Archive for May, 2017

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Maine County Teachers of the Year

May 15, 2017

Congratulations Chris and Kaitlin

Kaitlin Young, Argy Nestor – Photo by Andy Forster, 2016 Kennebec County Teacher of the year.

I felt so proud attending the Maine Teacher of the Year celebration last week in the Hall of Flags at the State House in Augusta. Sixteen teachers were named County Teachers of the Year representing each of our 16 Maine counties and they will be considered for the 2018 Maine State Teacher of the Year. There were 370 teachers nominated this year.

There are two arts teachers honored this year. Piscataquis County Teacher of the Year is Kaitlin Young of SeDoMoCha Elementary School. Kaitlin teaches PreK-8 music at the school in Dover-Foxcroft. And, Chris Goosman is Waldo County Teacher of the Year.

Center, Chris Goosman

She teaches theatre and social studies at Searsport High School.

Also attending the ceremony was Messalonskee music educator, Andy Forster, the 2016 Kennebec Teacher of the Year. We were both so proud of both Kaitlin and Chris representing Maine teachers and especially arts education!

Kaitlin’s nomination included: “Kaitlin has grown the music program exponentially during her six years at the school. She works tirelessly teaching students to love, respect, and learn from music.” You can read more about Kaitlin by CLICKING HERE.

Chris’ nomination included: “Chris is kind and caring to all students. She is patient with every student and always takes the extra time to help students truly understand what they are being taught. She views every student as a unique individual.”

Below is the list of the teachers representing each county.

2017 County Teachers of the Year:

  • Androscoggin: Nesrene Griffin, Governor James Longley School
  • Aroostook: Leslie Marquis, Fort Kent Community School
  • Cumberland: Brooke Teller, Casco Bay High School
  • Franklin: Allison Warman, Rangeley Lakes School
  • Hancock: Marielle Edgecomb, The Peninsula School
  • Kennebec: Lisette Bordes, Messalonskee High School
  • Knox: Iris Eichenlaub, Camden Hills Regional High School
  • Lincoln: Christopher Coleman, Great Salt Bay Community School
  • Oxford: Janet Harriman, Sacopee Valley High School
  • Penobscot: Kasie Giallombardo, Nokomis High School
  • Piscataquis: Kaitlin Young, SeDoMoCha Elementary School
  • Sagadahoc: John Dever, Mt. Ararat High School
  • Somerset: Eric Brown, Lawrence High School
  • Waldo: Christi Goosman, Searsport District High School
  • Washington: Rhonda Stevens, Beatrice Rafferty School
  • York: Jen England, Noble High School

Good luck to all of the county teachers of the year as they move to the next step in the state teacher of the year process and especially to Kaitlin and Chris!

 

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Dancing in Kindergarten

May 14, 2017

Salsa, merengue, and more

Edwin Sorto is a kindergarten teacher at Kipp Academy in Washington, DC. He performs with a dance team that dance across the US. And, he’s teaching his students to dance as well. Along with the usual kindergarten curriculum Mr. Sorto is also teaching his young students how to dance – including salsa, merengue, and more. He posts the students moving to the music on Facebook and youtube. Mr. Sorto says: “They’re proud of what they do and love to see people’s reactions, comments, and likes on their videos. Their parents are also incredibly supportive. My kids are great, and this is just one more thing that keeps them engaged in school.”

See for yourself by CLICKING HERE.

Speaking of dance, remember that the Maine Arts Commission presently has a dance education grant available with the deadline of Tuesday, May 16. Information and the application is located by CLICKING HERE.

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Common Street Arts

May 13, 2017

Seeking proposals

Call for Class + Workshop Proposals

CSA seeks proposals for classes and workshops for children, teenagers, and adults for 2017-2018. CSA available teaching spaces include: studio space, clay studio, annex, + gallery space. Target class size: 6- 15 people. Qualified individuals are invited to submit proposals that reflect diversity, creativity, and accessibility for all levels and ages.

Overview

The mission of Common Street Arts (CSA), the programmatic arm of Waterville Creates!, is to enhance the creative, artistic, and economic vitality of the Waterville community through outstanding arts education and exhibitions. In concert with Waterville’s recently drafted Cultural Plan, CSA seeks to ensure relevant and accessible programming for all community audiences. CSA aspires to diversify its program through a broad array of workshops, events, and classes that provide unique and creative experiences in a supportive environment. Preference will be given to proposals that include cultural relevancy, exhibit a high level of creativity, offer a high level of engagement and participation, and/or directly relate to the CSA exhibition program or create programmatic connections with Waterville Creates! arts and cultural partners (Waterville Public Library, Maine Film Center, Waterville Opera House, Colby College Museum of Art).

Qualifications

  • Professional teaching experience in medium
  • Ability to define and measure learning objectives
  • Ability to work independently
  • Professional + courteous demeanor
  • Criminal history clearance required for working with childrenProposal Requirements
  • Complete CSA Class/Workshop Proposal Form
  • Attach sample curriculum outline with goals + objectives

Email or mail proposal to:

Marie Sugden, Coordinator for Special Projects Waterville Creates!
93 Main Street, Suite 201
Waterville, Maine 04901 marie@watervillecreates.org

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Rethink High School

May 12, 2017

Brave New Voices

Youth Speaks is joining with XQ: The Super School Project to host an open online competition from May 8 through June 18 asking poets, rappers, and storytellers ages 13 -24 tocreate a three-minute video sharing their vision for a Brave New School.  If you have questions please email bravenewschools@youthspeaks.org.

Imagine what a high school could be.

Imagine a school where each student is a leader, where learning is joyful. What if poetry was as valued as football? What if school inspired you to be your best self?

Brave New Schools Contest

Submit original videos with poems/raps/stories (up to 3 minutes) that ReThink the Brave New Schools of our future (Must be 13-24 years old to enter). Enter by June 18.
BUILD YOUR BRAVE NEW SCHOOL

$50,000 in Scholarships and Prizes

  • 5 Grand Prize Winners will receive $4,000 educational scholarships
  • 5 Winners will receive $3,000 educational scholarships
  • 15 Finalists will receive $1,000 educational scholarships

Finalists may also receive a special opportunity to travel to Los Angeles, California to attend a live event designed to inspire the country to rethink high school.

Nonprofit organizations, classes, and schools that submit 15+ videos will also have a chance to win $500-$2,500 to support their programming!

Brave New Schools is a collaboration between Youth Speaks and XQ: The Super School that powers a national, open, online competition and a series of 20 town halls where young people share their poems, stories, and dreams to reimagine public high school. #BraveNewSchools

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Summer Theatre Courses UMaine

May 11, 2017

Learning opportunities

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Hampden Academy

May 10, 2017

Spring Jazz Night

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MLTI Student Conference

May 9, 2017

Time is running out

Only 200 students seats left and registration closes Friday, May 12th!! If you have not secured space for your school team, please register online as soon as possible. Registration closes Friday at 5:00pm or when we reach 1000 student registrations.
Things to consider:
  • Spaces are filling up – if you want to send a group of students, but don’t have names finalized, you may still register to reserve your spaces! Enter students as Student 1, Student 2, etc and provide names next week.
  • Unable to take time off from class to chaperone? Ask parents/guardians. How about other staff at school? There is no rule that says chaperones must be teachers! Get creative!
  • Can’t afford a bus? Remember to check the list of attending schools. Many districts are willing to bus share.
If you have already registered a team, you may now add up to 10 additional students and 2 adults – email Juanita Dickson at juanita.dickson@maine.gov.
Registration Information!!
 

Register online at http://maine.gov/doe/mlti/student/studentconference/registration/index.html


Conference Information


2017 MLTI Student Conference
Thursday May 25, 2017 
UMaine – Orono, Maine  
Agenda available at http://maine.gov/doe/mlti/student/studentconference/schedule/index.html

  • Schools may now register up to 50 Students and 10 adults in a 5:1 ratio.
    • For groups of students that don’t divide evenly by five, please round up in your adult count. For example, if you are bringing 6 students, you must have 2 adults. If you are bringing 36 students, you must have 7 adults. Remember, chaperones do not have to be school staff – we often have parents volunteer to chaperone!
  • There are 1000 student registration spots available so don’t delay!
  • Registration will close when 1000 registrations are received or by May 12, 2017.

Cost Information

$15 per attendee (student or adult) The cost includes morning refreshments and lunch, as well as a T-shirt for each student attending!  Two ways to get a discount:

  • Presenting teams are provided three complimentary registrations per presenting team – up to one adult and two students.
  • Students with artwork selected for the 2107-2018 screensaver will have registration costs waived.

Media Release Forms


The Department asks that attending students have a signed media release form. There are many photographs and videos being taken during the event and often media is present and on occasion may want to interview students. Student may still attend without a signed form!! We ensure that all name tags are coded so at a glance it can be known if the student is okay to photograph/interview or not.


A media release form is available on our website. If your school has media release forms on file, there is no need to have a second one signed. Please indicate on your registration form that forms are on file at the school.
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MLTI is pleased to welcome a few special guests!!
Joining us as the Student Keynote is Bri Adkins from Foxcroft Academy. Bri the entrepreneurial energy behind Pretty Smart Magazine, with passions that include journalism, coding, and fashion. In her talk Bri will share how her interests and efforts have taken her to New York City for one of Karlie Kloss’ “Kode with Klossy” coding camps and earned mention on the pages of Teen Vogue. Hers is a story of ambition, focus, and effort, and she will encourage all participants to identify their passions and make amazing things happen.
Also joining MLTI at the event is the Ballroom Thieves!!  (Hint: The band will be key players in this year’s Uber Session!)

Guitarist Martin Earley, cellist Calin Peters, and drummer Devin Mauch are the Ballroom Thieves and attendees at the MLTI Student Conference will get to know them right from the start of the day – they’ll be performing live in the Collins Center for the Arts’ Hutchins Concert Hall as participants select their seats and excitement is building around the big day!

This band loves music, and they enjoy working with kids who are in the early stages of their musical joiurney. In fact, they teamed up with the Maine Youth Rock Orchestra to play in Rockland, Maine at Hollerfest II at the Strand Theater, and the results can be seen and heard here.

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Happy

May 9, 2017

Teacher Appreciation Day!

Today is the day designated to to say THANK YOU to teachers! Today is Teacher Appreciation Day, the annual day to let teachers know how much we appreciate what they do. Today came about because in 1953 Eleanor Roosevelt convinced Congress to officially proclaim the Tuesday of the first full week in May National Teachers Day. In 1985 Congress made the day official.

I wonder, if you could have something today, what would it be? Would it be a gift card or a discount at your favorite store or would it be the opportunity to say to an administrator, student or parent what is most important to you about educating students? Why did you choose to become a teacher and for those of you who have been at it a long time, why do you stay? If you could do something today, what would it be? How many of you would choose to have the day off from school?

Thank you for the work you do each day educating students in the arts. The work you do goes way beyond the classroom, the seeds you plant in the arts become part of students lives in so many ways, large and small. Enjoy your day and know that you are greatly appreciated! From me to you

 

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Teacher Appreciation Week

May 8, 2017

Why I Teach?

Ever sit down and ask yourself “Why do I teach?” During my long career as a teacher in the classroom I asked myself that question sometimes at the end of an especially rough day. It helped me put the work into perspective. The only time I asked the question during the sweet moments was usually when someone else made the observation about how fortunate I was to touch the lives of young adolescents.

I often reflect on my days in my middle school classroom when I feel the pull of wanting to be back there. So, last summer when there was a movement around #why I teach it was fun to begin asking the question of arts educators who crossed my pathway. If you haven’t thought about it recently, please take a moment during Teacher Appreciation Week, ask yourself the question and email me your answer or click on “comment” below and let the Maine Arts Education blog readers know your thoughts.

Below are some that came from arts educators who attended the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Mega conference at Hebron Station School on March 17, 2017.

I TEACH BECAUSE…

  • I love seeing the ‘ah ha’ moments.
  • To give back the support and knowledge that I received when I was a young, aspiring artist!
  • Teaching the arts is my passion! My students teacher me something new every day!

Perhaps you’ve written down in a bubble your reason for teaching in the past at a MALI event but thoughts and ideas and reasons for teaching may have changed. If you’ve never done it or if you have in the past, please take a moment during Teacher Appreciation Week and know that what you’re doing is essential and the most important job in the world. That’s my belief and hope that you share it! Thanks for the work you do each and every day.

 

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In Today’s News

May 7, 2017

STE(A)M for young learners

And article published in the Huffington Post and written by Rebecca A. Palacios, Ph.D., Senior Curriculum Advisor for Age of Learning, Inc., the company that produces the ABCmouse.com website and ABCmouse mobile apps clearly states the value in approaching learning through STEAM.

An excerpt from the article:

“When I began teaching in the mid-1970s, I was taught in my undergraduate studies to incorporate elements of different subjects into my teaching to help children make connections among the ideas they were learning.

What did that look like? If we were learning about buildings, you would see students in my early childhood classes building with blocks; measuring how high their structures were with measuring tapes and drawing what they had built; documenting their work and building over time; and then reading about buildings in their community or around the world. They would paint buildings, draw them, talk about them, and pretend to be builders, carpenters, architects, masons. Our learning centers would change to match the curriculum themes and interests of the children.

Language development and literacy instruction revolved around vocabulary related to their current project, such as the names of the tools, the sizes, colors and parts of the buildings, and words related to building shapes, like rectangle, side, angle, and symmetry. And we also talked about the people who lived or worked in buildings, jobs and money, and connections to other ideas in social studies (food, health, transportation).”

Read the entire article by CLICKING HERE.

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