Archive for September, 2019

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Happy Arts in Education Week!

September 10, 2019

Americans for the Arts celebrating 

It’s finally here — join Americans for the Arts and arts leaders, educators, and students across the country in celebrating the powerful impact of arts in education all this week, September 8-14, 2019!
Passed by Congress in 2010, House Resolution 275 designates the week beginning with the second Sunday in September as National Arts in Education Week. During this week, the field of arts education joins together in communities across the country to tell the story of the impact of the transformative power of the arts in education.
PARTICIPATE
AFTAStarSmall.png Gather online with arts education supporters with this year’s National Arts in Education Week Virtual Conversation. Take a look at the current state of arts education with the“Reflecting on the State of Arts Education” Virtual Conversation on Monday, September 9, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. EST, and envision the future of arts education with the “A Look Forward into the Future of Arts Education” Virtual Conversation on Friday, September 13, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. EST.
AFTAStarSmall.png Learn from educators and leaders throughout the week on Americans for the Arts’ARTSBlog posts celebrating National Arts in Education Week.
AFTAStarSmall.png Stay up to date on all the week’s news and events by joining the National Arts in Education Week Event on Facebook.
AFTAStarSmall.png Tag tweets using #ArtsEdWeek and #BecauseOfArtsEd through National Arts in Education Week, and use these hashtags to read and share stories about the impact of arts education.
AFTAStarSmall.png Join the National Arts in Education Week social media campaign using our How-To Guide.
ADVOCATE
AFTAStarSmall.png Work with your elected officials and decision-makers to share the value of the arts in education using our resources, including sample resolutions and videos.
AFTAStarSmall.png Send an op-ed to your local newspaper using relevant talking points about the importance of arts in education.
AFTAStarSmall.png Use our online guided tool, the Arts Education Navigator, to craft a personal advocacy plan.
CELEBRATE
AFTAStarSmall.png Host a celebration in your community, whether big or small, an existing event, or a new one.
AFTAStarSmall.png Check out local #ArtsEdWeek events on ArtsMeet, a national arts event calendar.
AFTAStarSmall.png Download the 5 Ways to Partner Packet for other ideas of how to celebrate in your community!

Posted in Communication, Community, Creativity, Food for thought, Leadership, Resources, YAHOO | Tagged , , | Leave a Comment »

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Dance Dance Dance

September 9, 2019

Dance opportunities this month and next

Friday, September 13 – Sunday September 15:
STAR ISLAND –  Dancing at the final Star Hampshire Dance Weekend, my family’s annual tradition for 11 years.
Friday, September 20 – Sun Sept 22:
UNITY –  Another annual tradition, MOFGA’s Common Ground Fair!  I’ll be roaming around with family and friends, and probably dancing too.
Saturday, September 28:
BAR HARBOR – Calling a Contra Dance with Big Moose at Jesup Library, 6:30 p.m. First hour is a community dance for all ages, especially families. Info: 288-4245
Friday, October 4:
BELFAST – Calling the Belfast Flying Shoes (BFS) Community Dance with Lisa Newcomb and the All Corners Band, 6:30 p.m. Calling the BFS Contras with Peregrine Road + Becky Tracy, and Eric Johnson on sound, 8 p.m. Info: belfastflyingshoes.org
Sunday, October 6:
BELFAST – Attending an English Country Dance with music by Rachel Bell & Karen Axelrod, 7pm at the First Baptist Church on High Street. (Likely also attending the ECD musicians’ workshop with Karen & Rachel at 3pm in the same venue.) Info: belfastflyingshoes.org
Thursday, October 17 – Sunday, October 20:
ST PAUL – Attending Pourparler, a national conference for community dance, music, and song leaders.  So excited!
Thursday, October 24:
STONINGTON – Calling a Community Contra Dance at the Stonington Opera House, partly to culminate a residency at the Deer Isle – Stonington Elementary School.
Thank you Chrissy Fowler for providing the information in this post and the opportunities to DANCE!

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Inspirational

September 8, 2019

Collaboration on the piano

Looking for a short video to help set the tone for why and how a collaboration can take place? Take a look and listen to this one – E. Pluribus Unum.

I enjoyed watching this musical performance since I think playing the piano with two hands is challenging enough. Washington Conservatory at TEDMED 2013 conducts a 24 Hands Piano Performance. The creativity and musical skill on display here is simply amazing. 24 Hands Piano is like a musical massage for the Steinway piano. Yes, this is music but its also a dance at the piano and a theater performance.

 

Posted in Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Music, Theater | Tagged , | Leave a Comment »

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Maine Expansion Arts Fund

September 7, 2019

Maine Community Foundation

The Maine Community Foundation’s Maine Expansion Arts Fund is accepting applications from nonprofits for grants of up to $5,000 that support indigenous, ethnic, or rural arts programs or projects, particularly those that serve areas with limited access to arts events.

The deadline for grant applications is September 15, 2019. An online application, guidelines and a list of recent grants are available at www.mainecf.org.

The Maine Expansion Arts Fund is a collaborative effort of MaineCF, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Lillian M. Berliawsky Charitable Trust, and the Maine Arts Commission to strengthen and ensure the future of these artistic traditions. Additional funding is provided through the Elizabeth Laughlin Anderson Memorial Fund.

A statewide organization headquartered in Ellsworth with additional personnel in Portland, Dover-Foxcroft and Mars Hill, the Maine Community Foundation works with donors and other partners to improve the quality of life for all Maine people

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maine.The Magazine

September 6, 2019

Joao Victor

maine.The Magazine writer Emma Simard wrote a piece on Joao Victor, the 2019 Maine Poetry Out Loud champion. It’s a short and informative read. Maine continues to be proud of the commitment Victor (he commonly uses his last name), made to the Poetry Out Loud program during his senior year at Lewiston High School. He practiced everyday for months; even walking home by the light of the moon from his job at the local grocery store. Joao’s teacher, Jim Siragusa, has been coaching students since the program started 14 years ago. Joao moved along in the process to be named one of the nine best in the country.

Read the entire article at THIS LINK.

The start of a new school year and the 2019-20120 Poetry Out Loud program is being launched by the Maine Arts Commission. For information about Poetry Out Loud, please contact Brita Wanger-Morier, Performing Arts & Media Director at the Maine Arts Commission, at 207/287-2750 or by email at Brita.Wanger-vog.eniam@reiroM.

 

 

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Teachers Need Teachers

September 5, 2019

Consider your role as a teacher leader

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Beauty in the World

September 4, 2019

Song and Dance

Brooklyn Prospect Charter School  – Clinton Hill Middle School Campus

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Bright Pink Teeter-Totters

September 3, 2019

Artist builds see saws

We know that art serves many purposes. Artwork can be a powerful statement, often times communicating more clearly than words. Two college professors collaborated to create artwork that shows no boundaries, or does it?

Ronald Rael, professor of architecture at the University of California, Berkeley, and Virginia San Fratello, associate professor of design at San José State University, came up with the conceptual drawings for the “Teetertotter Wall” in 2009. With the help of others, the two professors created the scene this week near El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juáre, Mexico, and shared images and video of it on instagram. “The wall became a literal fulcrum for U.S.-Mexico relations,” Rael wrote on Instagram, “and children and adults were connected in meaningful ways on both sides with the recognition that the actions that take place on one side have a direct consequence on the other side.”

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Impacts of the Teacher

September 2, 2019

The future

Molders of the Future 

Most folks well worth the memory,

have statues carved in stone.

But teachers mold their monuments

in living flesh and bone.

The student who goes out in life

and makes a well known name

Admits unto the heart of it all,

some teachers shares the fame.

I never hear a pianist

with talent true and rare

But in the shadows I can see,

a teacher standing there.

No skillful doctor ever saved

the lives of human kind,

Without the seeds some teacher stored

within that fertile mind.

No actor, writer, carpenter,

no boxer you’ll allow

Pursues his chosen field unless

some teacher showed him how.

Lawyers, doctors, engineers,

all who are beloved by men,

Remember what some teacher taught

and quote it now and then.

Yes, teachers mold their monuments.

They build them year by year.

Not like the ancient pyramids,

so awesome and austere.

Which time and time will were away;

but spurning solemn stone,

Our teachers mold eternally

In living flesh and bone.

~ Margaret Rorke

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Welcome Back!

September 1, 2019

Another school year underway

Welcome Back! It won’t be long now and everyone will be back in school throughout Maine and across the country. Teacher workshops are underway and the first reports I’m getting from teachers – people are preparing and excited! Perhaps you are happy about returning or maybe you’re feeling the opposite. One thing is for sure, the weather this summer has been outstanding (once summer arrived). Lots of blue sky, sunshine, and not too warm (only 1 week of humidity in the mid-coast).

Perhaps you’re in need something to help you adjust to returning to the classroom. If you’re looking for inspiring education websites check out Teacher2Teacher. The images embedded in this post are from the site. I’ve included information on the HundrED in the past, filled with innovative ideas that are sure to send your mind spinning.

Considering what to teach, what changes you will make, and how you’ll leap into another school year – 2019-2020? I suggest journaling or creating artwork to help wrap your head around the task in front of you. Perhaps you’re at a place in your teaching career that you’d like to share your ideas with other educators. Consider selling your lessons/units online to other teachers, there are several websites. Or consider starting a blog for your own ideas or your students. Or how about starting a podcast? As you start this year, below are some questions to consider:

  • What led you to teaching in the first place? How do you maintain the passion?
  • In what ways will you start the school year? Will you change something? What have you found works over the year and what hasn’t?
  • What has inspired you during your summer break that may influence your teaching? How can you incorporate your excitement into your everyday school work?
  • How can you establish keep a growth mindset throughout the school year OR from year to year?
  • We know how important a sense of humor is as a teacher. What’s a funny story from your classroom experience?
  • How do you learn your students names?
  • What are you going to do to establish relationships with your students?
  • What will you do to champion your students this year?

Establishing a relationship with every student can be difficult if you’re an elementary music or art teacher or if you have a band or chorus with over 100 students. We know that this is critical to encourage learning and success. Each student needs a champion and I’m not referring to the learners who are traditionally “good” kids. Every student deserves YOUR BEST so they can provide THEIR BEST! Collaborate with your colleagues and figure out how to be sure that each student has a champion!

Rita Pierson, in her TED Talk, reminds us that every kid needs a champion. I’ve posted this before but it’s worth watching at the beginning of a new school year.

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