Getting Ready-Leading the Way

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!

Opening Session Presentation NCAS

Maine Arts Educators will get first-hand info on the National Core Arts Standards

We fortunate that Lynn Tuttle from the Department of Education in Arizona is traveling to Maine for the statewide biennial arts education conference! Lynn’s session is titled Maine and the National Core Arts Standards.

The National Coalition for Core Arts Standards is a group committed to the development of the next generation of arts education standards. Maine educators have reviewed drafts of the PreK-8 standards and have provided feedback to the writing teams. Presently the draft of the high school standards are being reviewed by the public. You have until October 21 to do so. The draft is located at http://nccas.wikispaces.com/.

Lynn Tuttle, one of the national leaders coordinating the revision of the National Standards in the Arts, will present the context and history behind the revision as well as describe the process of revising the standards. The goal of the presentation and discussion is to provide the Maine arts education community with an overview of the context and purpose of the standards as well as an opportunity to have questions answered about the current NCAS draft.

Lynn will also do a follow-up workshop for those who wish to continue the discussion from the opening session called More on the National Core Arts Standards. And the description:             Want to know more about the National Core Arts Standards? Wondering how the proposed standards may influence and support high quality teaching and learning in the arts? If so, this follow-up session with the presenter Lynn Tuttle, Director of Arts Education, Arizona Department of Education, facilitated by Bronwyn Sale, Lecturer in Education at Bates College, will provide the opportunity for participants to ask questions in an interactive discussion format.

Along with the opening session there are over 30 workshops to select from to attend during the day.

You can register for the conference at https://tickets.collinscenterforthearts.org/. The $80 registration cost includes lunch. PLEASE NOTE: No purchase orders will be accepted.

You can learn about the workshops being offered at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Media-and-Performing/conference-education-workshops or Friday’s blog post.

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

Pick 3 Workshops!

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!

Relevant and Authentic

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.

 

Arts Education: Leading the Way Conference

October 24, 2013, UMaine, Orono, Collins Center for the Performing Arts

After last weeks “dry-run” for the Maine Arts Assessment Initiative Teacher Leaders to present their workshops for each other and an invited group of “critical friends” at USM, I got to thinking about how fortunate we are in Maine. Not only are Arts educators willing to share their teaching practices but they are sharing formally at the statewide conference Arts Education: Leading the Way.

Teacher leaders and critical friends at USM for dry-run of workshops that will be included in the statewide Arts Education: Leading the Way conference being held October 24, 2013, UMaine

I am excited that the conference will be held on the UMaine campus, Orono, Collins Center for the Performing Arts. Our last conferences were very exciting. In 2007 it was held at the Samoset in Rockport, 2009 at Point Lookout in Northport, 2011 at USM, Portland campus, and this year we travel a little farther north to the University’s flagship campus. Each year the workshop offerings have become more varied and go deeper into teaching and learning. You can read the topics and short descriptions of the 35 workshops being offered by downloading the .pdf of the workshops at  https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Media-and-Performing/conference-education-workshops. You can even see photos of the workshop presenters.

In addition to the 35 workshops being offered during three sessions the Opening Session will include performances by the UMaine Symphonic band, a welcome from the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Jeff Hecker, and an informative presentation by Lynn Tuttle, the Director of Arts Education at the Arizona Department of Education. Lynn has been leading the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards and will provide a history of the national standards development. Read more about Lynn and her presentation at this link https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Media-and-Performing/Conference-Keynotes#. As many of you know the draft of the PreK-grade 8 standards was released in June for feedback. The draft of the high school standards are scheduled for release in September so we are really fortunate to have Lynn join us to share information as well as answer questions. We are fortunate to have the University Singers perform during the afternoon closing session.

The conference registration is located at . Cost for the conference which includes lunch is $75.00 until September 15 when it goes up to $80.00. (Please note: school purchase orders will not be accepted this year). In addition conference attendees receive 6 contact hours at no extra cost.

On Friday, October 25 and Saturday, October 26 the Maine International Conference on the Arts will take place in the same location. The conference will offer keynotes, showcasing artists and over 25 workshop sessions, including workshops at the new U Maine Innovative Media Research and Commercialization Center. You can read about both conferences at https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Media-and-Performing/MICA-LANDING.

To register for each conference please go to https://mainearts.maine.gov/Pages/Media-and-Performing/Conference-Register#. There are scholarships available and you will find information and details on the registration page.

I suggest that you take a few minutes and check out the information from page to page on the Maine Arts Commission site where all the details are included. I hope to see you there!

State Arts Education Conference

SAVE THE DATE!

  ARTS EDUCATION: LEADING THE WAY

Thursday, October 24, 2013

UMaine, Orono

Collins Center for the Arts

This is the biannual statewide arts education conference and will cost $75.00 which includes lunch and great workshops! The one-day conference will precede the two-day Maine Arts Commission conference on October 25 and 26:

The Maine International Conference on Arts and Culture:

Strengthen the Core, 2013

More details to follow however, you can purchase your ticket at the Collins Box office or online at https://tickets.collinscenterforthearts.org/auto_choose_ga.asp?area=116.

Statewide conference, Samoset, 2007

The Arts Connect Conference, Point Lookout, 2009

ARTS teachers lead the Way….Arts Assessment for Learning Conference, USM, 2011