me arts ed

Are you addressing the learning needs of kids with the MLR’s?

Written by Rob Westerberg, music teacher Extraordinaire from York High School and a member of the Maine Learning Results revision team

One of the great joys of being involved with wonderful organizations such
as the Maine Music Educators Association is the opportunity to present
workshops or sessions at the annual state conferences from time to time.
Ironically, more often than not, you receive even more as a presenter than
those present as attendees.

I can’t speak for anyone else in the room on Friday morning May 21st, but it was a highlight of the weekend for me to join Argy in presenting the Maine Learning Results, State Rubrics and YOUR Music Program at the MMEA Conference at the University of Maine.

One of the concerns we have shared since the release of the Maine Learning
Results revision was the lack of followup necessary to clarify the document and its practical application for ALL of us in Maine.

Our workshop focused on three distinct elements. First, Argy shared an overview of the process which eventually led to the adopted MLR revision. Covering many layers of work done over nearly two decades, it is enlightening to understand the volumes of work that led to our present document.

Next, we compared the MLR for Music to the National Standards. A significant source of angst among music teachers has been in viewing the two documents as an either or proposition. The reality is that the two dovetail seamlessly and each profoundly supports the other. The MLR is a necessary improvement in that the standards apply to all Arts disciplines and they give a broader perspective that is far more applicable for practical implementation in the classroom for the benefit of ALL students.

Third, we had much discussion regarding specific concerns or questions brought up by attendees. We could have kept going with this long after our allotted hour over. In the end, it was hoped that the workshop served to reinforce the MLR as a powerful tool for curriculum development, 21st Century skills application and program advocacy. We fear that it remains a largely underutilized resource for us in Maine, and it was an exciting time for
Argy and I to articulate the possibilities inherent in using it as a living, breathing document in our school Visual and Performing Arts Programs!

Relationships, Relationships, Relationships

You’re invited to register for the upcoming R3 Youth Development Institute [R3 Youth Development Institute, “Relationships, Relationships, Relationships: The Key to Success in Schools and
Communities” (Formerly the Dropout Prevention Summer
Institute)] happening July 26-28, 2010 at the University of Maine in
Orono.

Plenary speakers include: Peter Benson, Karen Pittman, Dr. Gil G. Noam, and Karen Williams.

Over 30 workshop presenters will be sharing best practices, implementation strategies, and engaging youth in the process.

For more information on this exciting and informative Institute and to
register, please click here.

A collaborative effort of the Maine Afterschool Network, Maine’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Maine Department of Education, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Communities for Children and Youth, and the College of Education and Human Development, University of Maine.

AGENDA
July 26:
8:30am-9:00am Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00am-9:30am Welcome and Overview
9:30am-10:15am Plenary with Peter Benson: The Extraordinary Capacity of Youth (and our Shared Responsibility for Their Potential)
10:15am-10:30am BREAK
10:30am-11:15am Plenary with Peter Benson in Conversation with Maine Youth: Thriving, the Sweet Spot in Human Development
11:15am-12:00pm Plenary with Karen Pittman: Supporting the Whole Child: Bolder Strategies for Better Results
12:00pm-1:00pm LUNCH [Memorial Union]
1:15pm-2:30pm Session 1
2:30pm-2:45pm BREAK
2:45pm-4:00pm Session 2
4:15pm-4:45pm Reception / Networking
4:45pm-6:00pm Higher Education Session and District Council Session
July 27:
8:30am-9:00pm Check-in and Continental Breakfast
9:00am-10:30am Plenary with Dr. Gil G. Noam: Changing Schools Through Youth Development—What Youth Need in Schools That They Aren’t Getting and What We Can Do About It
10:30am-10:45am BREAK
10:45am-12:00pm Session 3
12:15pm-1:00pm LUNCH [Wells Conference Center] to include Nathan Eklund in Conversation with Boothbay Youth Asset-Builders
1:15pm-2:30pm Session 4
2:30pm-2:45pm BREAK
2:45pm-4:00pm Session 5
July 28:
8:30am-9:00am Check-in and Continental Breakfast
9:00am-10:30am Plenary with Karen Williams: The Neuroscience of Development
10:30am-10:45am BREAK
10:45am-12:00pm Continued plenary with Karen Williams: The Neuroscience of Development
12:00pm-1:00pm LUNCH [Memorial Union]
1:00pm-3:00pm Finish plenary with Karen Williams: The Neuroscience of Development

Haystack registration open June 1st

Haystack

Registration and workshop descriptions for the fall MAEA conference is posted  the MAEA site. Registration needs to be postmarked no earlier than June 1st. In order to attend you must be a member of Maine Art Education Association. For easy access to the information you can go to the MAEA wiki by clicking here. Specifically for the Haystack information please click here.

The fall conference at Haystack provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with art teachers from all over the state and to be in a creative environment that is very inspiring. If you’ve never been I urge you to attend.

Also available at this time is the electronic Spring Newsletter. Congratulations to Shalimar Poulin for a “job well done”!

Three Grants

1) Increase Graduation Rates Funding

America’s Promise Alliance and AT&T are looking for the energy, enthusiasm, creativity and commitment to help make this country a Grad Nation through the My Idea grants program. “My Idea” will empower young people to examine the high school dropout crisis and take action to help more of their peers to graduate on time – improving outcomes for themselves and their community.

National grants of $10,000-$20,000 will be awarded to 20 – 25 youth for the best of the submitted ideas to help increase a community’s graduation rate anywhere in the United States. Additional opportunities are available for young people living in Chicago, Houston, Indianapolis, Jackson, Louisville, Nashville, New York, New Orleans, Oakland, and Washington, D.C with grants of $500-$1500 to support targeted local projects. Applications are due June 11.

If you’re a teen concerned about the dropout crisis, consider, plan and propose an idea to help increase the graduation rate in your community. With the help of a supporting non-profit organization or school, you or you and a group of your peers, will have the opportunity to make a difference in your community! If you’re a youth service provider, this is a great opportunity to share with the high school-aged youth that you work with each day.  For more information please click here.

Learning in the Arts Grants (Deadline: June 10 )
The Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth category offers funding for projects that help children and youth acquire knowledge and understanding of and skills in the arts. Projects must provide participatory learning and engage students with skilled artists, teachers, and excellent art.  Learning in the Arts projects may take place in school-based or community-based settings and should focus on children and youth in the general age range of 5 through 18 years. After-school and summer programs are eligible, as are public and private nonprofits. Maximum grants are $150,000 each. For more information please click here.

Promise Neighborhoods Planning Grants (Deadline: July 1)
The U.S. Department of Education is accepting applications for a $10 million planning grants competition for the Promise Neighborhood program – an initiative meant to support comprehensive, community-based efforts to prepare youths from economically distressed neighborhoods for college and careers. Up to 20 planning grants of up to $500,000 each will be awarded. The competition is open to nonprofits and institutions of higher learning. The initiative will support up to 20 organizations with one year of funding to plan for implementing “cradle-to-career” services. The Promise Neighborhoods program will award one-year grants to support the development of a plan to implement a Promise Neighborhood. For more information please click here.