MAMLE

Arts teachers shine

Kris Bisson,Kaitlin Young, Argy Nestor,Catherine Ring

Last Thursday and Friday I attended the Maine Association for Middle Level (MAMLE) Conference at Point Lookout. I have fond memories of returning to the site in Northport – so many amazing learning opportunities for arts educators have taken place there for many years. The MAMLE conference has always been a place where middle level arts educators are welcomed and the conference goers are appreciative of what is offered. This years theme was Filling Our Cups: Teaching in Challenging Times.

Kris Bisson

Kris Bisson, Music Educator at Marshwood Middle School in Berwick and Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) Teacher Leader presented a session called Integrating your community in the classroom: service learning project models. Kris is the perfect person to present on the topic since she’s had her students engaged in multiple projects in her students community. Her well known Bridging Adolescence: A River Flows Through Us project that she collaborated with teaching artist Brian Evans-Jones on, made a huge impact on her students and community members. I was thrilled when her students shared this project at the State House December 2018 at an arts education celebration.

Kaitlin Young

Kaitlin Young, 2017 Maine Teacher of the Year, Music Educator at Sedomocha Elementary and Middle Schools, and Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI) Teacher Leader provided a key note that had participants engaged. The title was What We Can Do When We Are Brave Together. Kaitlin’s presentation was inspirational and very realistic. It provided thought provoking ideas which participants could take with them and put immediately in place. Thank you Kaitlin for filling up all of our cups!

If you’re a middle level educator consider participating in the conference next year which will be held in Portland. Check the MAMLE site for information.

Distinguished Service

Congrats Monte

Dr. Monte Selby recently was awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the New England League of Middle Schools at their recent annual conference held in Providence, Rhode Island.  Monte is a musician and teaching artist and has traveled across the country working with students and teachers. He was the 2018 Maine Association Middle Level Education conference keynote speakers and engaged the audience alongside his son. You can read about the presentation in this BLOG POST from November 11, 2018. Congratulations Monte Selby!

Middle Level Educators

Interested in presenting at the MAMLE conference?

SAVE THE DATE

29th Annual MAMLE Conference

October 19-20, 2017

Reposted from the Maine Association for Middle Level Education blog:

Many of us have just started summer vacation and are not thinking about the beginning of next year, but it will be here before we know it! As you are sitting back to reflect and relax, please consider sharing your experiences with other middle level educators across our state this fall. We all have ideas and resources to help each other grow and meet the unique needs of young adolescents.

The annual MAMLE Conference is October 19th & 20th at Point Lookout. This year’s theme is: “Middle School, Transitional, Innovative, Transformational…A Maine Event”. We would love to see you there as a participant or presenter. If you are interested in presenting, please complete the “Intent to Present Form”.

Learn more about the conference by CLICKING HERE.

Questions about presenting or nervous about sharing what you do? Feel free to reach out to Co-Conference Chairs, Erin Hoffses (hoffsese@sad1.org) or Lindsay Mahoney (lmahoney@rsu18.org)

MAMLE Conference

Point Lookout

Success at the Summit!

Moving Middle Level Learners Forward

The Maine Association for Middle Level Education’s annual conference, Success at the Summit is being held on Thursday and Friday, October 20 and 21, Point Lookout, Northport, Maine. A great opportunity to dig deep into challenging work for middle level education. Consider taking a team from your school.

• Here’s a peek at what to expect:Two inspiring keynotes
  Relevant and engaging concurrent sessions
  Networking with like-minded middle level educators
  The never-to-be-forgotten experience of a MAMLE social
  

  Jennifer Dorman

  Opening Keynote: Jennifer Dorman—Teacher Leadership: Moving from Good to Influential

  CLICK HERE for more information and registration.

MAMLE Conference

Maine Association for Middle Level

Powerful Learning for Young Adolescents
October 23-24, 2014
Point Lookout Resort and Conference Center, Northport

One of the many spectacular views from Point Lookout.

What makes an outstanding school for 10-14 year olds? The well – research position paper from the Association for Middle Level Education, This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents lists four essential attributes:

• Developmentally Responsive: using the nature of young adolescents as the foundation on which all decisions are made.
• Challenging: recognizing that every student can learn and everyone is held to high expectations.
• Empowering: providing all students with the knowledge and skills they need to take control of their lives.
• Equitable: advocating for every student’s right to learn and providing challenging and relevant learning opportunities.

The MAMLE Annual Conference is the perfect time for staff to reflect on the vision for their school and how it is being implemented. It is the only event in Maine that explores the current issues facing schools through the lens of effective teaching and learning for 10-14 year olds as exemplified by the essential attributes outlined in This We Believe: Keys to Educating Young Adolescents.
Just look at the opportunities at the conference:

For everyone:

1. Two outstanding keynote speakers: Matt Nelson, MPA Middle Level Principal of the Year and Nancy Doda, international expert on educating young adolescents.
2. 35 + concurrent sessions on a wide range of topics

For folks interested in STEM:

1. A STEM Model For Problem Solving – Sara Nason, Sanford Middle School
2. Make ‘Space Day’ Everyday! – Sharon Eggleston, Aerospace Educator
3. Getting Students to Beg for More Math Time! – Alison Veilleux, Lyman Moore Middle School
4. Gaming in the Classroom – Suzanne Simmons, Bonny Eagle Middle School
   Working to save clams from European green crab–Woolwich Central School
   Working to save clams from European green crab–Woolwich Central SchoolSoft Shelled Clam Connections – Denise Friant, Hesper Reith, Edward Striewski, Leanne Fisher Woolwich Central School

Working to save clams from European green crab–Woolwich Central School

5. Soft Shelled Clam Connections – Denise Friant, Hesper Reith, Edward Striewski, Leanne Fisher Woolwich Central School

6. STEM Programs Roundtable – Jeff Rodman, Middle School of the Kennebunks

7. Start Developing iOS and OS X Apps Today! (Double Session D & E) – Maine-based Apple PD Specialists

8. Moon Unit – Alison England, Adam Bullard, Sonja Schmanska, & Josh McPhail, St. George School
9. K-12 Outreach – Interactive Civil Engineering – Lauren Swett

STEM projects

1. The Auburn Land Lab – An Opportunity To Learn Differently – Phil Brookhouse, Auburn School Department
2. FROM CURIOSITY TO CAREER: Transforming Student Engagement into Career Pathways – Jay    Collier, Educate Maine
3. An Interdisciplinary Approach to Field Marine Science – David Williams, York Middle School

For folks focusing on culture and climate:
1. Middle Level Theory into Practice – The Troy Howard Middle School Story – Kimberly Buckheit & Students, Troy Howard Middle School; Kelley Littlefield, Ecology Academy Teacher; Chris LaValle, Innovation Academy Teacher; Sarah Wyman, International Academy Teacher
2. The Power (and Struggles) of Shared Leadership Teams – Mike Muir, Auburn School District
3. Legacy: Making Education Meaningful Through Service Learning – Shianne Priest & Students, Leonard Middle School
4. Meeting the Standards in a Restorative Classroom – Celeste Libby, Travis Taylor, Lisa Hall, Ansley Newton and 6th Grade Guidance Counselor, Saco Middle School

Enthusiastic and engaged students at Space Day-Auburn MS

5. It’s All About Choice… And a Lot of Planning! – Carl Bucciantini, Auburn Middle School

6. The Fourth “R”-The Power of Relationships in Middle School – Jerry Kiesman, Hermon Middle School
7. Building Community Through Challenge – Gert Nesin & Todd McKinley, Leonard Middle School
8. Positive Adults + Positive Interventions = Positive Students – Sheila Underhill; Reuben Fowlow; & Tracy McKay, Central Middle School
9. The Anatomy of a Successful Parent Night – Ward Willis, Middle School of the Kennebunks
10. Student Reflecting and Conferencing – Melissa Fenelon, York Middle School
11. “Ignite the S.P.A.R.K!”~Students Promoting Acts of Random Kindness – Jodie Bennett & Molly Brewer, Medomak Middle School
12. Brain Breaks for Students – Susan Callahan, Auburn Middle School

For those who literacy throughout the curriculum remains an important topic:
1. Talking About the Text: Engaging Ways to Boost Comprehension and Understanding — Nancy Doda
2. Read 180: Increase Student Engagement, Ownership, and Achievement – Tammy Ranger, Skowhegan Area Middle School
3. A Culture of Collaboration in Writing – Kym Granger, Mt. Ararat Middle School
4. Allagash Tails and Tales – Tim Caverly, Allagash Tails

Mark Twain

5. Dual Purposes that Serve the Needs of Both Curriculums… Take a Risk!! – Abby Jacobs & Mike Burke, Westbrook Middle School

6. Classroom Blogging with Google Apps for Education – Suzanne Simmons, Bonny Eagle Middle School
7. Creating Visual Notes with Apple MLTI Tools (Apple MLTI Primary Solution) (Double Session D & E) – Maine-based Apple PD Specialists
8. Writing Power: Creating Authentic Audiences for Student Voices – Joyce Bucciantini, Auburn Middle School
9. Meeting Literacy Standards in Health and the Other Allied Arts – Strategies to Help Students Excel in Your Class – Doreen Swanholm & Courtney Belolan, Mt. Ararat Middle School

For participants who believe the Arts are an integral part of any outstanding middle grades program:
1. Recreating Radio Dramas – Barbara Greenstone, Boothbay Region Schools
2. Empowering Students Through Assessment Techniques and Strategies – Jane Snider, Hancock Grammar School
3. Tricks and Tips to Help Students Take Really Good Pictures – Jill Spencer, BoomerTECH Adventures
4. Legacy: Making Education Meaningful Through Service Learning – Shianne Priest & Students, Leonard Middle School
5. Dual Purposes that Serve the Needs of Both Curriculums… Take a Risk!! – Abby Jacobs & Mike Burke, Westbrook Middle School
6. Proficiency-Based Education in an Art Class – Gloria Hewett, Mount View Middle School

For attendees whose interest is personalizing learning and MCL:
1. Teaching MCL: Beyond the Theory – Erin Hoffses, Presque Isle Middle School
2. Proficiency-Based Education in an Art Class – Gloria Hewett, Mount View Middle School
3. Assessment with iPads – Barbara Greenstone, Boothbay Region Schools
4. May the Force Be With You: Planning for the Unique Needs of Young Adolescents – Lindsay Mahoney & Hope Herrick, Messalonskee Middle School
5. Metacognition and the Middle Schooler – Andrea Logan, Lake Region Middle School
6. Back to Basics: How to Create Learning Targets and “I CAN” Statements – Jennifer Etter, York Middle Schools
7. Motivating Students With Engaging Tasks – Mike Muir, Auburn School District
8. Customize the Brain – Bill Zima, Mt. Ararat Middle School

Americans who Tell the Truth

For folks who help their students develop a world view:
1. Hands-On History: The Bangor Community Heritage Project – Ron Bilancia & Pricilla Soucie, William S. Cohen School; Larissa Vigue Picard, Maine Historical Society; Bill Cook, Bangor Public Library
2. World Language Market – Tad Williams & Ellen Jardine, Middle School of the Kennebunks
3. TOP’s Turning Points and Timelines! Kids Get Chronology! – Jacqueline Littlefield, Goethe-Institute Washington -Transatlantic Outreach Program
4. From History to Action, Using the Lessons of the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement to Empower Students – Elizabeth Helitzer, Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine
5. Models of Courageous Citizenship: Connecting students to themes in social studies, language arts, science and other curriculum areas – Connie Carter

Especially for leadership teams and administrators:

Jeff Rodman, President of MAMLE and John Keane, President Elect

1. Developing Teacher Expertise – Ben Harris & Mick Roy, Bonny Eagle Middle School and Stacy Penna with Learning Sciences
2. Apple’s Five Best Practices of Excellent Schools! – (Double Session A & B) – Maine-based Apple PD Specialists
3. Middle Level Theory into Practice – The Troy Howard Middle School Story – Kimberly Buckheit & Students, Troy Howard Middle School; Kelley Littlefield, Ecology Academy Teacher; Chris LaValle, Innovation Academy Teacher; Sarah Wyman, International Academy Teacher
4. The Power (and Struggles) of Shared Leadership Teams – Mike Muir, Auburn School District
5. Making Sense of Chapter 180: Implementing the New Teacher Evaluation System in Two Districts – Bill Zima, Mt. Ararat Middle School & John Keane, Leonard Middle School
6. The Anatomy of a Successful Parent Night – Ward Willis, Middle School of the Kennebunks
7. Administrators Roundtable – Jeff Rodman, Middle School of the Kennebunks
8. Meeting the Standards in a Restorative Classroom – Celeste Libby, Travis Taylor, Lisa Hall, Ansley Newton and 6th Grade Guidance Counselor, Saco Middle School

All of these sessions plus more form the backbone of our conference.  What school wouldn’t benefit from having teachers and administrators participate in such a rich experience?

Registration: http://mainemamle.org/conference/registration/

Full program: http://mainemamle.org/conference/conference-schedule/

Yapp app for mobile devices: http://my.yapp.us/MAMLE

Or contact Wally Alexander:

Phone: (207) 859-1362
Fax: (207) 859-1114
E-mail: Wallace_Alexander@umit.maine.edu

Maine Association for Middle Level

MAMLE

This past Thursday and Friday I attended the MAMLE conference at Sugarloaf where arts educators were well received in the workshops they presented on a variety of topics. I have included a bit of information below on each of the sessions where the arts teachers presented.

Allied Arts in the Standards World

Sacopee Valley Middle School art teacher and Maine Arts Assessment Initiative teacher leader Danette Kerrigan and Medomak Middle School music teacher Julie Sanborn participated in a panel presentation on the work they are doing at their respective middle schools and in their classrooms. The other panel members Lisa Hogan from Mt. Ararat, Barbara Greenstone from Boothbay and Phil Brookhouse from MLTI also made connections to the arts. Friend of arts education, Jill Spencer facilitated the session.

Panel members: Lisa Hogan, Julie Sanborn, Barbara Greenstone, Phil Brookhouse, Danette Kerrigan

Steel Drum Band

Julie also presented a session with the Pantastics, the school’s steel drum band. The band performs at community events and has traveled to other schools and events in and out of Maine. The students played several pieces at the start of the conference as well as in an individual workshop. Other middle school teachers were invited to play one of the drums as well. The members of the band promised to write a blog post on their involvement playing the steel drums. Look for that in the future.

How Can I Teach for Creativity?

Danette was joined by MAAI leadership team member Bronwyn Sale from Bates College for a session on creativity. They made quite a team with Bronwyn presenting foundational information on the creative process, creativity, and creative problem solving. Danette shared the practical components of addressing the topic in a classroom setting and provided participants with hands-on exercises including SCAMPER which stands for Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Magnify, Put to Other Uses, Eliminate (or Minify), and Rearrange (or Reverse).

Bronwyn Sale and Danette Kerrigan

Service Learning and Music Appreciation

Leonard Middle School music teacher Shianne Priest had students join her to share a service learning project that she her music appreciation class has undertaken for two years now. The 8th graders this past year raised $1600 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They collaborated to write the lyrics for a song that 9th grader Lily Muscatell took a step further and wrote the music for and performed. Selling the CD was one part but hearing about their learning and how the experience affected them was amazing.

Shianne and Lily listen while the 8th graders explained the project.

Thank you to everyone for their fabulous work and sharing the opportunities that you afford Maine students!