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.