 Developing and Implementing Programs for Learners Who Are Gifted
Spring 2011: SED 533 Teaching Critical and Creative Thinking in Gifted Programs and Classroom Settings

Questions?                                                                                                                                                                                       Phone: 207-778-7502
Fax: 207-778-8134
E-mail: educationaloutreach@maine.edu
Office of Educational Outreach
Education Center Room 010
186 High Street
Farmington, ME 04938