Archive for the ‘Curriculum and Instruction’ Category

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Grammy Music Educator Award

October 20, 2020

25 Semifinalists announced – Maine proud!

In the beginning of June 2020 the Music Educator Award presented by Recording Academy and Grammy Museum announced their quarterfinalists for 2021. I was proud to announce on the blog that three Maine music educators were named to the list of nearly 2,000 nominees!

  • CAROL CLARK – Gray-New Gloucester High School
  • PATRICK VOLKER – Scarborough High School
  • TRACY WILLIAMSON – Gorham Middle School 

As a follow up Tracy shared her Covid story posted on this blog that provided details on her teaching journey through the school year.

Tracy Williamson

Recently Tracy learned that she is one of 25 music teachers from 24 cities across 16 states to be named a semifinalist for the award given by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum.

CONGRATULATIONS TRACY!

The finalists will be announced in December and Maine Arts Educators will be waiting to hear the outcome!

The Music Educator Award recognizes current educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in the schools. The recipient will be recognized during GRAMMY Week 2021.

The award is open to current U.S. music teachers, and anyone can nominate a teacher — students, parents, friends, colleagues, community members, school deans, and administrators. Teachers are also able to nominate themselves, and nominated teachers are notified and invited to fill out an application.

Each year, one recipient is selected from 10 finalists and recognized for their remarkable impact on students’ lives. They will receive a $10,000 honorarium and matching grant for their school’s music program. The nine additional finalists will receive a $1,000 honorarium and matching grants. The remaining fifteen semifinalists will receive a $500 honorarium with matching school grants.

The matching grants provided to the schools are made possible by the generosity and support of the GRAMMY Museum’s Education Champion Ford Motor Company Fund. In addition, the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, NAMM Foundation, and National Education Association support this program through outreach to their constituencies.

The finalists will be announced in December, and nominations for the 2022 Music Educator Award are now open. To nominate a music educator, or to find more information, please visit www.grammymusicteacher.com.

Posted in Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Leadership, Music | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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Resources Supporting Arts Education

October 19, 2020

Amazing work

I know how time consuming it can be for teachers to collect resources so I’ve put together another list to help support your work – this one compiled over the last several weeks. Hopefully you’ll find the information informative!

  1. Neuroscience and Music written by Cassandra Sheppard – At a time when singing in school is marginalized this article/research reminds us that we need to sing!
  2. ArtsEdSearch A hub for research on the impact of arts in education where you’ll find academic studies and resources
  3. pink portfolio exercises As in Daniel Pink who I heard speak about the importance of the creative thinking people.
  4. Onion Foundation Funding source for Maine education
  5. STE(A)Mrolled Blog post from Americans for the Arts. Writer Daryl Ward is the principal of the Harrison School for the Arts in Florida. 
  6. Teaching Arts Education Advocates Blog post for Americans for the Arts. Written by Jennifer Katona, Director and Founder of the Graduate Program in Educational Theatre at the City College of New York (CCNY), oversees the certification of pre and in-service Theatre teachers and training of non-certified theatre educators.
  7. The Teaching Channel has outstanding resources. Here’s one: Post Modern Art: Everything Is Information 
  8. Collective Impact in the Arts – Createquity. One persons information on the possibility of developing a collective impact model for the arts. Written by Ian David Moss a few years ago but information is still relevant for those interested in this work. 
  9. Deeper Learning: Why Cross-Curricular Teaching is Essential written by Ben Johnson for Edutopia. More difficult but so many benefits that outweigh not doing this type of teaching.
  10. Unlocking Passion in Education written by Tom Segal for Education Week. Another older article but good information. 

Posted in Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, funding source, Leadership, Opportunity, Resources, VPA | Tagged | 2 Comments »

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MECA

October 15, 2020

Opportunity for Learners ages 4-17

The Maine College of Arts Master of Arts in Teaching Teacher Candidates will offer a variety of free art lessons to children grades K-12. Click here to register for this event – November 9 (fully online)! Virtual Art Fair! Please share this information with your students and their parents.

Posted in Curriculum and Instruction, Opportunity, Visual Arts | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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How Learning Happens

October 14, 2020

Edutopia and social emotional learning

Edutopia tackles the challenges of social emotional learning by providing several videos on a variety of topics that are beneficial to educators, parents, and organizations who provide learning opportunities for learners. In this video series, they explore how educators can guide all students, regardless of their developmental starting points, to become productive and engaged learners. Below are just a few – you can find many more on the section of the Edutopia website called How Learning Happens.

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Learning and Teaching about Indigenous Cultures, Languages, and Territories

October 12, 2020

Global Oneness Project Webinar

If you’re not familiar with the Global Oneness Project now is a good time to learn more. Cleary Vaughan-Lee is an amazing person and serves as the Executive Director of the Global Oneness Project. Recently they provided a webinar entitled Learning and Teaching about Indigenous Cultures, Languages, and Territories. The webinar was hosted by Christine McRae from Native Land Digital. This is a timely resource since today is Indigenous People Day in Maine. The webinar was attended by close to 900 people and fortunately the webinar was archived so you can access it and also use the many resources that have been gathered to help support your work as educators.


The recording is available to view on the Global Oneness Project website and the resources are in this Google Doc. I’m looking forward to viewing the recording and taking a close look at the resources that are filled with  quotes, websites, books, articles, films, curricula, and podcasts, all of which provide ways to learn from Indigenous voices around the world.

Christine shared ways to engage with the mapping tool Native Land and communicated that there are complexities when mapping Indigenous territories. She said, “When we think of maps in the modern context, they often represent colonial boundaries or colonial understandings of the world. It’s a balance to communicate Indigenous relationships to land, which are so much deeper than shapes.”  

In addition, at the last minute, Margaret Noodin, Obijwe poet and linguist, joined the webinar and read one of her poems that was included in the slides. It is called “Babejianjisemigad/Gradual Transformation,” which she read in Anishinaabemowin and in English. She said, “I think one of the things I got from my dad and his mother was the ability to listen to the world singing around me and the desire to sing back to it.”

Thanks to Cleary Vaughan-Lee and the Global Oneness Project for their dedication and thoughtfulness about education. Most of the blog post was from a recent email from Cleary.  

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Maine Art Ed Workshop

October 10, 2020

Registration deadline – October 12

Activating Hybrid Learning with Center for Maine Contemporary Art MAEA Workshop

Saturday, 17 October 2020, in-person

Center for Maine Contemporary Arts in Rockland, 9:30AM – 3:30PM.

ONLY 19 SPOTS LEFT!!!  JOIN US TODAY!

Pre-registration is required – $50.00 per person 

Registration Deadline:  Monday, October 12th

In support of the Maine Arts Education Association (MAEA), CMCA is offering a full day professional workshop for Maine Art Educators, including contemporary art exploration, making, and conversation featuring the CMCA 2020 Biennial.
CMCA curatorial and education staff will guide participants through a variety of activities and ideas for incorporating contemporary art into your classrooms, both in-person and online. We’ll take a close look at the diverse themes and artworks in the Biennial and discover a range of artmaking processes, ideas, and artists that will heighten curriculum and personal practice. Re-energize and regroup as a community of artists, educators, and contemporaries during this one-day workshop.
Please email mbogyo@cmcanow.org with any questions about the workshop.
To ensure safe social distancing, the workshop will be split into 2 groups; masks required.
For the complete schedule, please visit MAEA website!

Posted in Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Opportunity, Visual Arts | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

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Education Innovators Series

October 8, 2020

You’re invited to join Educate Maine virtually for a NEW speaker series addressing innovation in education. The series will bring together national thought leaders and leading Maine educators to share their best ideas and deep wisdom on the topic of how education can adapt and evolve to meet the unique demands of our time. 

Educate Maine is partnering with the Education Action Forum of Maine and Thomas College’s Center for Innovation in Education to host this timely series. Join them Thursday, October 15 from 3:30-4:30pm for the first of several engaging conversations among national thought leaders and Maine’s top educators as they discuss and explore what is next for the field.

REGISTRATION

SPEAKERS

  • Jason Swanson
    Director of Strategic Foresight
    KnowledgeWorks
  • Matt Drewette-Card
    Dir of Curr, Inst, & Assess
    MSAD #46
  • Heather Whitaker
    2020 Maine Teacher of the Year

At the first event, the presenter is Jason Swanson who is the Director of Strategic Foresight at KnowledgeWorks, where he helps lead the organization’s research into the future of learning. An award-winning futurist, Jason develops forecasts, sensemaking guides, artifacts from the future, and immersive experiences. Jason is a frequent public speaker and workshop facilitator and holds a BA in Public Policy from West Chester University and an MS in Foresight from the University of Houston. He is a fellow with the Royal Society of Arts and is a member of the Remake Learning Council and Learn Life Alliance.

In addition, we will engage two Maine educators to discuss the research and explore how educators can partner with government officials to explore these options for Maine’s families.

Matt Drewette-Card is the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for MSAD #46, a small, rural school district in central Maine. Matt is also the President of Maine ASCD, the Maine CSTA Penobscot/Piscataquis County regional representative, a Future Ready Schools mentor, and host of the “Maine Education Matters” podcast. Matt has been in education for over 20 years, has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Oregon, and has taught in Maine, Oregon, New Mexico, Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.

Heather Whitaker is the Alternative Education Teacher at Gorham Middle School and the 2020 Maine Teacher of the Year. During her 18-year teaching career at Gorham Middle School, Heather has been a true advocate for combining learning opportunities with the needs of the community. She started her school’s garden, which donates over 800 pounds of produce for the local food pantry each year. She also was a founding member of the Gorham BackPack Program, which provides students in her community, experiencing chronic hunger, with food over the weekend. Her alternative education students are active volunteers for both programs. Heather is passionate about and experienced in using restorative practices and experiential learning. She believes in the power of relationships and that learning should be meaningful to students. Whenever possible, Heather takes students out of the classroom and has them engaged in the community. Heather graduated from Boston College in 2000, where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education with Moderate Special Needs. She later earned her Master of Science in Literacy Education at the University of Southern Maine.

Schedule for the event

3:30-3:50pm: Jason Swanson

3:50-4:10pm: Matt Drewette-Card and Heather Whitaker

4:10-4:30pm: Q & A 

The zoom link will be emailed to all registered participants prior to the event.

Posted in Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Leadership, Opportunity, Professional Development | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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Professional Development Opportunities

October 6, 2020

DOE offerings

Visual Arts Education in an Online Setting – Thursday, October 15, 4p-5p

How do you create meaningful art experiences for students while allowing them to explore and create artwork?   During this session, participants will learn how to prepare for asynchronous and synchronous instruction, class critiques, and interactive review. Participants will also learn how to cultivate a community in an online environment. This session is intended for middle and high school visual art teachers.

Assessing Art Students Using Technology – Thursday, October 22, 4p-5p 

What are the best strategies to keep students engaged during synchronous classes?  How can you assess mastery in a virtual setting?  During this session, participants will learn multiple techniques for engaging students during synchronous sessions.  Participants will also discuss grading rubrics, peer and teacher feedback, as well as additional resources that can be used for formative and summative assessments. This session is intended for middle and high school visual art teachers.

Virtual Art and Talent Show – Thursday, October 29, 4p-5p

How do you showcase student work and talents virtually?  During this session, participants will learn how to set up a virtual art and talent show that offers multiple opportunities for students to showcase artwork and musical or performance-based talents during a live session.  Participants will also learn about collecting authentic data to provide to administration as well as student participants based on student peer feedback.  This session is intended for any Arts Education teacher teaching any content area in grades K-12.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR VISUAL ART OPPORTUNITIES

Presenter Information – Katie Royal

Katherine “Katie” Royal is an online visual arts teacher who teaches high school Art 1, Digital Photography and Digital Imaging and Design. Katie is in her ninth year of teaching and fourth year teaching virtually.  She strongly advocates that all students should receive a high-quality arts education and while teaching online has developed various methods to provide authentic virtual experiences.

Katie holds a B.A. in Art Education with a K-12 Licensure from Meredith College and is currently pursuing a M.Ed. in Online Instruction from Southern New Hampshire University. Aside from teaching Katie lives in North Carolina with her husband and three children who she is currently home schooling.

Performance Ensembles in a Virtual World – Tuesday, October 13, 5p-6p 

How do you have a live rehearsal without being the same space? How do you create meaningful musical experiences for students? During this session, participants will learn how to prepare for rehearsals, run productive rehearsals and sectionals, and assess students using technology. Participants will also learn how to cultivate a community in an online environment. This session is intended for middle and high school band, orchestra, or choir directors.

Synchronous Singing Games in Elementary Music – Tuesday, October 20, 5p-6p

How can you play your favorite singing games with elementary students over Zoom? How can you extend beyond listening and responding to music? During this session, participants will learn how to play singing games in synchronous instruction. They will also learn how to include extension activities students can complete synchronously or asynchronously. This session is intended for elementary general music teachers.

Engagement Tips and Tricks for Synchronous Music Classes – Tuesday, October 27, 5p-6p

What are the best strategies to keep students engaged during synchronous classes? How can you engage students, even when their cameras are off? During this session, participants will learn tried and true techniques for engaging students during synchronous sessions. Participants will learn how to leverage features built into the virtual classroom platforms and how to effectively use technology resources outside of the platform without overwhelming students. This session is intended for any music teacher teaching any content area in grades K-12.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES

Presenter Information – Michelle Rose

Michelle Rose is an online music teacher who teaches middle school general music and high school music appreciation. She also directs the extracurricular virtual instrumental and vocal ensembles at her school. Michelle is an active teacher-author who creates resources for music teachers and writes for her blog, The Musical Rose. 

In addition to teaching and writing, Michelle is a sought after clinician, presenter, and panelist frequently presenting for numerous conferences and districts. Her most recent book, Teaching Music Online: A Comprehensive Guide for K-12 Music Educators, is a balance of practical advice, innovative teaching strategies, and educational philosophy designed to help teachers transition into online music education.

Posted in Curriculum and Instruction, Music, Opportunity, Professional Development, Visual Arts | Tagged | Leave a Comment »

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Kate’s Picks

September 29, 2020

Teaching in a Pandemic

Below is a blog post contributed by Kate Smith, Central School, South Berwick Music Teacher. Kate is the 2014 York County Teacher of the Year and is a leader in the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative. Kate has made an amazing list of some of her favorite children’s books with information and suggestions on how to use them in your classroom. THANK YOU Kate for providing not only books but your passion for teaching! The post starts out with this message from Kate…

Kate Smith with What If…

Hello colleagues! If I have learned anything these past six months, it is this: keep your friends close and your ARTS colleagues closer! I have learned so much from interacting with all of you through MALI events, Tuneful Talk webinars, DOE-hosted events, virtual book clubs, Facebook groups and, on the rare occasion, socially distanced gatherings. You inspire me, encourage me, support me, make me laugh, understand the frustration, and your authenticity and vulnerability in these unsettling times remind me I am not alone. THANK YOU. To attempt to pay it forward, I have offered to write a blog post for Argy (I owe her big time), and hopefully there will be something here that will benefit you in some way. Better, I hope you will comment with your own resources and we can make this an even more valuable blog post.

Favorite books Kate is using in her teaching…

WHAT IF by Samantha Berger and Illustrated by Mike Curato. This book came recommended to me by Kaitlin Young, a music teacher at SeDoMoCha and the 2018 Maine Teacher of the Year. It’s called “What If” and it is written by Samantha Berger and illustrated by Mike Curato. This would be a great book for art, music, dance or theater teachers and their students.  I used this book to explain what we can and can’t do in the music room this year.  Little, Brown and Company do allow us to videotape ourselves reading the book but with restrictions which you can find on their website.

I’m Going on A Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. This is an oldie (1997) but goodie. It works just fine as a chant. Adding hand motions and body percussion can make this a crowd pleaser, add instruments and they’ll be begging for more. First we acted out the book as a chant and added motions for each obstacle. Then we talked about how to make appropriate sound for each challenge using a drum. Each child had their own drum. We rubbed, scraped, tapped and banged our way to the bear cave and back!

Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay by Susan Hood and Sally Wern Comport. Are you having your students make their own instruments? This book can be inspiring and eye opening. A true story, a quick google search and you’ll find some videos of the actual orchestra to share as well.

 

Mole Music by David McPhail. Another oldie but goodie. This one is great for discussing hopes and dreams with your students, music’s impact on our feelings and emotions (sometimes when we don’t even know it!), and that learning a new instrument takes time and a lot of practice. I once invited a violin player to play while I read. It was awesome. Especially the screechy part at the beginning. 😉

 

We Will Rock Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins, a Maine author with a fantastic sense of humor (if you haven’t read Mother Bruce, you must drive to the nearest bookstore right now.) This book addresses nerves when it comes to performing, in this case, the school talent show.

Because by Mo Willems and Amber Ren, published in 2019. This beautiful book speaks of persistence, hard work, inspiration, legacy, community and discovery. How did this book come to be? I will let Mo and Amber tell you at THIS LINK.  And here is THE LINK to Hilary Purrington’s symphony, The Cold, featured in this book!

Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow is a wonderful book that celebrates the beauty, history and magic of names. Saying them correctly is important and it matters. CLICK HERE for a video of a read aloud and THIS LINK will help to pronounce the names in the book from the author!

I will be reading this book to the students soon, have you used it in your classroom? Some teachers have their students draw their name in an artistic way to show what their name means to them. How powerful!

Please consider sharing one of your ideas or work that you have underway with the Maine Arts Education Blog readers! Email me your ideas at meartsed@gmail.com. 

Posted in Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Leadership, Music, Resources | Tagged , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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Story Corps

September 28, 2020

Great resource

StoryCorps was established in 2003 and has a mission to record, preserve, and share the stories of Americans from all backgrounds and beliefs. Their website has several great tips and resources on how to get started in telling your story in the best possible way. I like knowing that StoryCorps was modeled after the efforts of the WPA – Works Progress Administration of the 1930s. I know artists benefited from the work of the WPA during the Depression and the impact still carries over today.

In March 2020 StoryCorps Connect was established in response to COVID-19 pandemic. It enables people who are interested to record an interview with someone using video conference technology. The audio and a still photo from each interview goes into the archive at the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress. Your interview becomes part of American history, and hundreds of years from now, future generations will listen in. “We think of StoryCorps as an ever-growing archive of the wisdom of humanity.” You can make a recording at THIS LINK. StoryCorps is an independently funded nonprofit organization.

In addition StoryCorps connect has created a Downloadable Toolkit for Teachers and Educators. The toolkit is filled with multimedia resources and lessons to support young people as they learn to interview, record, and listen to the stories of family members and loved ones. There are so many possibilities for ways to use this with your learners – no matter what age or subject you may teach.

The video below provides the 5 easy steps to record your story.

 

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