me arts ed

Reflections!

I’m sitting here by the woodstove tonight, the shortest day of the year, pondering 2009! Our accomplishments in arts education are many!

There have been outstanding arts education opportunities for educators to help improve teaching and learning.

The first phase of the statewide census is complete and has provided a clear picture of programs across the state.

The statewide arts education conference, The Arts Connect was held in October and almost 300 educators took advantage of the variety of offerings.

There are 1050 members on the arts ed list serv. The meartsed blog was established almost a year ago, conversation is increasing and there were 779 visitors during the past week.

Arts educators are at the heart of outstanding school districts across the country and each of you have much to be proud of. It is crucial that arts educators and those who care deeply about the importance of arts programming for students communicate about your work to colleagues, community members and align yourself with folks who can promote the work and importance of it.

The next couple of years for arts education are crucial due to the financial situation. I suggest you utilize technology to help communicate the importance of quality arts education for all students. Post kids art work, write about what student achievement in the arts classroom is about, make a presentation during March for Youth Art Month and Music in Our Schools Month. Please continue to be proactive! I trust that if we continue to work together that we will maintain and grow our programs! This responsibility belongs to all of us!

Since I can not visit each of you in your classrooms during the next few days I am sending you an electronic message.

Dance Educator Carmel Collins shares…

Carmel on right working with a student

Students of the Lake Region Dance program had the opportunity to share ideas and learning experiences with students of Thorton  Academy.  Lake Region students and dance teacher Mrs. Collins were guests for a day in the dance program at Thorton Academy where their hosts, students of the repertory class invited LR students to participate in their classes.

The dance program at Thorton Academy has been in place for over fifteen years and is instructed by Kathy Nolan.  This was a wonderful opportunity for students of LRHS to experience another well established dance program other than their own.

Students of both schools took advantage of the day talking and sharing of the differences and similarities of each other’s programs as well as sharing performances.  Giving our students exposure to learning models other than their own are valuable experiences in their education allowing for different perspectives to be explored and social interactions to be developed to name a few.

Wonderful Holiday Wish

“People who might not speak a single word of the same language, who might not have a single shared experience, might still be drawn together when their hearts are lifted by the notes of a song, or their souls are stirred by a vision on a canvas. That is the power of the arts — to remind us of what we each have to offer, and what we all have in common; to help us understand our history and imagine our future; to give us hope in the moments of struggle; and to bring us together when nothing else will.”
– First Lady Michelle Obama

Check out three new websites

This site was pointed out to me by David Patterson. VERY interesting. An artist reenacts kids drawings using professional photography.

Chris Brogan is the president of a a new media marketing agency who works with companies to improve online business communications. Recently he wrote a post on his blog called How Could New Ideas Change Education? that you might want to read.

This link was passed on to me by Lisa Gilman. It is a free online paint program that is very interesting, I suggest you take a look.

Arne Duncan speaks to School and Ed Leaders

This is taken from the National Art Education Association news. It was in an article that was written by Rick Lasherson.

Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan is quoted in a letter to School and Education Community leaders: “At this time when you are making critical and far-reaching budget program decisions for the upcoming school year, I write to bring your attention the importance of the arts as a core academic subject and part of a complete education for all students. The ESEA/NCLB defines the arts as a core subject, and the arts play a significant role in children’s development and learning process.”

Songwriting in the Classroom turns education on its ear — literally

In the fall of 1998, while on sabbatical, my family traveled cross country for three months. One of our stops was in North Dakota to visit a friend. Ellen taught second grade at the time and it was a treat to watch this exemplary teacher in action. We had the opportunity to watch Ellen teach reading and she did it through song. When Martin Swinger sent me this blurb on the work he does it brought back so many memories of our visit to Bismarck.

Repetition is the surest means to memorizing facts, but we all know the boredom that results from simply repeating statements again and again. The solution is so simple, even a child can do it. A,B,C is one of very few mnemonic songs in the education repertoire, and our schools are so much the poorer for it.

Singing is a natural, fun activity which children (and adults) enjoy participating in. Singing raises immune systems, excites the whole brain, engages attention span, raises self-esteem and activates the brain’s reward response, all while unifying a group and encouraging participation. There are not many activities so easily incorporated into a school day that offer so many immediate rewards.

Children welcome the opportunity to sing and if teachers are to encourage a can-do attitude in the classroom, this should also apply to singing with students. Instead of modeling embarrassment and shame, teachers should sing with whatever natural voice they have, and if necessary, use it as a springboard for a conversation against teasing.

Why aren’t we singing our lesson facts with our students because the songs havent been written yet? Martin Swingers program, Songwriting in the Classroom offers the perfect solution. He facilitates as the students create mnemonic songs together and teaches students and teachers how to continue creating helpful songs based in any curriculum throughout the year.

Click here to get to Martin’s website where you will find his songwriting tips and helpful information on his program. Songwriting is a powerfully effective means of including arts in any education curriculum. Your students will be singing your praises for years to come.

Smokey the Bear Hat and All

Acadia National Park invites you to spend part of next summer immersed in its incredible nature and history. One to three classroom teachers will be selected to be a park teacher-ranger and learn about the science behind the scenery of one of America’s most loved parks. The summer schedule changes daily and can include such experiences as observing the night sky on an astronomy program, traveling to an offshore island and finding the remains of its human history, taking water quality measurements of park lakes and streams, experimenting with field collection methods during a three day Bio Blitz, practicing the latest low impact camping techniques with Leave No Trace masters, researching and presenting an interpretive program for park visitors from around the world, sharing science teaching ideas with other
educators during a three day institute …  activities are individualized to the interests and strengths of each teacher-ranger.

Teacher-rangers design classroom lessons related to their park expereince and also wear
their park uniform to school during National Parks Week the following
spring.

A ranger uniform (including the Smokey hat!), weekly stipend, and shared housing, if needed, is provided.  Check out the newsletter highlighting last summer’s teacher-ranger program by clicking here. You can find more information and an application online by clicking here.

The deadline for applying is JANUARY 11, 2010. If you have any questions about this unique opportunity, please contact the Education Coordinator Cynthia Ocel. Spread the word to other teachers you know who may be interested. Teachers from any grade level or content area are welcome. They are particularly interested in having Maine teachers participate.

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Acadia National Park Education Office
P.O. Box 177
Bar Harbor, ME  04609
207 288-8822     acad_education_office@nps.gov
http://www.nps.gov/acad/forteachers
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The Council of Chief State School Officers….

12-9-2009

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) has endorsed the collection of key data in all core subjects as defined by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). This recommendation, approved by CCSSO’s Board of Directors, provides guidance to states for the development of the Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS).

The recommendation was proposed by the Education Information Management Advisory Consortium (EIMAC) following a presentation at their annual meeting about rising concerns among education leaders that non-tested subjects would be excluded from the development of the SLDS. The recommendation states:

“Chiefs should encourage data collections of school courses, teachers, and numbers of students enrolled. Collections should include the core academic subjects as defined by ESEA as well as physical education, health, and career technology education.” (ESEA defines core academic subjects as English, reading or language arts, mathematics, science, foreign languages, civics and government, economics, arts, history and geography.)

Sue Gendron, Commissioner of Education (Maine) and CCSSO President, stated, “As we move ahead with our unprecedented effort to collect important and comparable data from all states, it is critical that we have a complete picture of the range and depth of the curriculum around the country. This includes the curricular areas that are tested as well as those that are not.”

Jerry Zahorchak, CCSSO Liaison to EIMAC and Pennsylvania’s Commissioner of Education, noted “When state data on classes, teachers, and students are collected, we must have a complete and accurate picture of what courses are being offered, who is teaching them, and how many students are receiving the instruction.”

“The Council is vitally interested in promoting a full and balanced curriculum for all students. Collecting data on all curricular areas is the only way to make this balance transparent,” added Gene Wilhoit, Executive Director, CCSSO.

The State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) brought forward the concern on behalf of the non-tested subject areas. “We are grateful to CCSSO for embracing this recommendation and setting the expectation for all subjects to be included in these developing state data systems,” stated Deb Hansen, SEADAE President. “By having reliable data for all core subjects, education leaders, policy makers, and subject-area specialists will have the information needed to make informed decisions regarding student access to the broad range of subjects that make up a quality education.”

Access to data on arts education in the United States has been elusive. Currently no data exists to determine the number of students participating in arts education across the nation, the number of schools with arts programs, or the schools in which arts offerings are not available. As a result, SEADAE has taken the lead in the drive for improved data collection for arts education. The SEADAE Data Task Force, comprised of state arts education leaders and representatives of the four professional arts education associations for Dance, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts, has been working for several months. The group is currently reviewing the status of data collection and analysis for each state as well as working with the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) on the development of course names and description for all arts courses to aide states in the implementation of the CCSSO recommendation. SEADAE member Richard A. Baker, Louisiana, and Bob Morrison of Quadrant Arts Education Research are co-chairs of the SEADAE Data Task Force.

The SEADAE Data Task Force is part of SEADAE’s National Expectations for Learning in Arts Education initiative to advance access, equity, and excellence in arts education for all students. This initiative targets student learning, teacher practice, educational leadership, data collection, policy development, and community partnerships.

State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) is the national organization of the individuals at state education agencies whose responsibility is arts education (dance, music, theatre, and visual arts). SEADAE’s mission includes providing a collective voice for leadership on issues affecting arts education to achieve quality, comprehensive, sequential, standards-based education in the arts for all students.

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is a nationwide, nonprofit organization of public officials who head departments of elementary and secondary education in the states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and five U.S. extra-state jurisdictions. CCSSO provides leadership, advocacy, and technical assistance on major educational issues. The Council seeks members’ consensus on major educational issues and expresses their views to civic and professional organizations, federal agencies, Congress, and the public.

Great Programs Presented with Humor!

Randy Judkins

In this time of uncertainty inviting Randy Judkins to your school could be just the right ticket! Randy continues to offer “Wicked Good School Presentations”.  These specially designed performances will teach, entertain and inspire students and teachers.

Laughing In the Face of Change is designed for teachers and staffs and embraces a heightened humor perspective for change in our lives, as well as a conduit for stress reduction, wellness and productivity. As a follow up to his successful keynote for the Maine Schoolsite Health Promotion Conference a few years ago, The Maine Hysterical Society’s first DVD is now available to assist in Mainers’ funny bone tickling efforts. Follow the link to our website for details.

For teens, consider Full Esteem Ahead, a popular piece that’s been presented in 12 states; the National Teen Institute, and International P.R.I.D.E. Convention. For 22 years, this original ‘Edutainment’ piece partners well with character education by highlighting best practices from The Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets.

Be a S.T.A.R., not a Bully is for grades K-5. It’s filled with original characters who interact with the audience as they consider acts of kindness and positive connections for young people. Numerous testimonials are available upon request. Discounts are being offered on bookings for this school year.

You can join Randy on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Flags flying and good will spreading!

The latest blog posts on artist Sarah Haskell’s blog helps me to pause and be grateful for the season that is busily upon us! Take a moment and go to her site… it just may help you slow down and think about our connections throughout the world. The power of one person doing good work, spreading good will!