Posts Tagged ‘MAAI’
October 22, 2013
Just around the corner!
Visual Arts Director Julie Horn and Chris Higgins Administrative Assistant work on preparing name tags
Preparing for a conference is time consuming and takes several months but the last week before the event is pretty intense! This week is no exception. Yesterday was spent on many details including copying, creating nametags, individual schedules, checking numbers, names, stuffing folders, etc. The more I rush to complete the tasks the ‘to do’ list seems to grow longer.
I think back to the first statewide arts education conference that I helped plan in 2007 and I realize how much I’ve learned over the years. Carol Trimble who was the Executive Director of Maine Alliance for Arts Education and I periodically chat about that conference which was held at The Samoset in Rockport with almost 300 attendees. We turned away several teachers since there wasn’t enough space. Scott Shuler gave the keynote, Karen Montanaro and Camden Hills singers performed at the Farnsworth reception and we had over 25 workshops. The next one was held in 2009 at Point Lookout with the 2007 National Teacher of the Year, music teacher Andrea Peterson provided the keynote and First Lady Karen Baldacci danced with us at the opening evening reception. In 2011 the biennial conference was held at USM and was focused on the first teacher leader group of the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative. It was a fabulous success – teachers teaching teachers created a huge learning environment for all attendees. Each conference was unique and provided fabulous learning opportunities.
I am really looking forward to the conference this Thursday, October 24, Arts Education: Leading the Way. You can still register, there is still space in some workshops. Lynn Tuttle will provide an update on the National Core Arts Standards during the opening session. I am guessing it won’t just be educational but also fun! The door prizes will be given during the closing (I need to remember a hat and funny glasses) along with a performance by the University Singers. We are thrilled to be having music students from UMaine attending and providing assistance! Thank you to Laura Artesani for her help with the details and arrangements!
Work details are also happening for the Maine International Conference on the Arts being held in the same location on Friday and Saturday. If you are interested in attending either conference please go to https://mainearts.maine.gov for information and for a link to registration.
I need to get back to the details…. I know I will see at least 185 (last count from registration) of you on Thursday – YAHOOOOOOOO!
Posted in Opportunity, Professional Development, YAHOO | Tagged arts education, Arts Education:Leading the Way, Chris Norris, Collins Center for the Arts, Julie Horn, MAAI, Maine, Maine arts assessment initiative, Orono, UMaine | Leave a Comment »
October 14, 2013
Still time to register
There is still time to register for the biennial statewide arts education conference Arts Education: Leading the Way being held at UMaine, Orono, October 24, 2013. This is a great opportunity for you to learn what your colleagues from throughout Maine are doing in their standards-based arts classrooms.
Happening on Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26 is the Maine International Conference (MICA) on the Arts at the same location. Information for the MICA conference is located at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Media-and-Performing/MICA-LANDING.
The entire 3-day event is going to be chock full of great sessions, showcasing artists, and information! If you have questions please contact me at argy.nestor@maine.gov. Any questions specific to the MICA conference please contact Kerstin Gilg at kerstin.gilg@maine.gov.
Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Curriculum and Instruction, Leadership, Professional Development, VPA | Tagged arts education, Arts Education: Leading the Way conference, Lynn Tuttle, MAAI, Maine, Maine Arts Assessment Initaitive, national core arts standards, NCAS, Orono, teacher leaders, UMaine | Leave a Comment »
October 4, 2013
So many great workshops to attend – select 3!
Have you been asked by your administrator to identify what how you will measure, document, or perhaps track students to determine if they can meet the proficiency graduation requirement starting with next years freshman class? Or maybe you are transitioning to a standards-based student-centered classroom? Or perhaps you’re interested in expanding your thinking on formative assessment? These are just some of the questions being addressed by the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative teacher leaders in the workshops being presented on October 24 at the Arts Education: Leading the Way conference being held at UMaine, Orono, Collins Center for the Arts.
You can register for the biennial statewide conference by clicking here https://tickets.collinscenterforthearts.org/.
You can go to the blog post called How Do I Register for the Conference at https://meartsed.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/how-do-i-register-for-the-conference/ that I posted on October 2 for step-by-step instructions that walks you through registering.
You can learn more about the conference by clicking here https://mainearts.maine.gov/.
The conference cost $80.00 and PLEASE NOTE: purchase orders will not be accepted.
If you have questions please email me at argy.nestor@maine.gov.
Starring: YOUR COLLEAGUES from across the state of Maine – presenting a variety of workshops on topics that you are curious about, needing to learn more about, and useful new ideas! The schedule has three time slots when you can attend workshops along with an opening session where Lynn Tuttle, from the Arizona Department of Education, will be providing information on the draft of the National Core Arts Standards.
I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Curriculum and Instruction, Leadership, Opportunity, Professional Development, Standards, Standards Based Education, VPA | Tagged Arts Education: Leading the Way, Collins Center for the Arts, MAAI, Maine arts assessment initiative, teacher leaders, UMaine Orono | Leave a Comment »
October 3, 2013
October 24, 2013 – Arts Education: Leading the Way Conference
Each week the Maine Arts Education blog will have information on the upcoming conference. Yesterday’s blog post called How Do I Register for the Conference? provided step-by-step instructions on how to register for the biennial statewide arts education conference. Below are the workshop topics and the time slots that they are being offered at the conference, ARTS EDUCATION: LEADING THE WAY on Thursday, October 24 at UMaine, Collins Center for the Arts. If you’d like to see a description of each workshop and learn (and see) who is presenting the workshop please click https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Media-and-Performing/conference-education-workshops.
These 35 workshops are being presented by YOUR colleagues from throughout Maine. You will be able to attend three workshops. The Maine Arts Assessment Initiative’s teacher leaders will be providing the following workshops:
To register please click here https://tickets.collinscenterforthearts.org/
The cost to attend the conference is $80 which includes lunch. PLEASE NOTE: PO’s will not be accepted this year. For more information please go to https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Media-and-Performing/Conference-Education.
Posted in Curriculum and Instruction, Opportunity, Professional Development, Standards Based Education, VPA | Tagged Arts Education:Leading the Way, MAAI, Maine arts assessment initiative, statewide conference, teacher leaders | Leave a Comment »
October 1, 2013
Don’t miss this professional development opportunity!
Tomorrow’s blog post will provide more information on the conference!
Posted in assessment, Opportunity, Professional Development, Standards, Standards Based Education, VPA | Tagged Arts Education: Leading the Way conference, MAAI, Maine arts assessment initiative, October 24, Orono, UMaine Collins Center for the Arts | Leave a Comment »
September 24, 2013
Arts 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.
Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Food for thought, Leadership, Media Arts, Music, Opportunity, Professional Development, Standards Based Education, Technology, Visual Arts | Tagged Arts Education: Leading the Way, Collins Center for the Arts, MAAI, MAC, Maine arts assessment initiative, Maine International Conference on the Arts, MICA, October 24, UMaine Orono | Leave a Comment »
September 9, 2013
October 24, 2014
Below is an overview of the Arts Educators: Leading the Way conference that clearly defines the details. We hope that it can become a useful document for those who are requesting release time from school to attend.
Arts Educators: Leading the Way Conference and Maine International Conference on the Arts
The Collins Center for the Arts in partnership with the Maine Arts Commission and The Maine Department of Education, have developed the Maine International Conference on the Arts (MICA) which will be held at the Collins Center on the University of Maine at Orono campus on October 24 to 26, 2013. The mission of the conference is to bolster the resources available to artists, arts educators, arts organizations and community networks through the convening of professionals and offering development sessions, networking opportunities, artist showcases, and cross discipline collaboration opportunities.
The first day of the event will host the Arts Education: Leading the Way conference from 8:00am to 4:00pm. This gathering will offer a rich choice of over 30 workshops facilitated by Maine’s Visual and Performing Arts educators from the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI). The event promises to provide participants insights and choices for teaching in the standards-based environment. Workshops will include student-centered approaches to assessment, customizing arts education, literacy, utilizing technology for assessment, authentic assessments, proficiency-based curriculum, students creating assessments, performance portfolio development and much more!
Arts Education: Leading the Way conference participants will:
- Learn about the National Core Arts Standards.
- Attend arts assessment workshops that are facilitated by colleagues.
- Explore assessment methods and strategies designed to expand teaching and learning.
- Build connections among the arts disciplines: dance, media arts, music, theatre and visual art.
- Make new connections with other educators.
- Learn more about the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative.
The Maine International Conference on the Arts will begin at 5:00 that evening and run till Saturday. MICA will host another 25 professional development workshops, over 20 artist showcases from New England and Canada, and highlight national keynote speakers including Doug Borwick, author of Engaging Matters. The conference will be a cross discipline cross sector event informed by the Maine Creative Economy initiative that was launched almost ten years ago. The event will promote the intersections between the creative sector, business, education, community, and policy with the underlying feature of strength through collaboration being as true now as it was then. The event will serve as an opportunity for those working in the heart of the arts field to reconnect with their compatriots across the region. It is also a chance for people who wish to better connect with the creative sector to do so.
The benefit of the MICA conference is that it:
- Will advance the field through professional workforce development
- Will allow artists and organizations to share best practices and develop opportunities
- Will enrich communities by strengthening local arts organizations and their networks
- Will allow for stronger local and international connections between arts professionals
- Will promote arts awareness and audience development in Maine student populations
Participants will be awarded contact hours. Early bird tickets are $75 for either conference or $135 for both. Prices will go up after September 13. Registration covers parking, morning coffee and lunch.
More information can be found at:
https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Media-and-Performing/MICA-LANDING
Conference registration is through the Collins Center box office:
https://tickets.collinscenterforthearts.org/auto_choose_ga.asp?area=116
Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Creativity, Curriculum and Instruction, Dance, Food for thought, Leadership, Media Arts, Music, Opportunity, Professional Development | Tagged arts education, Arts Education:Leading the Way conference, MAAI, Maine arts assessment initiative | Leave a Comment »
September 4, 2013
Hear Ye, Hear Ye, Visual Art and Music Teachers!
Elizabeth Arno, Catherine Ring , Liz Bouchard and Angelika Blanchard
How do we “do” assessment in the Art or Music room? How can quality assessment practices vastly improve our students proficiency in our disciplines, help kids gain the skills and creativity they need, and be our biggest ally in advocating for our arts programs? If you would like to earn three credits in a graduate course with a cohort of your peers, led by instructors who have been closely involved in the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative, here is your chance!
Join us this Fall in one of two graduate courses offered by the New England Institute for Teacher Education. Click on the links below for more information or to Register!
EDPO 540-Refining Assessment Practices in the Music Classroom (K-12)
Sept. 20, 21 & Dec. 13, 14 (Just two weekends: Fri. 4-8pm, Sat. 8-4pm)
Location: BANGOR
Instructor: Jake Sturtevant
and
EDPO 536-Refining Assessment Practices in the Visual Art Classroom (K-12)
October 4, 5 & Dec. 6, 7 (Just two weekends: Fri.4-8pm, Sat. 8-4pm)
Location: AUGUSTA
Instructor: Catherine Ring
Courses are granted three graduate credits from Endicott College upon successful completion and have been approved by the Maine Department of Education for recertification.
TO REGISTER or for more information, Click on the links above.
Posted in assessment, Curriculum and Instruction, Leadership, Music, Professional Development, Standards Based Education, Visual Arts | Tagged Catherine Ring, Endicott College, graduate course, Jake Sturtevant, MAAI, Maine arts assessment initiative, Maine arts education, MDOE, New England Institute for Teacher Education | Leave a Comment »
August 22, 2013
Yes, again!
For years we’ve been talking about Standards-Based Education and now due to LD1422 the conversation is taking a giant leap forward. But what does standards-based mean? And, how about proficiency-based, student-centered learning and, standards-referenced? In April of 2012 I wrote a post on this topic but recently the question came up again asking for clarity so this post is provided for that reason.
I feel like educators are continuously trying to get a better understanding of these terms and of course, the bottom line is how does this impact teaching and learning? I remember during many years of my 30 years of teaching sifting through articles, research, and communicating about what I was reading with colleagues to try and make sense of education topics. That hasn’t changed for me working at the Maine Department of Education. The only difference is that much more information “comes across my desk”.
Yesterday I was honored to be part of the interviews for the finalist for the 2014 Maine Teacher of the Year. The process for selection is almost a year long so the three finalists were thrilled to be there and the conversation about teaching and learning was wonderful. I was reminded of the passion teachers have for the important work they do. The next teacher of the year will be announced at a surprise assembly at the teachers school in September. Congratulations to all three finalists! They are grade 4 teacher Mary Graziano from Hartland Consolidated School, grades 6 and 7 ELA teacher Karen MacDonald, from King MIddle School, and kindergarten teacher Suzen Polk-Hoffses from Milbridge Elementary School.
There was a question about standards-based education and I liked the answer the teacher gave which included “It’s not about the grade, it’s about the learning.” Earlier this year I listened to Cole Castorina, a student at York High School say: ” I know that I know it and I have confidence that I understand the concept. I didn’t just learn it for the assessment.” Cole and 2 other students were interviewed for the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative’s video series. You can access the York High School video with music teachers Rob Westerberg and Dan Sovetsky and principal Bob Stevens at this link. It is one thing to look at the chart below and another to hear students, teachers, and administrators articulate what it’s all about!
If you are trying to understand the difference between standards-based and standards-referenced researcher Robert Marzano has a diagram that provides clarity that you might find helpful.
Posted in assessment, Communication, Curriculum and Instruction, Food for thought, Standards Based Education, VPA | Tagged arts education, LD1422, MAAI, Maine, Maine arts assessment initiative, referenced-based, Rob Westerberg, Robert Marzano, standards based, student centered, video series | Leave a Comment »
August 14, 2013
Feedback for the MAAI Teacher Leaders
Yesterday 25 teacher leaders from the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative had the opportunity to present their arts education workshops for an audience of “critical friends” at the University of Southern Maine, Portland. The friends were colleagues of the teacher leaders , administrators, Department of Education personnel, and a combination of others. The days feedback clearly shows that the day was very useful, informative, and filled with energy and a commitment to providing top notch workshops. The critical friends provided feedback to the teacher leaders who presented, good questions were posed and a community of constructive criticism was the day’s mode.
Next step? The teacher leaders will take the feedback, make changes if they choose and polish off their presentations before the statewide conference on October 24, UMaine, Collins Center for the Arts. The Arts Education: Leading the Way conference will be an all day event featuring 35 workshops providing by the MAAI Teacher Leaders.
In addition the teacher leaders will be providing their workshops at one of the Mega-regional sessions (5 being scheduled across Maine) and the regional workshops that are being planned by the teacher leaders in their region of the state.
We hope you’ll join us at one of these professional development opportunities. Watch the blog for details of the regional or mega-regional workshops and visit the link above for the Arts Education: Leading the Way conference registration information and click here for workshop details. You won’t want to miss the once every two years conference.
Thanks to all the critical friends for helping out and congrats to the teacher leaders who have put together outstanding workshops!
Early childhood educator Judy Fricke presenting and getting ready to use a parachute with participants.
Woodside Elementary Art teacher Brian McPherson presenting workshop called Thirty Eight Years of Teaching and Still a Rubric Virgin
Critical Friends: Department of Ed Social Studies Specialist Christy Littlefield, Easton Schools Music teacher Pamela Kinsey, Nokomis High School Performing Arts Teacher Lisa Neal, and ETEP graduate Meghan Rivis listen intently
Brunswick High School Art teacher Jennie Driscoll and Music teacher Ashley Smith co-present: Including Reflection in Formative Assessment
Edward Little High School Music teacher (who is also teaching a visual art course there) makes notes as the critical friends provide him with feedback.
Posted in assessment, Communication, Community, Curriculum and Instruction, Opportunity, Professional Development, Standards Based Education, Technology, VPA | Tagged arts education, MAAI, Maine, teacher leaders, usm | Leave a Comment »
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