It’s time!  It’s time!

Oh yes it is…

Time to officially announce the line up for the 2012 Teacher Art Retreat!

I am so happy to post the information many of you have been waiting for – the second annual Teacher Art Retreat is on for August 13-15 (8am-3pm at the Amesbury, MA cultural center) and we have a great time planned for you!  Each of the three days, retreaters will be participating in a composition workshop where they will go through the process of writing a song with the guidance of Debbie Ambrose.  Then each day, the teachers will be part of a great arts infused workshop.  One day we will discover The Art of Math with Amy Mitchell.  Another day we will create Vision Boards with yours truly.  And finally we will chart the territory of storytelling and history as we partake in Lori Cotter’s workshop Historically Speaking.   And along the way there will be movement and dance, collaborative creation, great food and more.  (There’s even a raffle!)

The purpose of each of these workshops is for teachers to participate in the creation of art as they learn new skills and strategies for the classroom.  The goal of the retreat if for you to feel refreshed with new ideas and invigorated to tackle a new school year.

*You know  you want this!*

So, let me define what we mean by “Teachers.”  Maybe the more appropriate word would be educators.  We want educators of ALL ages, grade levels and subject areas, those in the classrooms and those working in offices, aspiring teachers and veterans alike.  This is the type of professional development that inspires ALL educators.

Here’s a taste of what I mean:

For ALL the information you want about the Teacher Art Retreat, including how to register, go to our Retreat page.  (And the sooner you sign up, the more you save on registration.)

We hope to see all of you at the retreat this summer!

~EMP

Related posts:

1. Teacher Retreat 2011
2. Teacher Retreat 2011- A Success!
3. A PD Retreat

Thanksgiving is a time for family and, of course, being thankful for all that we have.  Last week, when I wrote Less is More: A Personal Reflection on Work, Tech and Life, I was overwhelmed by the response from people who commented, tweeted and sent me emails in reply.  There are many people who feel the same way.   There’s so much going on in our lives.  We need to make sure we take it all in stride.

So today, I’m keeping it short and sweet (sometimes less is more, after all).  Enjoy your short week at work and school.  Enjoy your students for the children they truly are.  Enjoy your colleagues for the friendships you have that get you through the day.  And most of all, enjoy your family this week.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

~EMP

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How can a piece of cardboard become an inspiration for students?  Read on…

I finally got the big package in the mail: a large book that I can use to teach some reading strategies and skills to small groups. It looked like a good fine in the Scholastic catalog, so I used some of my bonus points to get it.

But I felt more like a little kid than a teacher when the book finally arrived. Why? I was more intrigued with the box than what was inside.

It’s a great box, really.  It is large, but thin; a tri-fold, much the size and shape of a presentation board you’d buy at staples, with a flap on the top and bottom which, when folded in to create the box, protect what’s inside.  I couldn’t bring myself to recycle it, so I held onto it for a few days trying to figure out what to do with it.  But, like so many things I have kept over the years, the box was starting to collect dust and get in the way.

At one point this week, during the famed elementary rug/meeting time, I decided to just get rid of the box, but I enticed my students first.

“Check out this great box,” I said. “It opens up, it can act as a display, is has fun pieces hanging down. Who wants this great piece of cardboard?”

Many hands went up, some faces got excited and others looked around in disbelief that a box could elicit such excitement.

Knowing that I had but one box and a dozen interested kids, I upped the anty. “If you would like this box, please submit your proposal in writing before lunch tomorrow.” …more disbelief…more excitement… (Fourth grade can be fun.)

I got my first proposal in minutes: “I want to make a display for immigration.  ~Rose”

“Oh, no, no, no. That is not going to cut it,” I exclaimed to my class. “One sentence is not going to get you this fantastic piece of cardboard.”  So, we talked about proposals for a few minutes.  We discussed the importance of presenting your ideas in a format that is worthy of being considered, how proper sentence structure and details would be imperative.  We discussed how some proposals might include an illustration to further articulate how one may use such a piece of cardboard.  Yes, I laid it on think, but the interested students rose to the occasion.

The next day I received 5 proposals, each one was well thought out and came from students of varying writing abilities.  Each idea was unique.  One girl wanted to create a study board that would display important information she learned in third grade that would help her with her homework.  Another wanted to research the solar system and present her findings.  One boy wanted it to create a fort, while another student had hopes to create an “imagination car.”

The girl who won the box was the one who wrote a detailed description of what she wanted to do.  The written proposal was accompanied by a detailed illustration of her immigration display, showcasing her family’s arrival to America and other related information.  I hope that pictures will be forthcoming as she promises to present it to the class when she is done.

It’s fun to do things like this every so often.  I’m always motivated by how some students thrive on mini challenges or out-of-the-ordinary ideas or activities.  It’s one of those fun parts of teaching – when we can inspire kids…and all because I had a piece of cardboard!

~EMP

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Original Artwork by AJ LaGasse

A windy road,
A straight shot.
Hills and valleys,
Easy peasy…

Regardless of how we get there – it’s a process!

Have you ever been in a situation where you knew where you wanted to go, you just had to get there?  Maybe you needed to complete a task and there were a dozen things to do in order to complete it.   Or maybe you had a destination, but the road to get there was long and winding.

I was just talking with a colleague the other day who was trying to decide what school she was going to send her Kindergarten aged son next year: the school at which we work or their hometown school.  She knew where they would end up sending him, but she still needed to inquire about what my thoughts were (since I had just made that decision this past year with my son) as well as ask others’ opinions.   She still needed to hem and haw about it, think things through and even do a little research.  It’s a process she can’t avoid.

Then there are those times when you aren’t sure what you need yet, you’re discovering your path every step of the way.  Maybe you are trying out a new way to cook an old favorite.  Or you are creating something from scratch, learning as you go.  Maybe you’re bringing up a child.

This whole new world I have created for myself online has been and is a process.   From the first community focused site I built using SocialGo.com to my present-day WordPress blogging site to whatever may come in the future… through Twitter and Facebook, Grooveshark and feed burners… everything is new territory that I need to learn and use as I continue this journey.  It’s a learning process for sure.  With every new idea, I find myself searching for more information, picking up hints and tricks.  This is a process that may never end!

To every thing of value there is a process and we just can’t avoid it!

You just can’t skip the process!

So instead – embrace it, trust it, know that it’s what you need at this moment.  If you need to do research into the night, then do it.  If you need to snuggle with your child, then do it.  If you need to give your students silent reading time in order to meet one-on-one with a student, then do it.  Take a moment to talk it out, write about it, create something, go somewhere – it’s all part of the process you need to take in order to get to where you want to go.

Enjoy the journey and don’t rush your process.

~EMP

Photo info and credits: ‘THE JOURNEY’ – Original Abstract Painting by AJ LaGasse -

Words from the artist about his painting, The Journey:

The title of this abstract art is a gentle reminder to try to be in the moment, and enjoy it — all the while trying to stay positive for the future. Of course this sounds very challenging while juggling life’s responsibilities – but you can do it!

Some day we’ll think back and wonder how we did it, but one thing is for sure — being optimistic can only help; it surely can’t hurt your progress, right?

A P.S. from me: Isn’t it amazing how when you trust the process, things just fit into place?  When looking for an image, I came across this piece of artwork – an abstract depicting The Journey.  ( I LOVE abstract art!)  But even after I decided to use this painting to accompany my post, I was intrigued to read about the artwork some more and heard the message of my post echoed in the painter’s own words about his piece.

Related posts:

1. Learning through the Creative Process
2. The Creative Process and Revision
3. The Creative Process is a Learning Process

This past week I have been conducting a graduate level course in arts integration.  It is called “Learning Through the Creative Arts: A Look into the Creative Process.”

I have been blown away by the wonderful learnings, creative artwork, thoughtful conversations and truly integrated lesson plans that have come out of our time together.  This group of teachers is amazing!

We started the week by building a close, safe, learning community which spanned the entire week.  It is in these types of courses – ones embedded in learning about and using the arts, that such a community can form (and so quickly).  I’ve now experienced it as an adult student and a teacher of adults.  (Not to mention as a teacher of children!)  These teachers felt comfortable to dance, sing, play and share of themselves.

Through the planned activities and projects, readings and deep discussions these fine teachers are growing immensely.  It is so wonderful to see.  They light up and show a new found confidence when they talk about what they hope to do in the fall and how they await the opportunity to inspire their students even more.

This type of professional development specifically in arts integration is so powerful and necessary.  And yet, there seems to be so little of it.  Imagine if this type of PD was offered as frequently and as importantly as math or literacy PD.  None is more important than the other.  They all are necessary for for our students.  The arts provide a vehicle for deeper understanding of, not only another content area as well as the art form, but so many important skills students need to become successful and confident people in our society.

I encourage you to look for PD opportunities online and in your area so that you can expand your repertoire and evolve your teaching.  I will be doing the same both as a student and a teacher as I look forward to offering this course again in the fall.

It seems PD in the arts is more than learning something new.  It’s an experience.  It changes you.  If it is that powerful for the teacher, imaging the power it could have on your students.

~EMP

Related posts:

1. Arts Integration Course this Summer
2. Webinar Outline and Links – Getting Started with Arts Integration
3. Arts Integration PLC

It’s a procedure on airplanes that attendents review each time passengers board the aircraft:  In case of emergency, put your oxygen mask on first and then assist those around you.   The idea is that if you take care of yourself first, you will be better able to care for your child or another passenger that may need assistance.

When I became a mom, this concept was reiterated, but in a new way.  The idea there was that we moms (and dads) need to take care of ourselves in order to be the best person we can be for our children.  This means we need to allow ourselves time to go out with friends every so often, have a date with our spouse (child-free), or sit in the quiet of our own company and partake in an activity we enjoy.

(Maybe you see where this is going…)

Now, I see this concept reigning true in our educational profession as well.  We teachers need to pacify their own needs to learn and experiment if we are to inspire our students to do the same.   When was the last time you read a book purely for the enjoyment of it?  The last time you took a class because you wanted to learn something new (not just get PDPs or credits)?  The last time you took a walk and let your curiosity lead the way?  If you are like me, the times are very few and far between.  But we need to put our own oxygen mask on first.  We should be feeding our own creative flames (with oxygen, if you will ) so that we can help students to be true life-long learners.

As the summer begins, I invite you join educators at The Inspired Classroom who are making the time to do just that.  Our Teacher Art Retreat is designed specifically for teachers to get their creative juices flowing in various art forms (visual, music, poetry and drama ) so that they can bring these experiences back to their own classrooms in a personal and meaningful way.  Our Summer Book Group is both an online and face-to-face experience shared by teachers around the world who want to enjoy and discuss a great book together.

I encourage you to do one or both of these activities with us, or find something else that will feed your own flame.  After all, if we take the time to breathe the oxygen first, we will be better equipped to lead the way for those around us!

~EMP

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