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Inviting All Arts Educators!
May 19, 2014Interested 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
- Maine Arts Assessment wiki http://maineartsassessment.pbworks.com
- MAAI information – Maine Arts Commission website https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/MAAI
New England Summit on Arts Education
April 29, 2014Earlybird special for registering by May 30
I am excited about the planning that is underway for the New England Summit on Arts Education scheduled for July 29, 30, 31 at USM, Portland. Below are the details…. please email me if you have any questions at argy.nestor@maine.gov.
July 29, 30, 31, August 1, 2014
University of Southern Maine, Portland
Cost: $299 which includes access to arts education learning, continental breakfast, snacks and lunch
Earlybird special: register by May 30 for a $25 discount
Additional savings: register as part of a team (at least 2 people) for a $25 discount
With both of these discounts the total cost per person is $248
IMPORTANT DETAILS
- CEUs are available through the University of Southern Maine.
- Contact hours are available.
- Graduate credit is available through the New England Institute for Teacher Education at a discounted rate of $950. This is a separate cost from Summit registration. Please click here to register for the graduate credit.
REGISTRATION IS NOW AVAILABLE BY CLICKING HERE.
OVERVIEW
The New England Summit on Arts Education will provide an outstanding collaborative opportunity for educators to dig deep into teaching, learning, and assessment in arts education including student-centered classrooms and proficiency. Please join educators from Maine and beyond for this fabulous three-day professional development opportunity.
The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI) was established in 2011 and has been responding to the needs of arts education ever since. The overall focus of the MAAI has been to create an environment in Maine where quality assessment in arts education is an integral part of the work all arts educators do to improve teaching and learning, and student achievement in the arts.
Maine has a commitment to offer a quality professional development opportunity that is customized to meet your educational needs and goals. Consequently, participants will choose a strand to be working in during the Summit.
MAAI has provided professional development during the last three summers to Maine arts educators who wish to take on a leadership role and create a workshop to present to arts teachers across the state. The initiative has been building capacity by training arts educators on the “what” and “how” of arts assessment and finding the balance of formative and summative assessment, so they can provide the leadership in Maine through professional development opportunities.
PHASE IV
During the next phase of the MAAI the goals will expand in response to teacher feedback and is offering a three or four-day summit. The summit is designed to meet the needs of teachers and the workshops will be on such important topics as proficiency, standards-based, student-centered, leadership, advocacy, creativity, 21st century skills and much more.
There will be multiple opportunities for networking as we broaden our knowledge in arts education. The Summit is a perfect opportunity for those who want to learn the core principles or advance further into the Arts Assessment field.
Participants will be able to choose one of three strands based on experience.
Strand # 1 – Developing Teacher Leader
This strand is designed primarily for teachers (teaching artists or arts educators) who have not already been involved in the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative and would like more of a foundation in arts assessment, and connections with teaching and learning.This strand is also for teachers in Maine who would like to become a Teacher Leader for the MAAI. Attendance at all four days is required to become a Teacher Leader.Strand 1 is open to any participant (from Maine or beyond).Strand #2 – Arts Assessment Team
This strand is designed for attendees to work together as a team during the Summit. These teams will develop a collaborative arts education plan to be implemented when returning to school/district. Consider possibilities when forming your team; the work accomplished during the Summit could be similar to Strand 1 or 3 but will be customized to the team’s needs and unique ideas. This strand is not only open to PreK-12 district Visual and Performing Arts teachers and classroom teachers, but also to administrators, teaching artists, community cultural organizations or institute members, parents, and/or school board members.Strand 2 is open to any team (from Maine and other states, at least two participants per team).Strand #3 – Arts Assessment in Practice Strand
This strand is designed for the individual who is ready to dig deeper into arts assessment, and connections with teaching and learning. Strand 3 will provide the opportunity to turn collective knowledge and understandings into important collaborative work on benchmarking, proficiency, and resource development.Strand 3 is open to anyone returning as a Teacher Leader, graduates of arts assessment courses, and anyone who feels they are ready to dig deeper into arts assessment.Day 4 – August 1 – TEACHER LEADERSThis day is offered for teachers from Strand 1 who would like to take an active role in phase 4 of the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative as a teacher leader. The professional development offered on day 4 will help prepare teachers for taking on leadership roles including leading workshops at the regional and statewide level. There is an application process to become a teacher leader that will be available in the near future.
Comments from Maine Arts Assessment Summer Institute participants
“The relationships I have developed have positively changed my life and the ripple will go on for years to come! I loved the activity about a collaborative community and glancing upon that poster throughout the time period; I will use that for my own classroom.”
“Thanks for all the hard work that was put into the planning and developing of this year’s institute. I love what we do. I am so pleased to be a part of this.”
“Thank you for setting up this opportunity for me to really think about how I teach, and how I can expand my practice so my students can have a deeper understanding and appreciation for what they learn in the art program.”
Comment about the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative from a Teacher Leader
“There are not enough words to describe how appreciative I am of this initiative. It has made me a better teacher, and has made a difference to my students’ art education. “
March Webinar Overview
March 28, 2014Facilitated by Catherine and Rob
This was written by York High School music educator and Maine Arts Assessment Initiative leadership team member Rob Westerberg as a follow-up to the webinar held on March 5.
On Wednesday March 5th, Catherine Ring and I facilitated the first of four MAAI sponsored Webinars for 2014. This one was on “Outreach and Arts Education Leadership”. We were joined by guests Shannon Campell, visual arts educator from Ellsworth High School, Pam Kinsey, music educator for the Easton schools, and by Argy Nestor, Director of Arts Education from the Maine Arts Commission. After tying up a few technology blips, we ended up having a great fifty minute dialogue around the primary topics of the day:
- What is “outreach” as it pertains to the arts?
- What does “leadership” in the arts look like?
- How has the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative worked to develop both outreach and leadership?
- Why are outreach and leadership essential?
- Implications and next steps for Maine’s Arts educators
Takeaways were many, but the essence of the broad message is that we have to be proactive, not reactive as we move forward in Arts Education in Maine, and many ideas, strategies and approaches are at our fingertips for doing so. Along those lines, we have put together a pair of meeting plans that you can implement with your colleagues during professional development days in your own schools and districts. Be sure to utilize these if you are looking for professional development ideas or an alternate agenda item for your own district’s Inservice Day; bring your colleagues together and use the webinar archive and the meeting plan to help lead the discussion.
To access the webinar archive: http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/MAAI-Webinars
To access the meeting plan for this session:
The next Webinar will take place on Tuesday, April 8th from 3:30 to 4:30 as Catherine and I dig deeper into “Visual and Performing Arts and the Common Core”. More details and instructions on how to log in will be made available shortly. Please be sure to join us if you can for a topic that certainly impacts us all.
Another Student’s Story: Sarah Robinson
February 5, 2014Gorham High School graduate
Sarah Robinson is currently a fourth year student at the University of Maine. She is a double major in Mass Communications and New Media, with a minor in Graphic Design. In 2010 she graduated from Gorham High School. During high school she was especially interested in her media based art classes; these classes included photography, printmaking, and graphic design. While in college she has taken many art classes that were directed towards design, for example: 2-D design and graphic design courses. She has also taken a drawing class, along with many photography classes.
In Sarah’s own words…
I would have to say that my parents have always encouraged my sister and I to be expressive and creative with everything that we do. This support has encouraged me to incorporate the arts as part of my college education. My creative appreciation and talents have grown and I taken away a greater knowledge and emphasis on design and color relationships. As a New Media major, there are many different paths to explore, and I have always focused on the design aspect.
I have gained many skills and life-long tools from my art courses at UMaine. I have learned to become more innovative, to explore beauty that goes unnoticed and to lead with passion.
My involvement in the arts has inspired me to look at things through a different lens. I have learned to be more imaginative and creative. Though I love photography, my experiences with the arts has also taught me that sometimes you need to take a step back from being behind the camera and actually experience what is going on in front of you to capture the beauty of the moment.
If I could change any part of my art education, it would definitely be to take more art classes, I was always worried about fulfilling all of my core classes that I never took all of the art classes that I knew I would enjoy. I believe that it is important to pursue classes that allow us to explore our interests and passions. I also feel that we don’t just learn in the classroom and it is important to seek education and experiences outside the classroom.
My most creatively inspiring experience would be expressing myself through graphic design. Graphic design has allowed me to express myself both creatively and artistically. I have been able to incorporate both my computer and artistic skills into my school and personal projects. Graphic design has allowed me to study color psychology and typography.
Art is important to me because it is in any medium/media in which I choose to express myself. My parents have always encouraged me to express myself creatively and to do so is a natural part of my life. One thing that I love about art and being creative is that I have used art and graphic design to contribute to non-profit organizations that I am involved with at UMaine. My job as the Student Media Assistant for UMaine Student Life allows me to use my creativity, designing posters and fliers for various organizations, as well as photographing events and scenery around campus. I also create a lot of material for Alternative Breaks and Colleges Against Cancer, which combines my passion for volunteerism and design into one. Art and design is a part of me, the way I think, dream and live.
I met Sarah in October at the statewide arts education conference Leading the Way that was held on the UMaine campus. When I learned of her majors I asked her questions about communicating and social media in terms of arts education. I could tell by Sarah’s confidence in the work she was doing and the information that she provided that she has a bright future! Best wishes to Sarah in her last semester before graduation!
National Endowment for the Arts
December 22, 2013Information that came through last week on the NEA list-serv
Please click on the highlighted segment in each item below.
PODCAST
NEA Jazz Master Richard Davis believes when playing that “with the passion that you are trying to get out of the instrument you are really making love to the instrument. And the instrument responds by accepting the sound you’re producing and in a sense it’s making love to you.” This week we present part one of Jo Reed’s chat with the master bassist.
ART WORKS
Painting Through the Pain: “We’re not expecting any of them to go into the arts. It would be nice, but it’s not the goal.” That quote’s from Andrea Gates-Ingle who along with her now-husband Stephen Ingle created Project Aim–one of this year’s National Arts and Humanities Youth Program (NAHYP) honorees–to help young oncology patients actively engage with the arts.
NEA Arts: Decoding Music’s Resonance: In this excerpt from the new issue of NEA Arts, we meet Parag Chordia who not only makes music thanks to his arts training, but also is figuring out why we like music so much thanks to his training in the sciences.
Love is Enough for Joy at Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy: In this piece we meet another NAHYP honoree–the Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. We spoke with founder Kwayera Archer Cunningham about how Ifetayo’s young people use the arts to help them own their identities and their voices.
Caught Between the Photographer and the Sitter: A new exhibit of photographic portraits at the Phillips Collection asks, “Is portraiture a reflection of the sitter’s truth? Or that of the artist? Or a type of collaboration, something negotiated between them?” What do you think?
Notable Quotable: NEA Jazz Master Jamey Aebersold: Jamey Aebersold thinks if you can hold a conversation, you can improvise. Well, we may be paraphrasing a bit…
New England Summit on Arts Education
November 19, 2013Save the Date – July 29, 30, 31, 2014
More information will be available in the near future as the
Maine Arts Assessment Initiative
Leadership Team and Teacher Leaders plan this
SUMMER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
for YOU!
Kevin Honeycutt
November 4, 2013Recently at the ACTEM conference
If you didn’t attend the October Association of Computer Technology Educators of Maine you’re in luck because the keynote session given by art educator Kevin Honeycutt was recorded and worth watching. Thanks to Kern Kelley and his student video team for the recording located at https://sites.google.com/site/nokomiswarriorbroadcasting/Conferences/actem.
And thank you to Bob Sprankle recorded all of Kevin Honeycutt’s Friday sessions at ACTEM along with Dan Russell’s session. The audio only versions are available at http://bobsprankle.com/bitbybit_wordpress/?cat=506.
If you are not a member of ACTEM I suggest you take advantage of what ACTEM has to offer! Check them out at http://www.edline.net/pages/actem.
What a Conference!
October 28, 2013Arts Education: Leading the Way conference
Another statewide conference is history and from all the reports it was a SUCCESS! If you were able to join us THANK YOU! A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to the Leadership Team and the Teacher Leaders who worked long hours to plan and provide AMAZING workshops. If you were there and didn’t provide feedback at the end of each session and again at the end of the day please be sure and do so! It is not too late! We really appreciate you to taking the time to provide the feedback to help us build on the needs of arts education. Below you can see photos from the conference, thanks to Heidi O’Donnell for taking and sharing pictures!
Justin Zang sang the National Anthem
Greetings from the University from Jeff Hecker, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Opening Session included a presentation on the draft of the National Core Arts Standards
Lynn Tuttle, from Arizona, presents the information on the draft of the National Core Arts Standards
Students at the center!
Janie Snider, art teacher leader, from RSU24 presenting her workshop called Empowering Students Through Assessment Techniques and Strategies.
Bronwyn Sale accepting the Carol Trimble award for her commitment, collaborative spirit, and contributions to the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative.
Collaborative artwork contributed to by the conference participants. Thanks to Charlie Johnson, Lisa Marin, and Leah Olson for helping!
Closing session – the University Singers under the Direction of Dennis Cox with Laura Artesani on the piano
Relevant and Authentic
September 24, 2013Arts Education: Leading the Way Conference – October 24
I can’t think of two words that better describe why you should seriously consider attending the upcoming conference ARTS EDUCATION: LEADING THE WAY on October 24 at UMaine, Collins Center for the Arts. Relevant and Authentic – YOUR colleagues have created workshops that are both relevant and authentic to the work you do each day in arts classrooms.
There are 35 workshops to select from which are being presented by YOUR colleagues from throughout Maine. The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative’s teacher leaders have been working to put together the following 35 different workshops:
- It’s Hard to Pick Your Nose When You are Clapping Your Hands – The Importance
of Music in Early Childhood! - Standards-based Proficiency Data Made Manageable
- The Choreography of Turning it On
- Do We All Speak the Same Language?
- LD 1422: Implementing Maine’s Proficiency Based Graduation Requirement
- Empowering Students Through Assessment Techniques and Strategies
- Digital Portfolios: Organizing curriculum and student work to show growth and proficiency
- Progressive Assessments and Creativity
- Assessing Student Performance in Your Classroom
- “Dancing on With/On the Dark Side”
- More on the National Core Arts Standards
- Guerilla Advocacy-Embracing shameless promotion on behalf of students and Arts programs
- TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER: School Leaders- YOU CAN support Arts Education in the 21st Century!
- “All The World’s A Stage”
- Literacy – A Gateway to Creativity
- Benefits of a Student-Centered Classroom
- Rappin’ Differentiation Instruction
- Learning Through Doing – Using Theatre games to enhance lessons across the curriculum
- Including Reflection in Formative Assessment
- Controlling the Chaos: The world of student-centered education
- Working Backwards from a Great Art Lesson to Standards and Assessment
- From Overwhelmed to in Control: Power Standards Help Connect the Dots
- Visual Journaling: A Pathway to Reflective Self-Assessment
- Thirty Eight Years of Teaching and Still a Rubric Virgin?
- Stick Figures and Finger Painting – Dispelling myths about elementary art programs
- You life it? I love it! Strategies for successful art critiques with K-5 Elementary Art students
- Maine Learning Results: Guiding your Ensemble Curriculum
- Monitoring Arts Students’ Progress in Meeting Graduations Standards
- Back to Basics: How to create learning targets and I CAN statements
- Deep Scuba Thinking: Development of Vocabulary Literate Musicians
- Gifted and Talented in Music Education
- Big Journeys Begin with Small Steps
- Going Beyond the Activity: Assessing the MLRs: Three C’s (Creativity, Criticism, & Connections)
- iPad, uPad, We All Scream for iPads!
Along with the outstanding workshops the morning presentation will be on the National Core Arts Standards with Lynn Tuttle who has been co-leading the development of the work. We are fortunate to have Lynn joining us for the day. Along with her presentation to the group she will be offering a follow-up session. Learn more about the draft standards AND provide your feedback on the draft.
See photos of the teacher leaders with a description of each workshop by clicking here.
See the schedule for the day by clicking here.
Register by clicking here. PLEASE NOTE: School purchase orders are NOT being accepted. The cost of the conference is $80.00 for the day which includes lunch.
Please consider inviting your administrator (principal, superintendent and/or curriculum leader) to attend since there are several workshops that are filled with information for them as well.
The day will be worthwhile and provide you with “food for thought”, opportunities to connect with colleagues from across the state, and ideas for practical application in your classrooms and schools!
If you have questions please don’t hesitate to email me at argy.nestor@maine.gov.
The Arts Education conference is in conjunction with the Maine International Conference on the Arts (MICA) being sponsored by the Maine Arts Commission and held on October 25 and 26. For information on the MICA conference please click here.
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