Archive for April, 2013

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$45,000 in Grants to Elementary Art Programs

April 21, 2013

Americans for the Arts and American Girl team up to support art ed programs

Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading organization for advancing the arts and arts education, is partnering with American Girl to help promote the arts in U.S. schools. This effort builds upon American Girl’s introduction of its 2013 Girl of the Year, Saige Copeland. To support Saige’s message of preserving the arts in schools, American Girl, with support from Americans for the Arts, is sponsoring the Elevate the Arts School Grant Contest, where schools can enter to win one of 13 grants totaling $45,000. In addition, the two organizations have teamed up to create a Saige Learning Guide, a free, downloadable arts-based curriculum designed for teachers to inspire their students to explore their creative side.

“Ensuring children have access to a quality arts education— music, drama, dance, writing, visual arts—is critical to teaching the next generation creativity and innovation: skills vital to succeeding in the workforce of the future,” said Robert L. Lynch, president and CEO of Americans for the Arts. “This partnership and the grant program come at a challenged time for our nation’s schools, as budget constraints are leading districts across the country to continue to cut arts programs. We are grateful to have a partner such as American Girl that recognizes the important role the arts play in educating America’s children. Not only are we thrilled to be working with them to help provide much-needed resources to U.S. schools nationwide, but we also are grateful for their financial support of our Arts Education Program, which provides arts education professionals with the information, materials, and resources they need to enrich student experiences with the arts.”

Elementary schools throughout the United States with students in grades 3-6 can submit entries to support their art program through the Elevate the Arts School Grant Contest. Each entry must contain two components: a digital image of artwork and a written essay. Entries should be submitted between January 1 and May 31, 2013. They will be evaluated on originality, creativity and how effectively it demonstrates the school’s enthusiasm for art and its positive effect on its students.

Grants will be awarded to 13 schools. The first-place winning school will receive $10,000, schools placing second and third will win a $5,000 each, and ten runner-up schools will each receive $2,500. Grant recipients will be announced in October 2013 to coincide with National Arts and Humanities Month.

In addition, Americans for the Arts and American Girl have partnered to create a Saige Learning Guide. The free, downloadable resource outlines seven specific activities teachers can use to infuse the arts into their classroom and inspire their students to explore the arts, share their artistic passions and promote the arts in their schools and communities. To complement this resource, Americans for the Arts is offering additional tools that parents can use to ignite their child’s creative spirit and imagination and to ensure their school districts and education leaders are committed to the arts. These supplementary tools can be found on Americans for the Arts’ website.

Further details regarding the Elevate the Arts School Grant Program, including specific contest rules and regulations, and the Saige Learning Guide can be found at www.americangirl.com/girloftheyear.

For more information please contact:
Catherine Brandt Vacovsky, Americans for the Arts , 202-712-2054, cvacovsky@artsusa.org
@AFTAPress or Susan Jevens, American Girl, 608-830-4214, susan.jevens@americangirl.com

Posted in Communication, Community, funding source, Opportunity | Leave a Comment »

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Honoring Cathy M. Grisby

April 20, 2013

Maine Elementary Art Educator of the Year

At a ceremony held recently at the University of Maine Museum of Art Cathy Grisby was honored for her years of dedication and received the Elementary Art Educator of the Year award presented by the Maine Art Education Association. Cathy was nominated by colleague Ann Diskin and included the following in Cathy’s nomination:

Cathy being introduced by her colleague Ann Diskin

Cathy being introduced by her colleague Ann Diskin

“…Cathy has been teaching elementary art for 28 years in SAD #61 in the towns of Bridgton and Sebago. She believes that every child is creative and every student can be successful in art. Parent volunteer, Jenni Silverblade says this of Cathy, “She knows how to teach so that each student’s unique ability comes out to the fullest. She has a discerning eye as to what a child can do to turn a piece of art around if it starts falling apart or if the student becomes discouraged.”

Mrs. Grigsby always puts in the extra effort whether it is helping to develop district-wide arts assessments, teaching gifted classes after school, making sets for the plays, exhibiting student work in the community, creating permanent art installations of student work, and just being a positive presence in the school. She has also been a tireless advocate for the arts in her community in her work with helping to found the Bridgton Arts Guild and Gallery 302. In addition, Cathy’s influence reaches other art teachers on a national level through the more than 10 published articles she has written for “Arts and Activities” and “School Arts” magazine over the years.”

Perhaps the most important measure of Cathy’s success is her student’s declarations of art being their favorite subject and their pride at seeing their work on display.“

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When Cathy’s school learned that she was being recognized for the award she showed up one morning to a room full of balloons and congratulatory cards from her students. Not to many days later the staff celebrated her recognition at a staff meeting! Yay for Cathy!

Posted in Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Leadership, Visual Arts, YAHOO | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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1,500th Post!

April 19, 2013

WOWZER!

This is the one thousand five hundredth blog post on the meartsed blog!

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I am always striving to provide you, the readers, interesting and useful information and resources. In addition, I love to recognize and celebrate the work of visual and performing arts educators! I appreciate your efforts in your role supporting arts education and providing engaging curricula for students. Let me take this opportunity to THANK YOU, the meartsed readers and encourage you to send me your thoughts and ideas on the next 1500 blog posts! Happy Reading!

To mark this day here are a few facts that you might find interesting:

  • There are 1215 members on the Maine Arts education list-serv. This is an increase of 215 since December 2011. Every Tuesday morning list-serv members receive an email. You can sign up for the list-serv by emailing me at argy.nestor@maine.gov.
  • There about 1250 visual and performing arts teachers in the state, mostly music and visual arts.
  • The first blog post was made on February 19, 2009.
  • On December 10, 2011 the 1000th post was made.
  • My goal is to post daily and sometimes I post twice a day.
  • Each week there are about 1500 visitors to the blog. This is an increase of about 500 since the 1,000th post.

Here’s to the 1,500th post!

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Posted in VPA, YAHOO | Tagged , , | 7 Comments »

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Honoring Susan Beaulier

April 18, 2013

Maine Middle Level Art Educator of the Year

At a ceremony held recently at the University of Maine Museum of Art Susan Beaulier was honored for her years of dedication and received the Middle Level Art Educator of the Year award presented by the Maine Art Education Association. Susan was nominated by colleague Beth Ann Walker and included the following in Susan’s nomination:

Susan being introduced by her son, Jason

Susan being introduced by her son, Jordan

For the past 23 years, Susan Beaulier has taught in the same school district she graduated from in 1981. Susan is the Visual Arts teacher in MSAD #32, serving the 330 students in Grades PreK-12. Additionally, she is the Coordinator of Gifted/Talented Education for her district. Susan is a Phase II Teacher Leader for the Maine Art Assessment Initiative, and will soon begin work on the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards First Tier Review. Susan lives in Ashland with her husband John and son Jordan.

IMG_0132“Sue not only loves teaching students, but is also generous with her knowledge in teaching educators. She is practiced in many mediums and munificently shares any and all of her personal materials to enhance and achieve the lesson she is sharing. She inspired may early creative endeavors and creativity, but has imparted innovation into many of the lessons I initiated with my students as I moved from the elementary classroom to the art classroom six years ago. She is an invaluable resource that provides support in many ways.”

Sue is a consummate creator of beautiful things from any medium she touches…She is a key player in the development of our local art educators’ group – Northern pARTners and is sharing her knowledge of quality assessment in art education.
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Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Curriculum and Instruction, Leadership, Visual Arts, YAHOO | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

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North Pond Hermit Music Connection

April 17, 2013

Music and art document history

Maine musician Stanley Keach has taken the opportunity to document a bit of history that unfolded this past week in Rome, Maine by writing a song about the North Pond Hermit. Along with the text you can see the video (at the bottom) that was created of Stanley and Barefoot Dan Simons singing the song.

I remember while growing up my sister and I would march around the house singing Battle of New Orleans of 1814. I was curious about that song so I searched and sure enough there was a YouTube with the song. It was written by Jimmy Driftwood and sung by Johnny Horton. The video is filled with images, many of them paintings, depicting the battle. How do you, music and art teachers, incorporate the teaching of history into your lessons that mark an event and/or a time period?

WHAT THE NORTH POND HERMIT KNOWS
Twenty-seven years ago, he went into the woods.
He didn’t really have a plan.  Guess he did it ‘cause he could.
He was only 19.  Didn’t know he’d stay that long.
He came to think of the woods of Maine as the place that he belonged.

YOU AND I WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT THE NORTH POND HERMIT KNOWS
WHAT IT’S LIKE TO SLEEP OUTSIDE WHEN IT’S 25 BELOW —
AND YOU FEEL IT FROM YOUR FOREHEAD RIGHT DOWN TO YOUR ACHING TOES.
WE DON’T KNOW WHAT NORTH POND HERMIT KNOWS.
NO, WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE NORTH POND HERMIT KNOWS.

Nobody ever saw him ‘cause he only moved at night.
He knew how to hide his tracks and stay down out of sight.
His campsite hidden well beneath a canopy of trees.
They say that he committed a thousand burglaries.

YOU AND I WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT THE NORTH POND HERMIT KNOWS
WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE ALONE AS A DECADE COMES AND GOES —
WHEN THE ICE STORM RAGES, AND THE FROZEN NORTH WIND BLOWS —
WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE NORTH POND HERMIT KNOWS.
NO, WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE NORTH POND HERMIT KNOWS.

He’d slip into an empty camp through a window or a door.
He just took what he needed to survive and nothing more.
He never built a fire.  He was afraid it would be seen.
How he kept alive in winter is a mystery to me.

YOU AND I WILL NEVER KNOW WHAT THE NORTH POND HERMIT KNOWS.
WE DRIVE AROUND AND GO TO JOBS AND STAY HOME WHEN IT SNOWS.
WE’RE LOSING TOUCH WITH NATURE, AND WE DON’T KNOW HOW IT FLOWS.
WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE NORTH POND HERMIT KNOWS.
NO, WE DON’T KNOW WHAT THE NORTH POND HERMIT KNOWS.

Words & Music © 2013 by Stan Keach

A little more info from Stan on “The Battle of New Orleans” — Jimmy Driftwood got the tune for the song from an old fiddle tune, “The Eighth of January,” a commemorative tune written to celebrate Andrew Jackson’s victory in New Orleans, which occurred on January 8th.  Here’s a link to a version of that fiddle tune: Eighth of January – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxva-itzRQY.

When Jackson was running for President in 1828, his campaign train would stop at depots, and, before or after Jackson gave a speech, a fiddler would play “The Eighth of January,” and “Rachel,” a tune written in honor of Jackson’s wife.  Here’s a link to “Rachel”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wks6mA50560

Posted in Music, Visual Arts | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

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In Today’s News

April 16, 2013

Screen saver student

In today’s Oxford Hills Sun Journal reporter Eileen Adams highlights the accomplishments of Nicholas Johnson whose artwork was selected for the MLTI 2013-14 screen saver. You can read the article and learn more about Nicholas’ passion for the visual and performing arts by clicking here. The image he created that was selected is included in this blog post.

SightsOfTheSea_njohnson_Telstar+Regional+High+School_KF

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Another Teacher’s Story: Samantha Orchard

April 16, 2013

This is the 27th in a series of blog posts telling arts teacher’s stories. The first 19 were told last year by the phase I Maine Arts Assessment Initiative teacher leaders. The series continues with the stories from the phase II teacher leaders. These posts contain a set of questions to provide the opportunity for you to read educators stories and to learn from others.

IMG_2916Samantha Orchard is in her 4th year teaching Visual Art to students in grades 9-12 at Woodland Jr/Sr High School in Baileyville. She has 43 students spread out across General Art, Advanced Art, Photoshop, and Yearbook classes.

 What do you like best about being a music/art/drama/dance educator?

 The best thing about being a high school art teacher is to see teenagers solve problems or develop creative solutions on their own. Some students need a little prodding, but they are at least willing to be pushed in a more independent direction.

What do you believe are three keys to ANY successful visual and performing arts education?

  • Support for what is done in your classroom from other teachers, the    administration, and the parents of students
  • Buy-in on the part of the students – they have to feel that what they’re learning and creating is worthwhile
  • Time for planning, collaboration, and sharing ideas with other educators in your own district and around the state

How have you found assessment to be helpful to you in your classroom?

Assessment for me is a great tool to gauge how clearly criteria and goals for a particular project are communicated. My students for the most part have a thorough enough understanding of the relationship between the rubric and the criteria for a given assignment to accurately gauge their products and answer for themselves the persistent question of “Is it done yet?”

 What have been the benefits in becoming involved in the arts assessment initiative?

Being able to take in ideas and different ways of looking at assessment has been one of the main benefits of being involved with the MAAI for me. Having other teachers who work with the same content and the same grade level to bounce ideas off of has also been great.

What are you most proud of in your career?

Most recently I’m proud that I was able to engage the faculty at my school in a meaningful and serious discussion about arts assessment. I presented my workshop about rubrics at a staff meeting and was really pleased about the discussions that developed out of the presentation. I was also proud of how it really seemed to prove that art is just as rigorous as the core classes to the non-believers.

What gets in the way of being a better teacher or doing a better job as a teacher?

I just need more hours in a day. Or less time doing mundane things like sleeping, eating, driving, etc.

What have you accomplished through hard work and determination that might otherwise appear at first glance to be due to “luck” or circumstances?

I have developed a safe, productive, positive work environment in the art room and computer lab. It may sound trivial, but being able to turn your back on students to write on the board or to really focus one-on-one with a student as needed and not have to worry about what’s going on outside of your peripheral vision is no small thing. The expectation for behavior and materials handling has been set and is respected by students – I don’t even have to fret about what is happening to my classroom on days when I’m out!

Look into your crystal ball: what advice would you give to teachers?

Speak up and share what you do with other teachers! It can be a revelation for all parties involved.

If you were given a $500,000.00 to do with whatever you please, what would it be?

With $500,000 I would pay off my student loans, buy a better vehicle, go on vacation, and purchase DSLR cameras and graphic design software for the digital arts classes.

Imagine you are 94 years old. You’re looking back. Do you have any regrets?

I can’t imagine any great regrets.

Thank you Samantha for telling your story!

 

 

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MAAI Planning Phase 3

April 15, 2013

Give me your thoughts

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Lisa Marin and Chris Milliken presenting “data” from Chris’ graduate research that he collaborated with Lisa on finding.

The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) has been underway for almost two years. During that time hundreds of Maine arts educators have responded to the invitation to join the journey and participate professional development opportunities throughout Maine. These opportunities have been numerous and provided through various modes and locations.

Opportunities include(d):

  • Webinars were available during phase 1 and are still available through archives located at http://www.maine.gov/education/lres/vpa/assessment.html#webinars. The archives have meeting plans so you can use them at teacher meetings or individually.
  • The state conference on arts assessment was held at USM during October 2011 where over 200 teachers attended.
  • Regional workshops were provided by arts teacher leaders during phase 1 and 2 all over the state.
  • Mega-regional workshops were held during phase 2 at UMF, USM, Easton Schools, and Ellsworth High School with 240 registered for the 4 events.

Underway:

  • Videos are being created in 4 classrooms that will provide a picture of a standards based arts classroom/school. They will be made available at their completion in June.
  • The Depository work is ongoing and located at http://mainelearning.net/resources/. Next week arts educators will be coming together to look at “quality in arts education” to help continue with this work. The Depository will be filled with samples of arts education lessons, units, assessment tools, and other resources.
Teacher Leaders Andria Chase and Sarah Williams take a closer look at workshop info with Leadership team member Jeff Beaudry

Teacher Leaders Andria Chase and Sarah Williams take a closer look at workshop info with Leadership team member Jeff Beaudry

The teacher leaders, your colleagues – 38 of them, have stepped up and taken on responsibilities of expanding their thinking and providing leadership by creating the workshops. They have contributed in so many positive ways and provided feedback to help determine the steps of the MAAI.

The MAAI is truly a grassroots effort with arts educators leading the way. As we come to the close of phase 2 it is time to look ahead and determine the components of phase 3. If you attended a workshop or another gathering we have your specific feedback from the event that has helped inform the work. At this time if you have ideas or feedback that you’d like to share on what you’d like to see included in Maine Arts Assessment Initiative PLEASE email me at argy.nestor@maine.gov and share your thoughts and ideas. The leadership team is meeting on Thursday, April 18 so please don’t delay with your comments!

Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Leadership, Professional Development, Standards, Standards Based Education, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

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Honoring Sandy Brennan

April 14, 2013

2014 Maine Art Educator of the Year

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Argy introducing Sandy

At a ceremony held recently at the University of Maine Museum of Art Sandy Brennan was honored for her years of dedication as an art teacher and advocate for arts education. Sandy was named the 2014 Maine Art Educator of the Year. Sandy was nominated by Manon Lewis and included the following in Sandy’s nomination:

Sandy Brennan has been conducting business as the Maine Art Education Association’s President or Co-President for some 10 years, donating hours upon hours of her time to our professional organization. I feel that it is high time that she receives praise and recognition for her professionalism and her dogged dedication to the Maine Art Education Association.

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Sandy is congratulated by MAEAs Awards program chair Suzanne Goulet

Sandy is a lifelong learner who is presently enhancing her (35 plus) years of teaching art with work towards a master’s degree from, Lesley University, in the integration of the arts (visual art, poetry, dance/movement, drama, music, technology, and storytelling). She takes these courses with a group of teachers from many disciplines and grade levels. Among her classmates is the music teacher from Well’s Elementary School. As teaching colleagues, they have already collaborated in a multitude of art and music lessons with their students, making bridges between their own disciplines and among various other disciplines school-wide. The collaboration that they engage in is what good education is all about, making learning mean- ingful through connections.

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NCAS Are Coming!

April 13, 2013

Help! Help! The standards are coming!!!

This blog post was written by York High School music educator Rob Westerberg. Rob collaborated to create the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) and served on the phase 1 leadership team for the MAAI. Periodically Rob and I discuss the state of Arts Education in Maine and after a recent conversation on the topic this blog post appeared in my inbox. I hope it provides “food for thought” as I have tagged this post and that you are motivated to post a comment with your thoughts. 

The National Core Arts Standards are on their way, and I think the news is being met with every reaction known to the universe… please take this short quiz and lets see where YOU stand on the issue!

The thought of unpacking the new standards in my program makes me: 

a.  feel guilty because I don’t have time to utilize standards right now as it is.

b.  all excited – I can’t wait to see what they came up with! And I think I need to get out more!!!

c.  want to chew on aluminum foil just to take my mind off of making yet ANOTHER revision to my curriculum.

d.  wish I lived in Sweden.

The main reason I am apprehensive about incorporating standards is:

a.  I already work a 60 hour week (for 40 hours of pay) and doing even one more thing is  not going to be possible.

b.  I don’t have time, between my assigned duties of assessing Common Core English Language Arts prompts and playground duty.

c.  My in-laws are coming to visit and the dog just threw up on the sofa.

d.  I don’t know how and/or know what “incorporating standards” really even means.

My favorite ice cream is:

a.  Rocky Road

b.  Mint Chocolate Chip

c.  Chubby Hubby

d.  Is this really a blog post on the national standards?

Listen, here’s how I see the impending arrival of the standards revision going down –

What it DOESN’T mean:

* increased work or expectations

* mandated curriculum – relinquished local control

* a redefinition of arts education

* a list of things my students “must” meet

* taking what we already do and merely dressing it up nicer

* feet-to-the-fire, “meet these or else” expectations

What it DOES mean:

* an honest reflection of essential skills and expectations for our students

* an invaluable guideline for sequential skill development

* language that aligns us with the other 7 core subject areas

* a tool that fosters our growth as arts educators in the 21st century

* a document that embeds the expertise of thousands of colleagues throughout the country

* a foundation provided for evaluating what we do and why we do it

Through the National Standards revision, we have unprecedented opportunity to:

* utilize a powerful advocacy tool, articulating how and why what we do is academic and essential instruction

* show how staffing and student face-time must be increased in our schools to meet academic expectations

* provide a common starting point for educators within and ACROSS school districts to have meaningful, collaborative discussions around curriculum

* provide a common starting point for educators within and ACROSS school districts to have meaningful, collaborative discussions around instruction

* provide a common starting point for educators within and ACROSS school districts to have meaningful, collaborative discussions around assessment

* direct our K-12 conversations so that every school district in Maine has a continuous program of studies that is sequential both in concept and in practice

* expand our knowledge, discover new connections, and continually reevaluate – assisting us in our own process of being lifelong learners

Far be it from me to tell anyone the sky isn’t falling if they’d simply prefer to believe otherwise, but the reason we do what we do in our classrooms day in and day out is to provide the very best we possibly can for our students. The National Core Arts Standards have every promise of being a powerful tool and vehicle that will assist us in doing so. No, your students will not have to meet every standard. Yes, there are standards that you will want to embrace and incorporate. No, no one is going to tell you what to do. Yes, this document will help you articulate what it is you already do in your classroom. No, you are not expected to dissect it on your own. Yes, there will be bountiful opportunities right here in Maine to learn more about it and how to utilize it.

Keep checking in on this blog, and don’t be surprised if this document becomes one of the cooler things you’ve come across in your career, a genuinely helpful resource in your arsenal as a great teacher in this great state. And, no doubt about it, it will have the potential to be transformative if you choose to go down that road too! Please excuse me now, I have to go clean up a mess on my sofa……

Thanks Rob for providing your latest thoughts on the National Core Arts Standards – when you get finished with your sofa, I have some cleaning at my house to do so please stop by…

Posted in assessment, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Standards | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment »

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