National Portrait Gallery

Summer Teacher Institute – July 7-9 or July 28-30

Integrating portraiture into the classroom provides exciting opportunities to connect students with history, biography, visual art, and many other subjects. The National Portrait Gallery’s collection presents the wonderful diversity of individuals who have left—and are leaving—their mark on our country and our culture. The museum portrays poets and presidents, visionaries and villains, actors and activists whose lives tell the American story. The Summer Teacher Institute will take a broad look at the Portrait Gallery’s collection.

During the institute, the museum’s curators and historians will provide in-gallery content lectures, introducing the collection. Utilizing an interactive approach, NPG educators will model a variety of “learning to look” strategies—unique ways to hook and engage students when they look closely at portraits. Participants will learn how to “read” portraiture and use the art as a springboard into a more in-depth discussion about biography and history. Teachers from kindergarten through twelfth grade may apply as individuals or as part of a team. Priority will be given to social studies, English/language arts, and visual arts teachers.

Institute participants will:

• Gain expertise from museum educators, curators, and historians through gallery talks, discussions, and hands-on activities
• Learn to use portraiture in the classroom, identifying and analyzing key components of a portrait and relating visual elements to relevant historical context and significance
• Make interdisciplinary connections among portraiture, social studies, and English/ language arts
• Develop and share lesson ideas with colleagues

A nonrefundable program fee of $100 per person is due upon acceptance into the teacher institute. Participants are responsible for travel and lodging costs. Each participant will receive a stipend of $200 at the conclusion of the workshop.

Visit http://npg.si.edu/education/teachprog.html to apply. Please direct queries to npgeducation@ si.edu or 202.633.8503. Application deadline is April 15, 2014.

National Standards Update – October 3 – 3:00 LIVE

I am in Washington, DC!

Today I am in Washington. DC attending the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. Tomorrow I travel to Reston, VA where the National Arts Standards writing teams are meeting. My colleagues from the State Education Agency Directors of Arts Education (SEADAE) will be meeting with the members of the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards Leadership Team and the chairs of the writing teams. We will receive an update on the progress of the standards writing and to dive deeper into the process for the voluntary arts standards.

And, the great news is that YOU can join the meeting as well during the segment that will be streamed. You can also submit questions! If you are available I hope you will take the opportunity to learn more. Here are the details:

National Standards Update

Wednesday, October 3 – 3:00pm

Click here to view the wiki

and streaming session