Archive for the ‘Integration’ Category
July 28, 2014
This is a BIG WEEK for Arts Education in Maine!!
SUMMIT ON ARTS EDUCATION
We have more than 90 educators attending the Summit on Arts Education at USM, Portland campus on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday and almost half of those will also be attending on Friday for the Teacher Leader day. Included on the attendee list are dance, music, theatre, and visual arts PK-12 teachers, teaching artists, other educators, and representatives from arts organizations and the university. There are 13 teams participating. The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) Leadership team and Teacher Leaders have been crazy busy with the agenda planning that will be full of rich learning opportunities.
Included on the agenda:
- Sessions on Assessment, Leadership, Student-centered, Standards-based, Proficiency, Advocacy, Arts Integration, Creativity, Literacy, Technology and much more provided by MAAI teacher leaders, leadership team, members, Lesley University staff, technology integrators from NC, MLTI, and MICDL, and teaching artists
- The unveiling of the Teacher Leader Resource Bank by Julie Richard, Executive Director of the Maine Arts Commission
- An electronic discussion with the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) who are at a conference in Washington, DC this week
- Arts Education Program Director, Jeff Poulin from Americans for the Arts will be presenting a session on Leadership and Advocacy
- Stories and examples from MAAI Teacher Leaders
- Time for networking with other Maine educators
- Arts Education organizations, higher ed representatives, and community groups will be exhibiting and sharing information
- The opportunity to create an Individual Action Plan and/or a Team Action Plan to implement back home in teachers school districts
Teachers who are attending the Summit will receive contact hours, CEUs or graduate credit.
If you have not registered for the Summit you may still do so no later than TODAY by clicking here https://webapp.usm.maine.edu/DCPEOnline/addRegCONFPage1.do?offeringId=100075146. For more information please click here https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/NESummit
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION ON ARTS EDUCATION
Maine Focus Groups and Community Conversations – don’t miss this opportunity!
Are you interested in joining others interested in arts education to talk about the future of arts education in Maine? If so, please plan on attending the event on
Tuesday, July 29, 7:00-8:00pm at the Maine College of Art, 522 Congress St, Portland, ME.
We have a wonderful opportunity to help influence the future of our community and the future of our state. Please join me to participate in a discussion about the kinds of creative opportunities and activities you would like to see available for our residents, our children, and our families. Often times, plans are created for us, instead of with us – they miss the mark and we miss the opportunity to see what we value included in the mix.
If you have questions about either of these opportunities taking place this week please don’t hesitate to email me at argy.nestor@maine.gov.
Posted in assessment, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Integration, Leadership, Media Arts, Music, Opportunity, Professional Development, Research, Standards Based Education, Theater, Visual Arts, VPA | Tagged arts education, Julie Richard, leadership team, MAAI, Maine, Maine arts assessment initiative, resource bank, teacher leaders | Leave a Comment »
July 15, 2014
Getting ready
Many of the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) Teacher Leaders and Leadership Team have been working (almost) around the clock getting ready for the Arts Education Summit happening on July 29-31 at USM, Portland campus. The Summit is chock full of sessions facilitated by educators with years of experience in teaching and assessment practices. To learn more please click here.
During the last three summers the MAAI has provided a summer institute for teachers interested in being Teacher Leaders. The feedback we received from many teachers included requests to provide summer extended professional development for everyone, not just those who wish to be MAAI Teacher Leaders.
Recently several of the Teacher Leaders planning the Summit came together for a planning meeting using Zoom.us which provides video conferencing. MAAI has been using it for meetings recently and found it very simple and reliable! Above is an image that I took (screen shot) during the meeting attended by 16 educators. Direct registration to the Summit can be accessed by clicking here.
MAAI is continually breaking new territory to meet the needs of arts educators across the state which we know ultimately impacts arts education and all students. It is not to late to register for the Summit! Don’t miss this fabulous opportunity! Please contact me by email if you have any questions at argy.nestor@maine.gov. The image below is arts educators (plus 1) jamming last year at the MAAI summer institute.
Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Food for thought, Integration, Leadership, Media Arts, Music, Opportunity, Professional Development, Standards, Standards Based Education, Technology, Theater, Visual Arts, YAHOO | Leave a Comment »
May 19, 2014
Interested in Being a Teacher Leader?
Regional VPA Assessment Leader Search
Maine Arts Assessment Initiative-Phase 4
The Initiative is a partnership with MAC, MDOE, USM, MAEA, MMEA, MAAE, MLTI, and
New England Institute for Teacher Education
Join us for a GREAT opportunity! The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative invites YOU to be part of Phase IV. We are looking for teachers interested in leading and in taking a close look at assessment in the arts. If you are selected, you will be required to attend the New England Summit on Arts Education, July 29, 30, 31, Aug. 1 at USM, Portland. Details and registration at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/NESummit. We will provide professional development and ask that you take what you’ve learned and share it with other educators in your region and beyond.
If interested, please send a completed application to Argy Nestor at argy.nestor@maine.gov NO LATER THAN JUNE 2, 2014.
APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE AT http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/MAAI#.
Selected teacher leader responsibilities for the 2014-15 school year include
- Communicate by wiki
- Attend 3-day New England Summit on Arts Ed plus 1 July 29,30,31, Aug. 1
- Attend all-day meeting as a follow-up to Summit
- Present a workshop in your region, planned by you
- Present a workshop at the mega-regional workshop site that will be coordinated by the leadership team
- Attend an all-day meeting to reflect on work of phase IV with teacher leaders, and leadership team – winter/spring 2015
MAINE ARTS ASSESSMENT INITIATIVE – BACKGROUND INFORMATION
OVERALL DESCRIPTION
Create an environment in Maine where assessment in arts education is an integral part of the work all arts educators do to improve student achievement in the arts.
Since 2011 the initiative has been building capacity by training arts educators on the “what” and “how” of arts assessment so they can provide the leadership in Maine through professional development opportunities. The details of the initiative are at http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/MAAI#.
OVERALL OBJECTIVES
Devise a statewide plan for assessment in arts education, which includes professional development opportunities, regionally and statewide, to expand on the knowledge and skills of teachers to improve teaching and learning.
- Develop and implement standards-based assessment statewide for Visual and Performing Arts (VPA)
- Continuation of building a team representing all regions of Maine
- Workshops to provide ongoing learning opportunities for arts teachers
HISTORY – Phase I, II, III – Summer 2011 to present
- Fifty two teacher leaders attended summer institutes on assessment, leadership, technology, creativity, standards-based and student-centered teaching and learning
- Teacher leaders presented workshops at two statewide arts education conference, USM, Portland and UMaine, Orono with over 450 educators attending
- Teacher leaders facilitated regional workshops across Maine
- Teacher leaders facilitated workshops at 8 mega-regional sites across Maine
- Another Arts Teacher’s Story series (52) on Maine Arts Ed blog
- Arts assessment graduate courses offered by New England Institute for Teacher Education
- Nine arts education assessment webinars for Maine educators facilitated by Rob Westerberg and Catherine Ring – archived
- Video stories of 7 teacher leaders that demonstrate a standards-based arts education classroom
- Teacher Leader Resource Team ongoing development of items for resource bank
Phase IV components
- July 29, 30, 31 2014: New England Summit on Arts Education, USM, Portland
- August 1: Professional Development for teacher leaders
- Regional and Mega-regional workshops throughout Maine
- Webinars
- Video stories
- Resource Bank continuation
- Professional development for teaching artists
Goals of Day 4, August 1
- Professional development for teacher leaders that will prepare them for their role of the MAAI, phase IV
For More Information
Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Integration, Leadership, Media Arts, Music, Opportunity, Professional Development, Standards Based Education, Technology, Theater, Visual Arts, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged arts education, MAAI, MAC, Maine, Maine arts assessment initiative, teacher leaders | Leave a Comment »
April 11, 2014
April’s MAAI Webinar
This post was provided by music educator Rob Westerberg.
The second of a series of four webinars for phase 3 of the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative was held on Tuesday, April 8, entitled “Common Core and The Arts”. Catherine Ring and I facilitated what ended up being a pretty full hour with guests Marcia McCaffrey, Arts Consultant at the New Hampshire Department Of Education, and Jenni Null, Fine Arts Coordinator in S.A.D. #61. The dialogue focused around three broad topics:
- what is the Common Core and what are it’s origins,
- how does it tie in to Visual and Performing Arts, and
- how do we confront authentic concerns and questions we have around it all?
A focal point of the webinar was a resources page on which we provided live links (those links are still live in the archived webinar, which you can access at the end of this blog post) to abundant information on the Common Core, practical connections to the Arts and yet even more links that can assist Arts teachers, informing their work at integrating Common Core. As those links were shown, we had a rich conversation that included articulating the difference between “enrichment” and authentic integration. We also spent time addressing specific concerns from the field, stating that some have been coerced into sacrificing their own work to accommodate ELA prompts and increase math achievement scores. Others have had their face time with students slashed so those students can receive remedial help in other subjects. Rather than skirt these issues, confronting them head on brought about many insights and ideas for moving forward.
It became apparent that the issues we confront here in Maine have less to do with the Common Core than practical implementation of them in local controlled school districts. In short, it is evident that the Common Core standards hold many promises for all of us in Maine, including the potential for exciting collaborative work in the Arts. But implementation of this requires much prep work and a commitment to ideals that squarely place the focus on students, not programs. Successful implementation will require “intentionality” and school leadership where a broad understanding of how the arts appropriately contribute to the Common Core is present. There is not only a place for the Arts at the table, but the scenario exists in which we potentially play a larger role than ever before in the development of our students in the 21st Century.
As Marcia McCaffrey pointed out, the College Board has come out with a Review of Connections Between the Common Core and National Core Arts Standards Conceptual Framework and specific ways to approach alignment. Marcia provided an overview of this research which will be posted at http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/MAAI-Webinars in the near future.
On Wednesday, May 7, we will be holding our third webinar in which we will be discussing how the Arts are impacted by the Maine law mandating Proficiency in all subject areas – including the Arts – and what that will look like for us as we move forward. No doubt it will tie into additional Common Core topics as well as the revision of the National Core Arts Standards that will be released in early June. Please plan on joining us from 3:30 to 4:30 on that first Wednesday of May. In the meantime, you can access the archive of the April 8 webinar at http://stateofmaine.adobeconnect.com/p7qnkdt5lp2/. In the near future along with Marcia’s presentation there will be a Meeting Plan which you can use individually or with your colleagues, along with additional information on the Maine Arts Commission website at http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/MAAI-Webinars.
Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Curriculum and Instruction, Integration, Leadership, Professional Development, Research, Standards, Standards Based Education, VPA | Tagged April webinar, arts and common core, Catherine Ring, Common Core, Jenni Null, MAAI, Maine arts assessment initiative, Marcia McCaffrey, Rob Westerberg, webinar series | Leave a Comment »
March 31, 2014
Summer Teacher Institute – July 7-9 or July 28-30
Integrating portraiture into the classroom provides exciting opportunities to connect students with history, biography, visual art, and many other subjects. The National Portrait Gallery’s collection presents the wonderful diversity of individuals who have left—and are leaving—their mark on our country and our culture. The museum portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists whose lives tell the American story. The Summer Teacher Institute will take a broad look at the Portrait Gallery’s collection.
During the institute, the museum’s curators and historians will provide in-gallery content lectures, introducing the collection. Utilizing an interactive approach, NPG educators will model a variety of “learning to look” strategies—unique ways to hook and engage students when they look closely at portraits. Participants will learn how to “read” portraiture and use the art as a springboard into a more in-depth discussion about biography and history. Teachers from kindergarten through twelfth grade may apply as individuals or as part of a team. Priority will be given to social studies, English/language arts, and visual arts teachers.
Institute participants will:
- Gain expertise from museum educators, curators, and historians through gallery talks, discussions, and hands-on activities
- Learn to use portraiture in the classroom, identifying and analyzing key components of a portrait and relating visual elements to relevant historical context and significance
- Make interdisciplinary connections among portraiture, social studies, and English/ language arts
- Develop and share lesson ideas with colleagues
A nonrefundable program fee of $100 per person is due upon acceptance into the teacher institute. Participants are responsible for travel and lodging costs. Each participant will receive a stipend of $200 at the conclusion of the workshop.
Visit http://npg.si.edu/education/teachprog.html to apply. Please direct queries to npgeducation@ si.edu or 202.633.8503. Application deadline is April 15, 2014.
Posted in Curriculum and Instruction, Integration, Leadership, Professional Development, VPA | Tagged DC, July 2014, National Portrait Gallery, Washington | Leave a Comment »
January 9, 2014
Cross-curricular lessons
The blues are the topic for 18 cross-curricular lessons created by Scott Barretta, a blues historian at the University of Mississippi. The curriculum including audio and videos are available online at no cost. An interview in Ed Week provides details and an interview with Scott that is an overview of the curriculum which includes music, visual arts, theater arts, social studies, geography, and history. LLlana Heltin wrote the article that was posted on January 3, 2014.
Posted in Curriculum and Instruction, Integration, Music, Theater, Visual Arts | Tagged blues, cross-curricular, Mississippi | Leave a Comment »
November 19, 2013
Save the Date – July 29, 30, 31, 2014
More information will be available in the near future as the
Leadership Team and Teacher Leaders plan this
SUMMER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
for YOU!
Posted in Communication, Community, Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Integration, Leadership, Media Arts, Music, Opportunity, Professional Development, Research, Standards, Standards Based Education, Technology, Theater, Visual Arts, YAHOO | Tagged MAAI, Maine arts assessment initiative, Maine arts education, New England arts educators | Leave a Comment »
September 26, 2013
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Augusta State Armory, Western Ave, Augusta, ME
8:30 am-4:45 pm
$50.00 before October 15-$60.00 after October 15
YOU WILL SELECT THE WORKSHOPS YOU’D LIKE TO ATTEND THE DAY OF THE CONFERENCE
AGENDA
8:30-9:00 am- Welcome and Keynote address-Argy Nestor, Visual and Performing Arts Specialist, Maine Department of Education
9:15-10:45 am- Session I
- Confidence in Creative Singing (Yes, even YOU!): Presented by, Martin Swinger. This fun, safe and affirming workshop helps even uncertain singers freely invent instruction and transition songs using simple scaffolding steps. Find confidence to creatively ‘fail’ maintaining pride and self-respect! Bravely model the joy of singing!
- Telling true stories: How to inspire kids to write about their lives and family: Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Barbara Walsh, author of August Gale: A Father and Daughter’s Journey into the Storm and Sammy in the Sky, will discuss how to get children excited about writing stories about their lives or family. Walsh, a long-time journalist and non-fiction author, believes children should be encouraged to write down and share stories of their past and present. If families don’t document their lives and their history, their stories are lost forever. Learn tips and ideas about how to inspire kids to tell their stories and make their own “mini-books.” (Copies of Barbara Walsh’s books will be available at the conference, where she will gladly personalize them.)
- Allowing Music to Unlock the Door to Literacy: Presented by, Judy Fricke. Music used in a variety of ways can be the key that opens the door to literacy for infants and toddlers, preschoolers and teachers alike. During this workshop Judy will present three groups of hands on activities which can encourage and empower the early childhood educator to engage in “music to literacy” activities regularly with their children. Simple and enjoyable tools from bounces, tickles and wiggles to simple folk dancing and drumming create a fun-filled time of sharing. Music and movement can create a fun activity that helps open children’s minds to their culture and their imaginations and introduce their bodies to the freedom of artistic expression. The first half hour will concentrate on infants and toddlers. The second will concentrate on preschoolers and beyond. And the third will address arts based read alouds with an emphasis on music, drama and dance.
- Bringing Children’s Literacy to Life: Presented by, Elizabeth Richards. Bring great children’s books to life on the stage! Literacy learning is more engaging and exciting when children have an opportunity to become the characters, explore the illustrations more closely and create scenery, and learn the book inside and out through movement and repetition. Participants will learn how acting stories out builds literacy skills, and how to create exciting performances out of familiar stories.
11:00 am-12:30 pm- Session II-Repeat of Session 1 workshops
12:30-1:30 pm- Lunch on your own (you will be provided with a list of area restaurants or you may bring your lunch)
1:30-3:00 pm- Session III
- Dance Mad Louie Dance!: This workshop will teach you how to use dance and other physical activities to help you and the children you care for maintain a healthy body and healthy mind well having fun! You will also learn how to use these activities to teach team work and listening skills. This workshop requires proper footwear as you will be dancing and moving.
- 6. Collaborative Art Making: Developing 21st Century Skills through the Arts: Presented by, Megan Pollino. This presentation will focus on how to facilitate dynamic collaborative art projects that strengthen communication, problem solving, and team work skills in children. Megan will speak on her experiences using creative mediums such as animation, film making, painting, and design to prepare children to work in collaborative environments. Educators and caregivers will participate in hands-on activities reflective of the approaches presented and sample lesson plans will be provided.
- From Storybooks to Bookmaking: Incorporating Creative Writing in Early Childhood Classrooms: Presented by, Megan London. In this workshop, participants will explore ways to bring creative writing and poetry into their work with children. You will learn about active storytelling and how to create storyboards with children, as well as simple and easy ways to make books with children.
- Drama Every Day: Presented by, Lindsay Pinchbeck. Explore elements of drama you can bring directly into your classroom and daily routines. You will engage in activities inspired by dramatists Peter Slade, Brian Way, Viola Spolin, Dorothy Heathcote and more. Group dynamics, personality types and various learning styles will also be explored through drama to encourage empathy in the classroom. Elements of role play, non verbal and verbal drama games, puppetry and more will be experienced and shared. This workshop is appropriate for all ages.
3:15-4:45 pm- Session IV-Repeat of Session III workshops
To register please go to
Posted in Community, Curriculum and Instruction, Integration, Opportunity, Professional Development, VPA | Tagged early childhood | Leave a Comment »
We have a wonderful opportunity to help influence the future of our community and the future of our state. Please join me to participate in a discussion about the kinds of creative opportunities and activities you would like to see available for our residents, our children, and our families. Often times, plans are created for us, instead of with us – they miss the mark and we miss the opportunity to see what we value included in the mix. 
me arts ed 