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.

MAMLE Conference

Middle Level Education

Recently I attended the Maine Association Middle Level Education conference at Point Lookout. I was thrilled by the number of arts education sessions that were offered and how many times I heard participants mention the importance of the arts. I heard: “the arts engage students”, “hands-on opportunities in the arts are so needs for young adolescents”, and much more.

Tammy Ranger providing the keynote

Keynote speaker, 2017 Maine Teacher of the Year, Tammy Ranger, set the tone for the 2-day conference with stories that paralleled The Wizard of Oz. Her presentation was very inspiring. (I hope to provide the entire keynote in a future blog).

Connie Carter and Rob Shetterly provided a workshop with information about the Samantha Smith Challenge. The challenge asks middle school students: “How/why can creative arts and writing inspire action on serious issues?” What a great opportunity for arts teachers to bring this important question to students. Learn more from the post I provided last week on the Samantha Smith Challenge. I hope you will consider participating with your students.

Kristen Andersen, Katie Rybakova, Allysa Anderson

Camden Rockport Middle School music teacher Allysa Anderson and art teacher Kristen Andersen were recognized for an Exemplary Practice Award along with two colleagues for a very successful integrated unit. Afterwards they shared the unit in a session. Congratulations Allysa and Kristen!

A team from the Middle School of the Kennebunks, art teacher Mary McCarthy and STEM teacher Evan Chase were recognized with an Exemplary Practice Award as well. Congratulations to both!

Both awards were presented by new executive director of the Maine Middle Level Association Executive Director Katie Rybakova who teaches at Thomas College.

Evan Chase, Katie Rybakova, and Mary McCarthy

Save the date for the 2018 MAMLE conference – October 18-19 – Point Lookout, Northport. Providing a keynote is musician, teaching artist 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)