As the art teacher at the Ella P. Burr Elementary School I worked with the students throughout the residency on the backdrops for their final performance. I enjoyed watching the dances develop and the students themselves transform and gain confidence through movement. Students of all abilities were engaged and even the very quiet and introverted blossomed into beautiful plants and animals through dance. I feel the positive educational benefits to students far outweigh the scheduling adjustments and planning the classroom teachers gladly did to accommodate the residency. It was a wonderful experience for all involved.
The backdrops were awesome. I noticed that when the students were discussing the performance space with Helena that they talked about what they did on the murals and how they would fit right in to the dance. All those connections make the learning so much more important. Thank you Holly for the work you did in organizing and paying close attention to the important details of the residency. The role of teachers like you are so very important and the residency’s success only happens because of support from you!
Argy Nestor
Visual and Performing Arts Specialist
Maine Dept of Ed
23 State House Station
Augusta ME 04333
argy.nestor@maine.gov
207-624-6825
www.maine.gov/education/lres/vpa/
Argy’s Blog
The purpose of this blog is to communicate what's happening in Arts Education. This forum gives you the opportunity to not only read, but invites you to join the conversation by writing and sharing your expertise. It is essential that we collaborate, listen and learn from each other in order to improve teaching and learning in Arts Education in Maine and beyond.
As the art teacher at the Ella P. Burr Elementary School I worked with the students throughout the residency on the backdrops for their final performance. I enjoyed watching the dances develop and the students themselves transform and gain confidence through movement. Students of all abilities were engaged and even the very quiet and introverted blossomed into beautiful plants and animals through dance. I feel the positive educational benefits to students far outweigh the scheduling adjustments and planning the classroom teachers gladly did to accommodate the residency. It was a wonderful experience for all involved.
The backdrops were awesome. I noticed that when the students were discussing the performance space with Helena that they talked about what they did on the murals and how they would fit right in to the dance. All those connections make the learning so much more important. Thank you Holly for the work you did in organizing and paying close attention to the important details of the residency. The role of teachers like you are so very important and the residency’s success only happens because of support from you!