Posts Tagged ‘MALI’

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MALI Mega USM, Registration Open

November 15, 2016

Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI)

REGISTRATION is NOW OPEN for the MALI Mega USM. During this school year there are six Mega Conferences planned. All the information is located on the Maine Arts Commission website at http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/MALI-Mega-Regionals. Or click on the Mega (underlined) below for information specific to each location.

Dates and Locations

mali_h_color_100ppiEach site will have different sessions offered so you may wish to attend more than one Mega. Sessions will be provided by MALI Teacher Leaders and Teaching Artist Leaders. In addition, almost all sites will have technology offerings offered by MLTI Apple staff. A portion of the afternoon will feature a Teaching Artist and information on the statewide arts education census that was conducted during the 2015-16 school year. The report will be officially released in December.

The cost to attend each Mega is $25 (unless otherwise indicated). Contact hours for full participation – 5.5 contact hours. The Megas provide multiple opportunities for the Maine Arts education community to engage in professional development specific to come together to deepen our knowledge, make connections, and learn from each other!

SESSIONS MEGA USM

SESSION I

The Role of the Digital Portfolio in Arts Advocacy, Assessment, and Student Ownership Learning

Introduction to the digital portfolio. How to implement student centered digital portfolios that promote student ownership of learning and assessment. Grades 7-12

Jackie Bousquet Traip Academy Visual Art

 

“Making Art History Come to Life with iBooks Author”

 Dive into iBooks Author to harness the power of developing multi-modal, Multi-Touch iBooks. You’ll learn features which make iBooks come to life for learners by incorporating audio files, 3D widgets, image glossaries, study cards, jailbreaking templates, and much more. Be prepared to create an art history chapter together. You can also use this app for making comics and graphic novels or creating art portfolios. This session is great for MLTI beginners and experts. MLTI MacBooks with iBooks Author preinstalled is encouraged. Grades 7-12
Lindsey Carnes MLTI Apple Learning Specialist

Student’s Reflective Voice: Using the Artist Statement

This workshop, participants will explore the ways in which student voice and understanding within visual art creation can be expanded upon with the use of reflective writing using an Artist Statement. Grades 7-12

Melanie Crowe Marshwood Middle School, Grades 6-8 Visual Art

 

Assessing Singing in the Primary Grades

This workshop offers methodical strategies for assessing young children’s singing. Assessment logistics and tried and trusted rubrics will be provided as examples, along with ideas for formative assessment including self assessment. Grades K-4

Patti Gordan Raymond Elementary School, Grade K-4 Music

 

More Cowbell

Playing and composing songs on your own is a blast for some, however there’s something special about making music in collaboration with other like-minded folks that just can’t be beat. In this hands-on, music making session, participants will use GarageBand to learn the basics of song writing and music production. Participants will have plenty of time to explore and experience the fun of collaborative music creation. Musicians of any and all skill levels are welcome. Make sure to bring your Mac and/or iOS device with GarageBand installed. All grade levels.
Tim Hart MLTI Apple Learning Specialist

 

Using Multiple Intelligences to Teach Students with Disabilities

Learn how teaching using multiple intelligence can be a way to unlock learning goals for students with disabilities. All grade levels. All content.

Brigid Rankowski Teaching Artist

 

SLOs – Student Learning Objectives

The workshop will give a brief overview of Chapter 180, and focus on writing and implementing SLOs. Time will be provided to practice writing SLOs and receive feedback  All grade levels. All content.

MaryEllen Schaper Bonney Eagle Middle School, Grades 6-8 Dance

 

SESSION II

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.  All content.

Samantha Armstrong Paris Elementary School and Hebron Elementary
Schools, Grades K-6 Visual Art

Writing Across the Curriculum in a Performing Arts Classroom

Writing is a life skill that is of critical importance to our students.  I will share ways in which I have incorporated writing composition and critical responses in to my dance classroom. All grades levels. All content.

Emma Campbell Thornton Academy Dance

 

Including Students with Disabilities in Your Art Classroom Using iMovie

Use stations and sites fostering independence to help students collect assets for creating art infused iMovie productions. This session will showcase how a green screen and some photos can provide opportunities for all learners to showcase their creative side. MLTI MacBooks with the most current version of iMovie is encouraged. All content. All grade levels.

Lindsey Carnes MLTI Apple Learning Specialist

Reflections on Standards Based teaching and Learning

In this workshop participants will discuss ways to connect students with standards, methods of to make SBL visible for students and the use of a matrix to document teaching opportunities that are standards based. Grades 6-12

Jennie Driscoll Brunswick High School Visual Art

Making 8-bit Art

Beginning with early Atari and Nintendo video games, the 8-bit aesthetic has been a part of our culture for over 30 years. No longer just nostalgia art, contemporary 8-bit artists and chiptunes musicians have elevated the form to new levels of creativity and cultural reflection. In this session, we will focus on tools that assist in creating 8-bit images, animations, and music.  Please bring your MLTI MacBook. All grade levels.

Tim Hart MLTI Apple Learning Specialist

“Something from Nothing” or Costuming on a Budget

Hot glue, curtains, table cloths, children’s sleds, and ribbon – what do they all have in common? They can be ingeniously used to create authentic costumes for all plays.  Armed with this knowledge, you can devise a lesson in the designing of costumes for the stage for your students. If time permits, participants can brainstorm possible resources and ways to include students. Grades 9-12

Jean Phillips Wiscasset High School Theatre

Music Curriculum SLOs

Building SLO and Data Points from your Music Curriculum. Grades K-8

Cynthia Streznewski Woolwich Central School, Grades K-8 Music

 

About MALI

In the spring of 2011, the Maine Department of Education launched the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI). During the summer of 2015 after gathering feedback from the initiative’s Teacher Leaders the name was changed to the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI). Presently in phase six, the Maine Arts Commission continues to provide professional learning opportunities for educators. The mission was changed to reflect the present work underway. The Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) is committed to the development of teacher leaders to ensure deep understanding and meaningful implementation of high quality teaching, learning, and assessment in the arts.

Thank you to the MALI partners for your collaborative work with MALI: Maine Department of Education, Maine Art Education Association, Maine Music Educators Association, New England Institute for Teacher Education, University of Southern Maine, and UMaine Performing Arts.

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Professional Development

November 8, 2016

Opportunities across the state

MALI_V3_Color_100ppiThe Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) Mega Regional Conferences will be held throughout the state during the next five months. Each site will have different sessions offered so you may wish to attend more than one Mega. Sessions will be provided by MALI Teacher Leaders and Teaching Artist Leaders. In addition, almost all sites will have technology offerings as well. A portion of the afternoon will feature a Teaching Artist and information on the statewide arts education census that was conducted during the 2015-16 school year. The report will be officially released in December.

The cost to attend each Mega is $25 (unless otherwise indicated). Contact hours for full participation – 5.5 contact hours. In the listing of conference dates below are links to registration for two of the Megas. The others will be available in the near future. For more details (and also to register) please go to http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/MALI-Mega-Regionals.

The Megas provide multiple opportunities for the Maine Arts education community to engage in professional development specific to come together to deepen our knowledge, make connections, and learn from each other!

MEGA ELLSWORTH

SESSION I

screen-shot-2016-11-08-at-10-16-26-amWhere are your Art Standards within the Studio Habits of Mind! presented by Janie Snider, Hancock Grammar School Visual Arts

This workshop will explore the National Visual Art Standards and how they co-exist with the Studio Habits of Mind. The NVAS are written for pre-K through high school. There are many ways to align these standards with the SHOM that already exist in your classrooms! I will share ways that work for me in my K-8 art classroom. Grades K-8

screen-shot-2016-11-08-at-10-16-32-amEllsworth High School VPA Academy presented by Rebecca Wright Ellsworth High School, Performing ArtsLeah Olson Ellsworth High School, Visual Arts Shannon Westphal Ellsworth High School, Visual Arts

This session will be an overview of the Ellsworth HIgh School Visual/Performing Arts Academy.  The program is in its fourth year and graduated 8 students in 2016. Currently there are approximately 25 students in the program grades 10-12. We will review how the program came into being, the nuts and bolts of how it works, view samples of student work from last year’s capstone and internship projects and you will get to meet some students currently in the program. You will get to interview the students as well as be supplied with samples of our documents and a Q&A session.  Grades 9-12

screen-shot-2016-11-08-at-10-16-42-amUsing Multiple Intelligences to Teach Students with Disabilities presented by Brigid Rankowski Teaching Artist

Learn how teaching using multiple intelligence can be a way to unlock learning goals for students with disabilities. Grades K-12

screen-shot-2016-11-08-at-10-16-49-amMore Cowbell presented by  Tim Hart MLTI Apple Learning Specialist

Playing and composing songs on your own is a blast for some, however there’s something special about making music in collaboration with other like-minded folks that just can’t be beat. In this hands-on, music making session, participants will use GarageBand to learn the basics of song writing and music production. Participants will have plenty of time to explore and experience the fun of collaborative music creation. Musicians of any and all skill levels are welcome. Make sure to bring your Mac and/or iOS device with GarageBand installed. All grade levels. Grades K-12

screen-shot-2016-11-08-at-10-16-57-amIllustrating to Write presented by Ann Marie Quirion Hutton MLTI Apple Learning Specialist, former Art Educator

One creation lends a hand to the other. Illustration is a part of many great stories, extending the ability of ideas to be shared, and increasing enjoyment and comprehension on the part of the reader. Apple technology provides many possibilities for creating illustrations, making drawing and visual images a part of the overall literacy experience. Learn how to use your MacBook Air to draw and paint creative illustrations in this “hands on session”. Bring your MacBook Air with Acorn installed (included with your MLTI participation). Grades K-12

SESSION II

screen-shot-2016-11-08-at-10-17-05-amBringing It All Together! presented by Sue Barre Waterville Junior and Senior High School Music

In the summer of 2015 the Waterville Senior High School music faculty developed a portfolio. The portfolio has been the piece that guides our work on four school wide initiatives from teacher evaluation to Proficiency Based Education. Participants will receive the portfolio and accompanying rubrics.  Grades K-12

 

screen-shot-2016-11-08-at-10-17-10-amEvidence of Learning Through Google presented by Charlie Johnson Mount Desert Island High School Visual Arts Digital Arts Media/Photography

Google offers numerous educator tools within it’s web browser and multiple apps, encouraging exploration and adaptation to almost any teaching style. While Google Classroom has caught on with many educators, this workshop will demonstrate the direct use of not only the Chrome web browser, but also Google Drive, Communities, and Google Draw. As important elements in a structure of collaboration and information sharing and gathering, the endgame of this workshop is that learners can and will produce a summative electronic portfolio in the form of what can be a ubiquitous .PDF file! Grades 7-12, Adaptable for K-6

screen-shot-2016-11-08-at-10-16-57-amVisual Notetaking/Doodling in Class presented by Ann Marie Quirion Hutton MLTI Apple Learning Specialist, former Art Educator

A combination of sketching and traditional note taking results in rich educational documents to support learning. Studies show that sketching leads to better retention of information and helps clarify ideas. Sketching is one of our original forms of communication. Visualizing ideas is a great way to learn. Why not bring this creative form of learning into your classroom? Explore how visual notes support learning. Discover techniques to create, share and integrate visual notes into your instructional practice. Visual notetaking, often called sketch noting, uses two parts of your brain, which is referred to as Dual Coding Theory. This has been found to improve learning. Research has shown that people who doodle while listening retain 29% more information (Andrade, 2009). Join this hands-on session and start sketching your notes today. Please bring your updated MLTI iPad, if available, with Notability installed. Arts supplies will also be available.  Grades K-12

screen-shot-2016-11-08-at-10-17-24-amMaking 8-bit Art presented by Tim Hart MLTI Apple Learning Specialist

Beginning with early Atari and Nintendo video games, the 8-bit aesthetic has been a part of our culture for over 30 years. No longer just nostalgia art, contemporary 8-bit artists and chiptunes musicians have elevated the form to new levels of creativity and cultural reflection. In this session, we will focus on tools that assist in creating 8-bit images, animations, and music.  Please bring your MLTI MacBook.  Grades K-12

screen-shot-2016-11-08-at-10-17-18-amLooking in the Mirror:  The Importance of Student Self-Reflection presented by Mandi Mitchell Hermon High School Visual Art

Self-assessment is a crucial part of learning. In the arts, it is easy for us to see a concrete product of their learning and understanding of a topic. We don’t always see student learning that happens beneath the surface unless it is verbally or orally communicated. With regular self-assessment integrated in your classroom, students become more aware and take ownership of their learning. All grade levels.  All content.

If you have any questions please contact me at argy.nestor@maine.gov.

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The Megas are Coming!

November 1, 2016

Registration for Mega Ellsworth

img_0081Ellsworth High School, USM Portland, and UMaine Orono, and Hebron Station School Hebron, Easton Schools

I am excited to announce the professional development opportunities that are being offered during this school year by the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative. There are almost 40 sessions scheduled at five locations throughout Maine between November and May. The conferences are larger than regional workshops and smaller than the statewide conference so we call them Megas Regionals!

The cost is $25 (unless otherwise indicated). Contact hours for full participation – 5.5 contact hours. Live links below to the two conferences that you can register for at this time. Or go to http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/MALI-Mega-Regionals for the details and to register.

Each location offers different sessions and will have a different link for registration. These are multiple opportunities for the Maine Arts education community to come together to deepen our knowledge, make connections, and learn from each other!

img_1941Dates and Locations

Schedule

  • 8:30 a.m. Registration begins
  • 9:00 a.m. Opening and Morning Sessions
  • 9:15 – 10:30 a.m. Breakout Session I
  • 10:30 – 10:40 a.m. Break
  • 10:40 – 11:55 a.m. Breakout Session II
  • 11:55 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Lunch, participants on their own
  • 12:45 – 1:20 p.m. Artist Showcase
  • 1:25 – 2:40 p.m. Session III Maine Arts Education Census Survey
  • 2:40 – 3:00 p.m. Closing

img_3146Sessions for Ellsworth Mega

  • Where are your Art Standards within the Studio Habits of Mind!” Presenter: Janie Snider
  • Ellsworth High School VPA Academy – Presenters: Rebecca Wright, Leah Olson, Shannon Westphal
  • Using Multiple Intelligences to Teach Students with Disabilities – Presenter: Brigid Rankowski
  • More Cowbell – Presenter: Tim Hart
  • Illustrating to Write – Presenter: Ann Marie Quirion Hutton
  • Bringing it all together! – Presenter: Sue Barre
  • Evidence of Learning Through Google – Charlie Johnson
  • Visual Notetaking/Doodling in Class – Ann Marie Quirion Hutton
  • Making 8-bit Art – Presenter: Tim Hart

Breakout of the sessions above with details are located at http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/MALI-Mega-Regionals#Ellsworth.

If you have any questions please email me at argy.nestor@maine.gov. I look forward to seeing you at a Mega-Regional Conference.

About MALI

In the spring of 2011, the Maine Department of Education launched the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative (MAAI). During the summer of 2015 after gathering feedback from the initiative’s Teacher Leaders the name was changed to the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI). Presently in phase six, the Maine Arts Commission continues to provide professional learning opportunities for educators. The mission was changed to reflect the present work underway. The Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) is committed to the development of teacher leaders to ensure deep understanding and meaningful implementation of high quality teaching, learning, and assessment in the arts.

Thank you to the MALI partners for your collaborative work with MALI: Maine Department of Education, Maine Art Education Association, Maine Music Educators Association, New England Institute for Teacher Education, University of Southern Maine, and UMaine Performing Arts.

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Tim Christensen – Teaching Artist

September 16, 2016

Berwick Academy Community Emotional Map Sculpture

screen-shot-2016-09-11-at-7-37-10-pmTim Christensen, in his own words below provides an overview of a residency he did at Berwick Academy. Tim graduated from Berwick Academy in 1987 so returning to his community to collaborate on this unique project is pretty special! Congratulations to the community, Tim, and Raegen for carrying out this idea. The artwork is permanently displayed in the Commons building on the Berwick Academy campus.

screen-shot-2016-09-11-at-7-25-33-pmRaegen Russell (Berwick Academy art teacher) and I started talking about me coming to Berwick Academy, in South Berwick, at last year’s Haystack Maine Art Education Association fall conference. As the conversations continued, an idea began to form of making a community sculpture with the entire Berwick Academy (Pre-K to alumni to faculty to staff) in commemoration of the 225th anniversary of the founding of the school.

I started thinking about what was really being celebrated, what we mean when we say, “this school is 225 years old”. I figured out what was being celebrated was an unbroken chain of relationships that went all the way back to those three boys going to school in what is now on campus called, “the 1791 House”. Those relationships I wanted to document are the result of feelings and emotions of the community members for each other, and so could be recorded as abstract expressionist marks.

screen-shot-2016-09-11-at-7-24-45-pmI asked the artists to think about how it felt in their guts when they came up the hill in the morning to go to school, or were laying in bed at home at night and thinking about school. I asked them to make marks that seemed in concert with those feelings, and not to worry about drawing anything, to have no expectations except to show up and make marks.

They were each given a disk of dried porcelain which had been covered with black underglaze, and into the center of which I had drilled a hole, and gave them an etching tool of one sort or another. Most artists worked for 20 or so minutes, although some worked for 15-20 hours on their disk.

screen-shot-2016-09-11-at-7-25-22-pmThese were then fired and installed on 1/8″ brass rods into which I cut threads on either end, to allow them to screw  into a metal insert in maple orbs, which I turned on the lathe. The result looks like dandelion fluff, or atoms, or drawn circles.

It is basically a community self-portrait, in which every member has an equal voice. In my opinion, one interesting result was a school-wide conversation about the community’s feelings about itself, a self-assessment if you will. This of course invited the related questions of “where do we go, and what do we value as a community?”.

It was an honor to be part of this project.

Tim can be reached at timchristensenporcelain@gmail.com. Last Spring he worked at the Camden Rockport Middle School on an integrated unit. The blog post describing the residency is at THIS LINK. Tim is on the Maine Arts Commission Teaching Artist roster at THIS LINK. Tim is available for school and community artist residency’s. Tim is also a Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) Teaching Artist Leader – a new program established this year. The Teacher Leaders are listed at THIS LINK.

Embedded is a video that provides a close up look at this project.

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Arts Education Conference

August 30, 2016

Pre-MICA

TEACHING ARTFUL PRACTICE/PRACTICE ARTFUL TEACHING

Pre-MICA (Maine International Conference on the Arts) – 6 October 2016

MICA – 6 and 7 October

THURSDAY DESCRIPTION – This ones just for you PK-12 arts educators, teaching artists, others interested in arts education!

Screen Shot 2016-08-30 at 9.03.10 AMThe Maine Arts Leadership Initiative celebrates teaching and learning through “Teaching Artful Practice/Practice Artful Teaching” featuring Cheryl Hulteen, author of YES YES GOOD: The heART of teaching. Arts teaching professionals have much to share in their partnership to create personal artful pathways for students to express and explore creative voice through the arts. Using the Multiple Intelligences Theory, join us in a collaboration – defining, exploring, celebrating and understanding different practices of artful teaching. We will build a learning community that reflects the role the arts play in everything we do, teach and learn by strengthening the creative exchanges of artful process and practice. Come and celebrate the heART of teaching.

DETAILS

Thursday, 6 October 2016, 11:30am – 4:00pm

Franco American Heritage Center

46 Cedar St, Lewiston, ME

4 contact hours provided

$40 includes lunch (no cost for full time students)

Registration located at http://mica.bpt.me/ (Scroll down on the page)

PRESENTER

Screen Shot 2016-08-30 at 9.03.58 AMAuthor of “YES YES GOOD, The HeART of Teaching”, Master Teaching Artist Cheryl Hulteen has spent over 20 years providing consulting services for school districts, teachers, administrators, parents and students to foster greater learning and insight through building Creative Classroom Cultures. “YES YES GOOD” works with stakeholders across the educational landscape to build exciting, innovative and positive environments for teaching, learning, and arts integrated curriculum development through motivational workshops, professional development and one-on-one coaching. In addition to founding YES YES GOOD, Cheryl also serves as teaching faculty for Connecticut Higher Order Thinking Schools, an initiative of the Connecticut Office of the Arts, managed in partnership with Wesleyan University’s Green Street Arts Center.  “However we may speak, it is through the voices of our children we will most clearly be heard.”

image003MICA – Thursday night and all day Friday

ARTS EDUCATION TRACK for FRIDAY MICA plus other great sessions being offered Lewiston Bates Mill

Registration located at http://mica.bpt.me/

Stories and Images of Malawi No one can show you the sunDzuwa Salodzelano with Lindsay Pinchbeck and Argy Nestor

An 18-day journey to Malawi in July led to the most amazing teachers doing incredible work with very little resources (financial or tangible). The arts were the powerful tool that guided the daily workshops with 12 teachers and opened the hearts and minds of all involved. Join Lindsay and Argy on a visual journey and hear stories of songs and traditions gathered along the paths in Malawi.

STEAMing up in Maine with Kate Cook Whitt, Jonathan Graffius, Malley Weber, and Chuck Carter

What is all the buzz about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) going on across the country? What are the benefits of STEAM in Maine education and beyond? This presentation, in panel format, will bring together four people who are focusing on the topic in their work and play. From PK to higher ed, from teaching artist to game creator. Your questions and ideas are welcome!

Creativity: A Group Inquiry with John Morris

What is creativity? How can it potentially impact our lives? And how do we talk about it with each other? This structured group dialogue will help artists, advocates and educators make connections between creativity research and creativity in practice, while promoting inquiry into the nature of creativity, as well as its role in art, education and community.

Creative Aging

Details being constructed.

If you have any questions please contact me at argy.nestor@maine.gov.

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Why Do You Teach?

August 29, 2016

#WHYITEACH

We asked teacher leaders and teaching artist leaders at the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Summer Institute: Why do you teach? The outcome is below. As you are starting the school year off, ask yourself, write it down, take your photo (and send it to me or tweet it out at #WHYITEACH) so I can add it to the collection of Maine Teaching Artists and PK-12 Arts Educators. Thanks for teaching!

If you click on the images you can make them large and read the text better.

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P1650376

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P1650321

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P1650392

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P1650332

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Elevator Pitch

August 17, 2016

Teachers as Leaders

Winter retreat Feb14 copy

MALI winter retreat, Farnsworth Art Museum, phase IV

As I reflect on the 6th annual summer arts education institute held last week I marvel that we’ve come so far in a short period of time. The reason is clear – teachers as leaders. The Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) is very proud of the work that the Teacher Leaders having taken on in the last 5 years and continue to do so with gusto!

During the institute teacher leaders were involved in ‘creating a message’ that is often called an ‘elevator speech’ or ‘elevator pitch’. We used this definition of an elevator speech: The art of persuading a listener through a brief speech to spark interest in an idea, project, product or event. You’ll never know when you’ll have the chance to speak to a parent, school board member, administrator or a colleague in school or out of school. Can you articulate why access to a quality visual and performing arts education is essential for all students? I believe that our number one role is to provide this education. Number two role is to advocate so this happens. This is at the heart of being a teacher leader and part of our roles as educators. What do you think?  Please put your thoughts below in the comment section or email me at argy.nestor@maine.gov and let me know! Your thoughts are welcome.

Below is a post that was printed in Education Week – August 5, 2016

A Teacher Leadership Elevator Pitch: And An Invitation to Write Your Own
By John T. McCrann

Have you ever been asked to write an “elevator pitch?” The idea is that you propose your ideas to a thought leader or big wig with whom you happen to be riding an elevator with. Your job: simply describe the crux of your ideas and their value in the time it takes to go down a few floors.

This spring as part of an application for a teacher leadership fellowship/award I wrote the one below directed at my school district’s leader, Chancellor Carmen Fariña.

The idea of an “elevator pitch” feels problematic to me in some ways. As someone who counts reading long novels, engaging in hours-long discussions, and working through complex math problems over several days as some of the most educative moments of my life, I worry that we lose learning opportunities in a world that places emphasis on brevity over depth of thought (feel free to Tweet me if your thoughts on this disagree…just kidding).

That being said, the process of distilling my ideas about teacher leadership into a bit-sized chunk did feel like a beneficial activity for me as a leader. It was useful to be able to read through this as I start to think about the year ahead and where I want to devote my time in terms of teacher leadership activities.

Teachers, what’s the main thing you hope to accomplish in teacher leadership this year? Everyone else, what should teacher leaders be fighting for this year? Share your elevator pitches in the comment section.

Chancellor Farina, I bet at some point you’ve overheard a teacher complaining to another about something coming from the district or administration: “why are “they” doing this to us?”

I am a teacher and teacher leader who doesn’t hear that any more and I want to help make New York City the one place in the country where teachers won’t ever say it. Let’s stop talking about “they” and create a system of “we.”

Students learn best from teachers who can differentiate instruction for all their students, addressing the specific needs of specific students.

A “we” system would give community-based learning experts more influence over policy decisions and a greater ability to innovate on behalf of students. Let’s empower schools to create solutions.

We’ve started this work with the PROSE program, which we should strengthen and extend. Find new ways to incentivize superintendents and principals in distributing decision-making power. Create new avenues for teacher leadership.

Students also learn best when they are given meaningful, supportive, and regular feedback. A “we” system would re-imagine the way we think about assessment and accountability to meet these student needs.

The words assessment and accountability should not invoke abstract systems or number but real student learning evidenced through meaningful work.

The New York Performance Standards Consortium has a proven track record of collecting valid and reliable data with teacher-created performance tasks. As a system, we should learn from this example and expand the use of performance assessment to other schools and grade levels.

At my school, Harvest Collegiate High School, we are proud to be a part of the PROSE program and the Performance Standards Consortium, which you have supported and which are in the vanguard as education reform programs. I am proud to have played a leadership role in these groups.

I would love to work with you to help strengthen these programs and the “we” philosophy that forms their foundation.

To hear others tell it, “they” are incapable of helping our students. Depending on who you ask: they don’t give enough support or they attempt to micro-manage.

We can address this concern by removing “them” from the conversation.

That’s why you, me, my colleagues at my school, our colleagues across districts, we, the educators of New York City, need to lead.

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Always Learning

August 14, 2016

Aroostook county kicks off the school year

Visual Art and Theatre teacher Pam Chernesky (Houlton Middle/High School) and Dance and Physical Education teacher MaryEllen Schaper (Bonny Eagle Middle School)

As you may know school starts for many of our friends in Aroostook county tomorrow (Monday, August 15). Many of the school districts in the County use a different calendar that coincides with the potato harvest season; including 2-3 weeks off in September and October. Some districts have moved away from this and others are considering the change. Even though potato farming is largely mechanized at this point, high school and some middle school students are hired to do a variety of jobs. School districts are looking carefully at the numbers of students working to make money for a car or saving for college and collecting information from community members to help make this decision.

Last week at the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative Summer Institute some teachers (from other parts of Maine) reported that they will be going into school this week to begin to unpack new supplies and to prepare their classrooms for the return of students. It won’t be long now and everyone will return.

Beth Lambert, VPA specialist, Maine Department of Education

Beth Lambert, VPA specialist, Maine Department of Education Photo by Lindsay Pinchbeck

Today marks my anniversary of working for the state and I received notice this week that its been 10 years. It certainly doesn’t seem that long. In fact, it feels like 2 or 3 years only. Next week marks a year that my colleague Beth Lambert is at the Maine Department of Education as the Visual and Performing Arts Specialist. Congratulations Beth!

Along with 10 years at the state this year marks my 40 years in education, the first 30 as a visual arts teacher. I do miss the classroom but certainly appreciate the work that I’ve been privileged to do for 10 years. The favorite part of my job is the ongoing opportunities to learn. And, the highlights are learning about your roles as educators, visiting schools, and working with the Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI). I am so proud of the work that you all do providing excellent arts education for students in Maine and beyond.

Screen Shot 2016-08-14 at 6.17.28 PMI hope that your summer has been wonderful and that you’ve had a chance to re-charge your batteries. Last week a teacher leader said how great it was to be at the MALI institute because she is now excited about going back to her elementary art classroom and put in place her new ideas and plans.

Perhaps some of you attended professional development opportunities – there were so many available. Or maybe you did some professional reading. I have been reading some of Carol Dweck’s work on growth mindset and how students’ mindsets play a role on their achievement and motivation. I find it fascinating. While in Malawi Lindsay Pinchbeck and I talked about mindsets frequently while working with the teachers and students. I’d love to hear what you’ve been reading this summer. Please drop me an email about your summer educational engagements (courses, conferences, workshops, books, or something else).

As the sun begins to set on another summer and you begin to move towards the classroom, this is my first message about your return. Best wishes for a year filled with a love for learning, great moments in teaching, and fun!

Sunset in Malawi

Sunset in Malawi

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Summer MALI Institute Day 3

August 13, 2016

What a learning opportunity!

IMG_3191The 6th Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) summer institute wrapped up yesterday with the 3rd and final day jam packed full.

Incredible educators contributing their knowledge and developing ideas with the MALI community and on top of that good food!

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Art teachers Iva Damon, Amy Cousins (top). Mandi Mitchell, Lisa Ingraham (bottom).

The day started with participants looking at the preliminary reports from the statewide arts education census. MALI teacher leaders and teaching artist leaders had conversations by region to discuss the findings and what action steps might take place to utilize the data collected. Everyone agreed that it is great to have data on Maine arts education. The information will be made available with a full report in the next 2 months.

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Samantha Armstrong presenting her Maine Arts Education Resource Project – Integration.

Beth Lambert and a team of Maine educators have created resources this past school year as part of the  Maine Arts Education Resource Project – Integration. The teachers provided an overview of the work and resources they created. Access those resources by CLICKING HERE.

Participants completed their individual action or logic model plans and during the afternoon participated in a gallery walk. A clear picture of their ideas were evident and it was great to have the opportunity to provide feedback to each other. Next steps? Teacher leaders will tweak their plan based on the feedback and create a formal presentation. In September teacher leaders will participate in Critical Friend where they will provide their presentation. Others are invited to participate so if you are interested please email me at argy.nestor@maine.gov and let me know.

IMG_3255Each presentation will be provided during the school year at least once at the local level and once at the mega-regional level. More information on these learning opportunities will be provided in the future. Please let me know if you have any questions.

THREE BIG GIGANTIC THANK YOUS!

IMG_3248To the TEACHER LEADERS who devoted their time to attend the institute and dig into the work. To the TEACHING ARTISTS who attended for one day and the four TEACHING ARTIST LEADERS who are creating new work for MALI. All agreed that the Teaching Artist Leaders are a great addition to the community. And, a HUGE THANK YOU to the LEADERSHIP TEAM who spent hours and hours of time planning and facilitating the summer institute so all of us could learn.

Participants left USM tired and excited about returning to their classrooms for great school year! If you’d like to learn more about MALI please go to http://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Education/MAAI# or to http://www.maineartsassessment.com/.

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Summer MALI Institute Day 2

August 12, 2016
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Teacher Leader Mandi Mitchell and why she teaches!

Developing ideas and learning from each other

The second day of the initiative was filled with more ideas, questions, and thoughtful research on many topics including proficiency based, student centered, standards, assessment, teacher effectiveness, arts integration, advocacy, and leadership. Each teacher leader and teaching artist leader worked on their plans they will continue develop and put into place during the 2016-17 school year.

Teachers worked in their content groups – theatre, music, and visual arts. Participants did an amazing job of creating and refining an ‘elevator speech’ on one of MALIs ‘This We Believe’ statements. In the end they passionately stated their message in 7 seconds. Teachers created brief statements completing “I teacher because…”.

Veteran MALI teacher leaders Amy Cousins, Jake Sturtevant, and Theresa Cerceo shared stories in their roles as teacher leaders.

Practicing elevator speeches

Practicing elevator speeches

Beth Lambert, Maine Department of Education Visual and Performing Arts Specialist, provided an udpate on the work going on at the Department at the state and federal level.

Everyone’s work generated throughout the day was thoughtful and exciting and will contribute to the high quality teaching that goes on throughout Maine!

The summer institute is in its final day today with an agenda filled with learning opportunities. During the afternoon will be filled with a gallery walk viewing and providing feedback on the teacher leader plans.

 

Jake Sturtevant, Theresa Cerceo, and Amy Cousins sharing their MALI stories

Jake Sturtevant, Theresa Cerceo, and Amy Cousins sharing their MALI stories