Archive for the ‘Media Arts’ Category
May 16, 2018
Application available – Deadline Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Maine Arts Leadership Initiative, Year 8
Visual and Performing Arts Teaching Artist Leader Application
Teaching Artist Leaders, MALI Summer Institute, August 2017
Join us for a GREAT opportunity! The Maine Arts Commission invites you to be a part of the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI). Now in its eighth year, MALI offers a unique opportunity to learn and network with teaching artists and PK through grade 12 visual and performing arts educators from across the state. MALI is looking for teaching artists interested in leading and in taking a close look at effective teaching and learning in the arts. This is an opportunity for you to participate in professional development and networking, as well as to have a voice in the direction of arts education in the state of Maine.
Deadline: Wednesday, June 13, 2018
If you are selected, you will be required to attend our summer institute, July 31, August 1 and 2, 2018. We will provide sessions to help you develop your ideas and support your work. We will then ask that you take what you’ve learned and share it with other teaching artists, educators and community members in your region and beyond.
Selected Teacher Artist Leader responsibilities for the 2018-19 school year include:
- Full participation in the 3-day summer institute, July 31, August 1 and 2, 2018
- Communicate in a timely fashion by email and in a MALI phase 8 google site
- Be prepared for summer institute by completing pre-readings and responding to prompts with the MALI community
- Critical Friends Day – follow-up to the summer institute, fall 2018
- Participate in 2 meetings electronically with teaching artist leaders during 2018-19 school year
- Contribute your teaching artist leader story for the Maine Arts Education blog
- Attend a retreat to reflect on the phase 8 MALI work and plan next steps, winter 2019
Application requirements
- Current resume
- Letter of support
- Paragraph of interest
MALI BACKGROUND
Teaching Artist Leaders, MALI summer institute, August 2017
Since 2011 the initiative has been building capacity by training arts educators on the “what” and “how” of teaching and learning in the arts so they can provide the leadership in Maine through professional development opportunities. Teaching artists have been included in MALI for the past four years, and the goal of training Teaching Artist Leaders is now in its third year. As the initiative enters Phase 8, MALI has grown to include 101 leaders.
MALI’s OVERALL OBJECTIVES
- Create and implement a statewide plan for teacher leadership in arts education. This includes professional development opportunities, locally, regionally and statewide, which will expand on the knowledge and skills of teachers and teaching artists to better prepare them to teach in a student-centered and proficiency-based learning environment.
- Develop and implement standards-based high quality teaching and learning statewide for Visual and Performing Arts
- Continue to build on expanding the team of arts educators and teaching artists representing all regions of Maine
- Provide workshops and other professional development opportunities for educators
Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Integration, Leadership, Media Arts, Music, Opportunity, Professional Development, Research, Resources, Standards, Standards Based Education, Technology, Theater, Visual Arts, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged arts education, call for teaching artist leaders, leadership, MAC, Maine arts education, Maine arts leadership initiative, MALI, summer institute, teaching artist leader, teaching artists | Leave a Comment »
May 9, 2018
Phase 8 leadership role
VPA Teacher Leader Search
Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) – Phase 8
The Maine Arts Commission invites you to consider applying for the role of Teacher Leader with the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI). Now in phase 8, MALI offers the opportunity to learn and network with arts educators and teaching artists from across the state. MALI is looking for PK-12 teachers interested in leading and in taking a close look at effective teaching and learning in the arts. Join us for a GREAT opportunity!
DEADLINE: Tuesday, 29 May 2018
MALI Teacher Leader Winter Retreat, March 2018
MALI provides professional development and asks that you take what you’ve learned and share it with other educators in your region of Maine and beyond. Teacher Leaders are required to attend the three-day summer institute, July 31, August 1 and 2, 2018 at University of Southern Maine, Portland.
If interested, please submit a completed application by Tuesday, May 29. APPLICATION
Selected teacher leader responsibilities for the 2018-19 school year include:
- Full participation in the 3-day summer institute, July 31, August 1 and 2, 2018
- Communicate in a timely fashion by email and in a MALI phase 8 google site
- Be prepared for summer institute by completing pre-readings and responding to prompts with the MALI community
- Critical Friends Day – follow-up to the summer institute, fall 2018
- Participate in 2 meetings electronically with teacher leaders during 2018-19 school year
- Contribute your teacher leader story for the Maine Arts Education blog
- Attend a retreat to reflect on the phase 8 MALI work and plan next steps, winter 2019
Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Background Information
Overall Description
MALI Mission: Committed to the development of Teacher Leaders to ensure deep understanding and meaningful implementation of high quality teaching, learning and assessment in the Arts for all students.
Since 2011 the initiative has been building capacity by training arts educators on the “what” and “how” of teaching and learning in the arts so they can provide the leadership in Maine through professional development opportunities. MALI DETAILS.
MAAI Summer Retreat, phase 1, MECA
MALI’s OVERALL OBJECTIVES
- Create and implement a statewide plan for teacher leadership in arts education. This includes professional development opportunities, locally, regionally and statewide, which will expand on the knowledge and skills of teachers to better prepare them to teach in a student-centered and proficiency-based learning environment.
- Develop and implement standards-based high quality teaching and learning statewide for Visual and Performing Arts
- Continue to build on expanding the team of arts educators and teaching artists representing all regions of Maine
- Provide workshops and other professional development opportunities for educators
HISTORY – Phases I through VIII – Summer 2011 to present
- Ninety three PK-12 teacher leaders and eight teaching artists leaders attended summer institutes on assessment, leadership, technology, creativity, proficiency-based standards-based and student-centered teaching and learning
- Teacher leaders presented workshops at three statewide arts education conferences: USM Portland, UMaine Orono, and Point Lookout Conference Center with over 700 educators attending
- Teacher leaders facilitated about 125 regional workshops and 16 mega-regional sites across Maine
- Another Arts Educators Story series (94) on the Maine Arts Ed blog
- Arts assessment graduate courses provided by The New England Institute for Teacher Education
- Nine arts education assessment webinars for Maine educators facilitated by Rob Westerberg and Catherine Ring. Archive
- Video stories of seven teacher leaders that demonstrate a standards-based arts education classroom, Maine ARTSEducation YouTube channel
- Teacher Leader Resource Team development of items for resource bank
- Maine Arts Assessment Resources website contains a plethora of information
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Current resume
- Letter of support
- Paragraph of interest
MALI Critical Friend Day, Point Lookout, October 2013
In the near future we will put a call out for Teaching Artist Leaders! If you have questions please contact Argy Nestor, Maine Arts Commission, Director of Arts Education at argy.nestor@maine.gov.
Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Food for thought, Leadership, Media Arts, Music, Opportunity, Professional Development, Standards, Theater, Visual Arts, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged arts, arts education, Call for teacher leaders, MAC, Maine arts leadership initiative, MALI, summer institute | Leave a Comment »
April 13, 2018
Fabulous learning opportunity
Over 70 PK-12 arts educators and Teaching Artists traveled to Oxford Hills High School in late March to attend the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative conference. The workshops varied greatly and participants had the opportunity to attend three during the day.
Thank you to the Oxford Hills visual and performing arts staff and administrators for providing the space for the conference. One week before the conference we learned that their workshop day turned into a teaching and learning day due to the many snow days. We are grateful that they were still able to make it happen.
Kris Bisson, Kate Smith, Brian Evans-Jones
A huge THANK YOU to visual arts teachers Cindi Kugell and Samantha Armstrong for all of their attention to detail.
Thank you to the following who offered workshops:
- Cindi Kugell – Bookmaking 101: summative assessment never looked so good!
- Lindsay Pinchbeck – The Arts and Emotional Intelligence
- Dorie Tripp – Flexible Grouping Strategies for the General Music Classroom
- Catherine Anderson – Tableaus of Courage: How to Help Students Engage with Complex Content through Theater
- Samantha Armstrong – Stars and Stairs
- Phil Hammett – Creativity
- Tom Luther – Improvisation Crusader: Improvisation as an Essential Musical Skill
- Nancy Harris Frohlich – Inspiring Environmental Stewardship Through Visual Arts
- Lori Spruce and Tim Christensen – Integrating Curriculum: Making it Happen at the High School Level
- Mandi Mitchell – Looking in the Mirror: The Importance of Student Self-Reflection
- Brian Evans-Jones and Kris Bisson – Bridging Adolescence: A River Runs Through Us – Composing our Story
- Jenni Null and Linda McVety – All Aboard for Arts Travel, Full STEAM Ahead!
- Bronwyn Sale – Teaching Aesthetics and Criticism: Approaches to Standard D
- Andrew Harris – Creativity and Taking Back the Classroom
Amanda Huotari
In the middle of the day we had the fabulous opportunity to work with and learn from Teaching Artist Amanda Houteri from Celebration Barn Theater.
Participants during Amanda’s session
In June there will be an opportunity for teaching artists. PK-12 arts teachers and teaching artists will have an opportunity to apply to be a leader. Watch the blog and weekly email to learn more.
Dr. Katie Rybakova and Thomas College pre-service teachers
Jan Gill and Jenni Null
Kris Bisson and Brian Evans-Jones presenting
Tom Luther presenting
Mandi Mitchell
Samantha Armstrong and Linda McVety
Teaching artists Tim Christensen, Tom Luther, and Brian Evans-Jones
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, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged arts education, MAC, Maine arts education, Maine arts leadership initiative, MALI, MALI mega conference, Mega conference, professional development | Leave a Comment »
February 13, 2018
Students selected
The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for Members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 700,000 high school students have competed for the honor of having their work shown in the U.S. Capitol.
The competition is open to all high school students. The overall winner of each participating district will have the opportunity to have their work displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol for the entire year, beginning in June. In addition, winners will be flown to Washington, D.C. for the official opening of the show in June.
The Maine Arts Commission partners with the Maine College of Art (MECA) and the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards to select the artwork. Artwork that MECA has invited to exhibit for the annual Maine Regional Scholastic Art Awards are automatically submitted to be juried for the Congressional Art Competition.
Congratulations to all the Maine students who submitted a work of art and to their teachers who worked with them.
The following Maine students are recognized for their submissions and their work will be shown in the State House, April 2 – May 14, 2018
DISTRICT 1
Winner – Galen Gaze, 12th grade, Toucanana, Brunswick High School Teacher: Colleen Kearney-Graffam
1st runner up – Benjamin Folsom, 12th grade, Disperse, Falmouth High School, Teacher: Susan Morse
2nd runner up – Rachel Walton, 11th grade, Narcissus, Yarmouth High School, Teacher: Holly Houston
Honorable Mention- Chelsea Zhao, 12th grade, Lost in Thought, Falmouth High School, Teacher: Susan Morse
Honorable Mention – Galen Gaze, 12th grade, Innocence is Bliss, Brunswick High School, Teacher: Collen Kearney-Graffam
Honorable Mention – Corilie Green, 11th grade, The Greeter, Freeport High School, Teacher: Kimberly Medsker-Mehalic
DISTRICT 2
Winner – Isobel Straub, 12th grade, Wait, Rangeley Lakes Regional High School, Teacher: Maryam Emami
1st runner up – Pauline Han, 10th grade, Pale Light, Hebron Academy, Teacher: Celeste LaForme
2nd runner– Lizzie Dunn, 11th grade, Sense of Chaos, Houlton Jr Sr High School, Teacher: Cindy Mooers
Honorable Mention- Cara Hu, 11th grade, Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder, Hebron Academy, Teacher: Michael Tholen
Honorable Mention – Jasmine Weiang Li, 11th grade, The Chief’s Wife, Hebron Academy, Teacher: Sara Wilmont
Honorable Mention – Yuqing Mao, 11th grade, Inheritance of Life, Gould Academy Teacher: Lauren Head
Posted in Media Arts, Visual Arts | Tagged Congressional Art Awards | Leave a Comment »
January 5, 2018
Registration is open
Registration is open for the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) Mega Conference at Oxford Hills High School on Friday, March 23rd, 8:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m! Participants will select 3 workshops from an offering of 15. Not only will the workshops offer great learning opportunities but we all know how much we learn when visual and performing arts educators come together to learn. The networking is always a critical part of the MALI Mega Conferences.
Schedule
- 8:30 a.m. Registration begins
- 9:00 a.m. Opening
- 9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Breakout Session I
- 10:30 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. Break
- 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Breakout Session II
- 12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Lunch, participants on their own
- 12:45 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Artist Showcase with Amanda Houteri, Celebration Barn
- 1:50 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Breakout Session III
- 3:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Closing
Contact hours
5.5 contact hours will be provided to those participating in the full day of the MALI Mega-regional conference at Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School.
WORKSHOPS
Bookmaking 101: summative assessment never looked so good!
Develop a creative book making project to assess your students’ authentic learning. Perfect for the end of a grading term, this idea can be tailored to suit the needs of you and your students. Impress your administrators with your ability to keep every student fully engaged in the assessment of their own work. Grades 7-12
Cindi Kugell Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Visual Arts
Rhythm & Counting
Rhythm!! Is this one of the elements of music that you spend a lot of time on in rehearsal? How are your kids at sight-reading? Have you ever fallen into the trap of singing the part for your students? Are you clapping rhythms in class and finding that it sounds more like applause? Intended for ensemble directors, this workshop will provide a new approach to many based upon a tried and true method of counting and verbalizing rhythmic patterns. Grades 7-12
Kyle Jordan Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Music
The Arts and Emotional Intelligence
Looking at ideas on emotional intelligence and leadership collected by Daniel Goleman we will identify the core elements of emotional intelligence and compare them with habits and skills practiced in the creative process. Be ready to create, journal and discuss ideas together on creativity, the arts and emotional intelligence. All grade levels and all content
Lindsay Pinchbeck Director of Sweet Tree Arts and founder of Sweetland School
Flexible Grouping Strategies for the General Music Classroom
It is the age of customized education and differentiated instruction. Chances are, your building administrators are looking for observable evidence of this in your teaching practice. Time constraints and scheduling difficulties can make customized learning a challenge to implement in the general music setting. In this workshop, we will discuss the benefits of flexible grouping strategies, and how to use them to your advantage. Grades PK-12 General Music
Dorie Tripp Manchester and Readfield Elementary Schools, Music K-5
Tableaus of Courage: How to Help Students Engage with Complex Content through Theater
Ovations Offstage Director Catherine Anderson will introduce workshop participants to Ovations Dynamic School-Time Performance Series for 2018-19, and model for teachers how to help students engage with any story, or content (fictional or not) through the use of “tableau”. Tableau is a wordless theater activity for small groups of students that can be adapted for any age group. Participants will leave with a leasson plan with clear learning targets, and assessment criteria. All grade levels
Catherine Anderson Portland Ovations Offstage Director
SESSION II 10:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Choose One
Stars and Stairs
Stars and Stairs, Where am I now and Where am I going? How can the use of Stars and Stairs in your classroom help to inform you and your students of their learning progression and actively engage them in the learning process? This will be a round table discussion. Looking at your standards and your curriculum how can you use the Stars and Stairs model in your classroom. All grade levels and all content
Samantha Armstrong Paris Elementary School and Agnes Gray School, Grade K-6, Visual Arts
Creativity
Everyone seems to agree that we need more creativity in education, but just what is creativity, and how can we possibly teach it? This workshop will answer both those questions (gasp…) With one foot planted in neuroscience, and the other dangling in the depths of the subconscious, we will conduct transformative activities (visual arts based) designed to enhance the “brainsets” that contribute to creative states of mind. Grades 7-12
Phil Hammett Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Visual Arts
Improvisation Crusader: Improvisation as an Essential Musical Skill
Improvisation is commonly viewed as a specialty skill, and one that you either have or don’t. This presentation makes the case for improvisation as an essential skill, a naturally growth-minded learning tool, and an additional resource to address any number of Maine Learning Results, and to engage students and give them more ownership over their musical voice. This will be heavily participatory, exploring simple methods to more advanced, and using multiple musical languages/genres. All grade levels
Tom Luther Midcoast Music Academy, Piano, Digital Music, Music Composition Specialist, Teaching Artist, former Art Educator
Creativity and Taking Back the Classroom
Art can propel the next generation of leaders to make a personal connection to real world issues. In this workshop participants will explore strategies for helping young people forge a deep and personal connection between the environment and themselves. If our students are to have the courage to address the environmental challenges we face today, they must believe in the power of their ideas and know that they can create something tangible from them. Participants will make art that crosses subject matter boundaries and explore ways to design original curriculum that leads to action. Elementary and Middle Levels and Visual Arts
Nancy Harris Frohlich, Founder and Director, LEAPS of IMAGINATION
Integrating Curriculum: Making it Happen at the High School Level
Come join a conversation, share thoughts, and cultivate ideas regarding the challenge of integrated curriculum work at the highschool level. How can finding commonalities between subject areas motivate student learning, provide hands on experience with cross curricular connections, as well as benefit the educator as they become more proficient in the language of other disciplines? High School
Lori Spruce Brewer High School Visual Arts
SESSION III 1:50 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Choose One
Looking in the Mirror: The Importance of Student Self-Reflection
Self-reflection is a crucial part in the cycle of learning for both student and teacher. With regular self-reflection integrated in your classroom, students will become more aware, dig deeper, and take ownership of their learning. This applies to us as teachers. We will also discuss the importance of documentation and strategies of reflection upon our own teaching. Information gathered about student growth, understanding, and feedback on units/lessons will not only be beneficial for the development of a curriculum, but also in providing evidence for teacher evaluations. All grade levels and all content
Mandi Mitchell Hermon High School Visual Arts
Bridging Adolescence: A River Runs Through Us – Composing our Story
This workshop documents the progression of a year-long chorus project in which 7th and 8th grade students composed lyrics and music for an original performance piece. The project developed a model of integrated arts programming, including extensive literacy integration through working with a guest poet-in-residence for several weeks. The project also tied in hands-on classwork, a field experience, a connection with a wider community project, video diaries, peer critique, and of course music composition and performance skills. The workshop will give participants a hand-on experience of our project, as well as tools to create their own. All grade levels
Brian Evans-Jones Poet and Teaching Artist and Kris Bisson Marshwood Middle School Music and Chorus
All Aboard for Arts Travel, Full STEAM Ahead!
Interested in transforming your school into a STEAM based model? This workshop will include the benefits of STEAM for students, some sample STEAM lessons, and a suggested action plan for incorporating a STEAM approach into your school. Upper Elementary
Jenni Null Songo Locks Elementary Music K-6 and District Fine Arts Coodinator and Linda McVety Songo Locks Elementary Music K-5
Teaching Aesthetics and Criticism: Approaches to Standard D
How do we teach aesthetics and criticism in our Visual and Performing Arts classes? How do teachers design learning experiences for Maine Learning Results standard D? In this interactive workshop teachers will experience methods for teaching aesthetics and criticism in the 7-12 arts classroom. Sample lessons that teach forms of artistic interpretation to students will be shared as well as methods for critique. The workshop is geared toward supporting the teaching and assessment of Maine Learning Results standard D. During the second part of the workshop participants will be encouraged to share their own approaches. Participants will leave with tools that they can immediately use in their classes. Grades 7-12, adaptable for all grade levels
Bronwyn Sale Bates College, former 7-12 Visual Arts teacher
Inspiring Environmental Stewardship Through the Visual Arts
This will be a fun and informative program with practical involvement by all. All participants will have ideas to take back to the classroom and hopefully a reinvigorated perspective on their teaching with a theater focus. All grade levels
Andrew Harris Lecturer and Chair of Theatre, USM Department of Theatre
MORE INFORMATION is located on the Maine Arts Commission website.
REGISTRATION has been set up through Eventbrite.
If you have any questions please email Argy Nestor at argy.nestor@maine.gov.
Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Food for thought, Integration, Leadership, Media Arts, Music, Opportunity, Professional Development, Research, Resources, Standards Based Education, Technology, Theater, Visual Arts, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged MAC, Maine arts, Maine arts education, Maine arts leadership initiative, MALI | Leave a Comment »
October 11, 2017
Opportunity to connect
Heather Martin from Arts are Elementary in Brunswick
On Friday, October 6, representing organizations, institutions, and schools almost 40 people gathered at the Farnsworth Art Museum for the Maine Arts Commission Arts Education Network.
PURPOSE
The purpose was to meet and learn from each other by sharing information and resources, exchanging ideas about education programs, and collaborative thinking.
Hannah Cordes, Portland Stage Education Manager listens while Julianne Shea, Education Administrator introduces herself
It was a great opportunity to NETWORK!
The first part of the agenda included the opportunity to hear about the statewide arts education census that was conducted during the 2015-16 school year. Julie Richard, the Maine Arts Commission executive director shared highlights.
Julie Richard, Executive Director at the Maine Arts Commission reviews what we learned through the state wide census in Arts Education conducted during the 2015-16 school year
Andrea Curtis shared information about the Farnsworth education programs. Teaching artist Alexis Iammarino provided the background information on the murals she has created with students that are located throughout Rockland.
All participants introduced themselves and answered What drives you? Why do you do what you do?
Chrissy Fowler from Belfast Flying Shoes and Joshua McCarey listen while Jessie Davis the Executive Director of the Strand introduces herself
The second part of the day, the participants were in four groups to discuss the following audience questions and vision questions.
AUDIENCE
- With whom do you currently collaborate?
- With whom might you like to collaborate?
- Who are your programs currently reaching?
- Which demographic would you like to engage more?
VISION
- If there were no constraints on your resources (i.e. time, staffing, funding), what would you do?
ridget Matros from Waterfall Arts listens while the Arts Education Exchange participants share information about their work in arts education
Small groups shared with the entire group. Participants were invited to visit the Midcoast Music Academy, the Strand Theater, CMCA, the Farnsworth, or the murals they had learned about earlier in the day.
Notes were taken in each group which will be collated and shared with the participants and the 20 others who were not able to join us. If you are part of an art organization, institute, or school and have an arts education arm and are interested in connecting please email me at argy.nestor@maine.gov.
Ian Bannon from Figures of Speech and Celebration Barn documenting participants comments
Posted in Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Leadership, Media Arts, Music, Opportunity, Professional Development, Resources, Theater, Visual Arts, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged arts education, Arts Education Network, MAC | Leave a Comment »
September 19, 2017
MAEA Fall Conference
Almost 100 visual art educators traveled to Deer Isle Maine for the annual 3-day conference. Some had to drive 5 hours to get there. When I reach the bridge over to the island and smell the salt air and see the seabirds flying, I know whoever has made the long trip, doesn’t question its worth. The conference is held at the beautiful Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and sponsored by the Maine Art Education Association (MAEA). The organization stands on the shoulders of giants and many of those names were mentioned over the weekend.
MALI Teacher Leaders
THANK YOU
A HUGE THANK YOU to Carolyn Brown for chairing the conference and to all of the Maine Art Education board members and the organization members who volunteer to do the hours of work to make the conference so wonderful!
HIGHLIGHTS
- A GREAT learning opportunity
- Delicious food
- Beautiful environment
- Opportunity to meet art teachers from across the state
- Amazing people who are open to sharing, exchanging ideas, and providing support
- A wonderful feeling of community
Yes, that is guacamole
Comments
- The opportunity to learn is amazing; like no other that I have
- I get to feel what my students feel while learning something new
- I look around and wonder if my art is good enough and I remember we’re all in this together
- What an opportunity to push my limits
- I’m learning at full speed
- Now I can go back to my school feeling totally nourished
Workshop offerings
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Expanding Your Fiber Universe: Lissa Hunter
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Block Printmaking – Balance and Texture: Holly Berry
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Exploring the Basics of BronzClay Jewelry Fabrication: Nisa Smiley
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Visual Journaling: Sandy Weisman
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Making Animal Sculptures with Clay using Enclosed Forms and Additions: Tim Christensen
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Bringing Digital Fabrication into your Curriculum: Elliot Clapp
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Experimental Watercolor Painting: Erica Qualey
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Past to Present: Personal Found Object Assemblage Inspired by Shrines, Alters, and Reliquaries: Stephanie Leonard and Suzanne Southworth
Posted in Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Media Arts, Opportunity, Professional Development, Visual Arts, YAHOO | Tagged art education, fall conference, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, MAEA, maine art education association, visual art education | Leave a Comment »
August 8, 2017
What’s it really all about
As I take a few minutes to reflect on the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) Summer Institute that was held last week at Thomas College for three days I can’t help but think about what MALI is really all about. If I had to select one word it would be COMMUNITY. As many of you know there are about 1200 visual and performing arts educators in the state and I really don’t know how many teaching artists there are throughout Maine. Both were well represented last week. Bottom line, each of the participants were teachers, striving to be better at teaching and the desire to connect with others who care deeply about arts education.
Wow, I am so humbled by their commitment and proud of what they accomplished in three days!
Reasons for MALIs success
- Teachers teaching teachers is a critical component
- MALI is a community that provides ongoing support. Teachers learn that they have peers throughout the state experiencing the same or similar situations that they do day to day. They no longer feel like islands.
- This summer’s institute had three strands; one for Teaching Artist Leaders, one for returning TLs and one for new TLs. The strands are customized for the unique group and individual needs. The strands came together for cross pollination and collaborations are formed.
- All of the ideas are based on research and what is in the best interest of teacher development.
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Phase 7 New Teacher Leaders
A Design Team guides the work of MALI and plan every detail of the summer institute. They are totally committed to contributing above and beyond.
- The MALI community grows each year with some teacher leaders returning year after year.
- Through their work TLs find their voice and are invigorated to return to their school districts. Many are recognized in their new leadership role and are invited to the table at the local level. They serve on district leadership committees, lead the school and district professional development work for all subjects and grade level teachers, and are honored for their leadership.
- The institute schedule is different each year to adapt to the changing needs but the foundation is built on What is good teaching? What is good learning? What is good assessment?
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Teaching Artist Leaders Phase 6 and 7
In 2015 Teacher Leaders created a set of Belief Statements on that include the topics that are vital to Maine arts education today: Arts Integration, Advocacy, Assessment Literacy, Creativity and 21st Century Skills, Educator Effectiveness, Effective Teaching and Learning, Proficiency Based Learning and Student Centered Learning, and Teacher Leadership.
- Teachers are connected and become Critical Friends to help support each other’s teaching.
- MALI models teaching tools
So, what makes involvement in the MALI community so special?
Looking closely at Tim Christensen’s pottery are Jenni Driscoll, Jean Phillips, Tim, and Charlie Johnson
Participants comments
Next steps
Some of the MALI Teacher Leaders (TL) and Teaching Artists Leaders (TAL) will be sharing their learning in a workshop format at the local or regional level. Others will be continuously sharing in a social media mode. The Phase 7 summer institute was really about customizing the learning for each educator. I will keep you posted as they wrap up their plans for the school year I will share the information here on the blog and also on the Maine Arts Assessment site and through the communications that are delivered by the Maine Arts Commission.
Please let me know (argy.nestor@maine.gov) if you have any questions and are interested in applying to be involved as a Teacher Leader or Teaching Artist Leader for Phase 8.
Posted in Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Food for thought, Integration, Leadership, Media Arts, Music, Opportunity, Professional Development, Standards Based Education, Technology, Theater, Visual Arts, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged MAC, Maine arts education, Maine arts leadership initiative, MALI, meartsed, teacher leaders, teaching artist leaders | 2 Comments »
August 4, 2017
Wowzer!
Kate Cook Whitt
Day 2 kicked off with an amazing STEAM presentation from Kate Cook-Whitt. The opening was titled This is your Brain on Art: Neuroscience and the Arts – “Examining the World Through Different Lenses: Art and Science”. Kate is an Assistant Professor of Education at the Center for Innovation in Education (CIE) at Thomas College. Participants agreed that Kate’s presentation was outstanding!
Teacher Leaders participated in several great mini-sessions, some led by teacher leaders and teaching artists leaders themselves including:
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Nancy Frolich, Social Justice mini-lesson
Social Justice and the Power of the Arts with Nancy Frohlich from Leaps of Imagination
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7 Strategies of Assessment with Jeff Beaudry from USM and visual art teacher leaders Holly Leighton and Samantha Armstrong
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National Board Certification with visual art teacher leader Danette Kerrigan
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Connecting the STUDIO HABITS of MIND to the NATIONAL STANDARDS in the Visual Arts classroom with visual art teacher leader Jane Snider
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Things Into Poetry session with Brian Evans-Jones
Things Into Poetry with poet teaching artist leader Brian Evans-Jones
In addition Bronwyn Sale and John Morris provided a session called Teaching for Creativity. The afternoon brought all three strands together (teaching artist leaders, new PK-12 teacher leaders and returning PK-12 teacher leaders) for a session with teaching artist leader and potter Tim Christensen. We engaged with a small medallion of clay using the process Tim is so in tune with: sgraffito.
The rest of the afternoon was spent on leadership, advocacy, and putting it into action on the follow up plans for the next year. Strand 1, the Teaching Artist Leaders met with Jeff Poulin, electronically, from the Americans for the Arts.
Day turned into night and educators gathered around the Thomas College fire pit for drumming and a chance for Tim to fire the clay pieces created earlier in the day in the propane fire pit. This provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the state. What a great way to end an outstanding day!
Strand 1 with Jeff Poulin, Americans for the Arts. Kate Smith, Design Team member, holds the computer during the question and answer period
Jennie Driscoll, Elise Bothel visual art teacher leaders
Jen Etter, music teacher leader
New teacher leaders David Coffey – music and Amy Donovan-Nucci – visual art
Tim Christensen firing the clay pieces
Fun around the fire pit!
Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Food for thought, Integration, Leadership, Media Arts, Music, Opportunity, Professional Development, Research, Resources, Standards, Standards Based Education, Theater, Visual Arts, VPA, YAHOO | Tagged 7 strategies of assessment, Americans for the Arts, Brian Evans-Jones, Bronwyn Sale, creativity, Danette Kerrigan, Elise Bothel, Holly Leighton, Jane Snider, Jeff Poulin, Jen Etter, John Morris, Kate Cook Whitt, Kate Smith, Leaps of Imagination, Maine arts education, Maine arts leadership initiative, Maine education, MALI, MALI summer institute, Nancy Frolich, National Board Certification, Samantha Armstrong, social justice, STEAM, Thomas College, Tim Christensen, VPA education | Leave a Comment »
June 27, 2017
Look Up!
There’s all kinds of professional development happening this summer in Maine on arts education. I’ve thought a great deal of PD over the years as a teacher who attended hundreds of learning opportunities and as a provider of PD. I found THIS ARTICLE recently that talks about what teachers wish to get out of PD. I believe that most importantly educators seeking quality arts education professional development need to be reminded to look up! I’m exploring what that means for me personally and professionally.
Participants at Hannaford Hall on the USM, Portland campus listen intently.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit two wonderful learning opportunities underway. One was held at the USM, Portland campus, sponsored by the Maine Department of Education. Jeff Poulin, arts education manager from the Americans for the Arts kicked off the day with a lively presentation on the history of federal mandates including today’s work on the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). With his mom and sister in the audience Jeff provided a clear picture and included his own story of how he started and continues in the arts and the value of advocacy on many levels. He included a photo of himself at a very young age as a tap dancer and he delighted those in attendance with a tap dance at the conclusion of his presentation.
Participants broke into three groups: music, visual arts, and theatre/dance to continue work around assessment. The questions discussed included: Why do you assess? What do you assess? What is powerful about those thing that you access? I suggest that you take a minute and answer these questions. They could prompt a conversation with a colleague. Participants from all over Maine will continue their work tomorrow.
Laurie Downy and Molly Brown go over the details before sending participants on their way to select an artwork to respond to at the Portland Art Museum.
I spent part of the afternoon at the Portland Museum of Art with Side X Side. They had seven workshops happening simultaneously in different locations in the city with Portland teachers. Laurie Downy and Molly Brown were facilitating a lesson. They sent the teachers out into the museum to observe and document something that they found interesting. Asking them to journal and selecting from multiple techniques from drawing to writing to journaling to mapping. Most inspiring was this quote by Shaun McNift from Trust the Process: An Artist’s Guide to Letting Go. “People find that there most inspired creations come when they are “present” and responsive to what emerges naturally from the process. Creation requires attention and complete focus. But most of all it demands that we take the plunge into new territory without knowing what will appear.”
If you choose to engage in professional development this summer, whether independently or with a group, I do hope that you it ignites your creativity!
Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Food for thought, Integration, Leadership, Media Arts, Music, Opportunity, Professional Development, Standards Based Education, VPA, YAHOO | 4 Comments »
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