This retreat is over, but please check out the upcoming retreat!
“I am happy to announce the 6th annual Teacher Art Retreat! ” A Message from Elizabeth…
I have to admit, I was thinking about making last year our final year . . . that is, until TAR15 actually began. It was filled with joyful moments, creative experiences and wonderful camaraderie among educators. Each year I am amazed at how much fun we have while working within the arts and discussing how to bring these experiences to our students.
“This year, I invite you to join us on August 1-3, 2016 from 8:00-3:30 for a wonderful retreat built just for you!
“Over the years we have had all kinds of educators in all facets, levels and years of experience. New teachers find great ideas, veteran teachers revitalize their curriculum, retired educators come for the overall retreat-feel, administrators are eager to share with their staff and educators outside of the classroom enjoy the creative atmosphere and common love of learning!
“So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get you signed up! But just in case you aren’t convinced yet, I invite you to scroll for more information and check out what other retreaters have said about our past retreats.
“Oh, and you can also check out our Facebook “Teacher Retreaters'” group page where past, present and future retreaters are chatting about ideas and sharing inspiration with one another. Once you join, you can feel free to read through comments, like a post, and even add your own ideas and thoughts. 
This Year’s Retreat Workshops
Focus Workshop – Recycled Art with Renee Schneider
Recycling materials as art can be a fun way to inspire creativity and environmental awareness in your students. As the focus workshop, the theme of recycled art will be explored each morning of the retreat. Renee is back once again to lead you in discovering some techniques you can use to transform everything from cardboard and plastic, to old magazines and CDs through a variety of projects. Bring some materials to use and share or be ready to explore what we will have available.
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Renee Schneider has a BFA in Graphic Design, and a Master’s of Education in Creative Art & Learning. She worked as a graphic artist and then as a kindergarten teacher for several years incorporating her belief in tapping into a child’s creativity through integration of the arts in the classroom. Now, combining her love of art, and teaching, she owns and operates Colorful Kids, providing private art lessons to children while she continues to develop her own art. Her latest endeavors include writing and illustrating Swing Time, her first published children’s book.
Workshop 1 – Pysanky, Ukranian Egg Decorating with Jennifer Santa Maria
This unique workshop is an opportunity to learn Pysanky, also known as Ukrainian eggs, a skill that is steeped in both art and tradition. Jenny will share her modernized approach to this medium and how she explores and experiments with mathematical concepts while enjoying the therapeutic and soulful process of creating intricate designs on eggs. Each retreater will develop their own approach to drawing their design with wax on a 3 dimensional surface. This medium is unlike any other, and with its history and traditions, you will remember the experience for years to come, and have an heirloom to prove it!
More Details
This relaxing process truly taps into your intuitive and creative side! Pysanky is a skill traditionally passed down by the Matriarch of the family to her children in Ukraine. The method is similar to batik – patterns are drawn on the egg with hot beeswax, which then protects the covered areas from the dye that is applied. By repeating this process with different colors of dye, a multi-colored pattern is built up. Finally, the wax is removed to reveal the colors that were covered up at each stage.
The finished product, with its intricate designs and symbols, may not suggest the meditative process involved. A great deal of patience and concentration is required to complete a single egg, but it is very rewarding to reveal your hard work when the wax is taken off. You will leave with a beautiful egg at the end of the session.
This tutorial will cover the history and traditions surrounding Pysanky, how to make your own egg, and an independent practice session. The instructor will provide a variety of eggs, many hard-to-find traditional and non- traditional colored dyes, and tools.
Jennifer Santa Maria has created many beautifully designed eggs with a more modern aesthetic. Her approach to this medium is untraditional in that she explores and experiments with mathematical concepts in her work and enjoys the therapeutic and soulful process of creating intricate designs on eggs.
Jenny is a high school art teacher in Tinton Falls New Jersey and exhibits her decorative eggs and embroidery in the tri-state area. She has been teaching Pysanky for several years in various settings, including the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in New York State.
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Workshop 2 – Origami for Math and Mindfulness with Stacie Lea Greenland
In this workshop, retreaters will be introduced to the Sonobe origami component, which can be used to build various modular origami forms including cubes of graduated sizes. In addition, Stacie will teach us how to make a modular lotus flower through paper folding, which can also be used to teach a deep breathing technique called flower breathing.
More Details
Origami forms familiarize students with spatial geometry, recognizing how shapes fit into each other, and geometry vocabulary such as rhombus, cube, pyramid, etc.
Using the Sonobe origami unit, retreaters will construct cubes of varying sizes while exploring number and spatial concepts. Once one learns how to fold one simple component, the possibilities are endless; projects like this can grow with the learner.
The origami lotus is actually a Chinese paper fold. Retreaters will explore how it can illustrate number concepts through its components and colors. We will also learn flower breathing; a deep breathing exercise that can help when feeling overwhelmed.
If time allows, including during breaks, a few other simple origami forms will be introduced accompanied by applications for their use in the classroom.
Stacie Lea Greenland is a visual art specialist for the Town of Arlington in Massachusetts. She has taught at three elementary schools there and has up to 600 students per week ranging from Kindergarten through 5th grade in her art classes. She has taken “Engineering is Elementary” teacher-training at the Boston Museum of Science, and is on the science leadership team at her main school, the Dallin. Because Stacie holds certification in both visual art and general education, she enjoys incorporating art into academics and academics into art whenever possible.
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Workshop 3 – Music and Movement with CarrieJaye Scott
In this workshop you will learn simple ways to incorporate music into your everyday activities that will increase language, stabilize moods, and curb behaviors. This interactive workshop will touch upon yoga games, introduce song cards, and have you creating your own unique way to add music to your day. Retreaters will walk away feeling energized, refreshed, and more confident in using music and movement in the classroom. What a great way to end the retreat!
More Details
Regardless if you think you sing like the seagull from The Little Mermaid or Karaoke it up every Saturday night music and movement can be fun, educational, and easy. We will begin with writing down goals and objectives as we asses personal comfort levels with using music in the classroom. We will open with laughter yoga and musical yoga. Then CarrieJaye will discuss some of the many benefits of music in the classroom.
Song cards are a great way to learn rhyme, repetition, and confidence when singing. CarrieJaye will demonstrate a few song cards, then everyone will be given time to come up with their own and have a chance to use it with the group. We will go over a few musical instruments and manipulatives ideal for music and movement. To end, everyone will self evaluate their comfort level, knowledge and feelings after going through the activities.
Mom of two beautiful boys, Owner and Director of Nottingham Community Child Care, and music lover since birth, CarrieJaye Scott has presented Music & Movement workshops at ABC Conferences, CCR&R workshops, and at “Exploring a Sense of Place” Conference at the Live and Learn Early Learning Center, Lee, NH. Her workshops are fun, educational, and very interactive. Be prepared to have fun!
Click on the heading for more details.
The Basics
Where: St. James’s Lodge, Hampton, NH
Who: Anyone who works with students: teachers (any subject, any grade), aides, support staff, homeschool teachers and adminstrators! PDPs will be awarded to all attendees.
What is a Teacher Art Retreat?
Building books at the retreat
Hands-On
Arts-Based
Teacher-Centered
Yes, you read that right! This is professional development that was created with the EDUCATOR in mind. Our philosophy at The Inspired Classroom is that WE need to get inspired so that we can be inspiring to our students.
So,
First and foremost, this retreat is for YOU.
The Teacher Art Retreat is a place where you can relax, create and discover with other like-minded educators. This is what sets the retreat apart from other professional development you’ve had.
Our goal is for you to interact with a variety of art forms so that you can get ideas to bring back to your teaching. The workshops are hands-on and accompanied by discussions of how to apply your new knowledge and skills to what you do with students every day.
Start each day with coffee, muffins and an energizing warm-up. Each day you will have studio time to work on your focus project. In addition, you will attend one of the other three workshops. Everyone will attend all workshops! No one will miss ANY of the fun! Lunch will be provided each day as well as some special treats (door prizes too)-just for YOU!
Who Attends Teacher Art Retreats?
Our professional development is taken by pre K through high school teachers including those who teach special education, art, music, guidance, ELL, technology, ELA, science, and general ed, as well as school nurses, reading specialists, behorialists, speech therapists, those in before and after school care, day care teachers, home school teachers, long term substitutes, veterans and first year teachers. We’ve even had administrators in attendance!
Time each day will be spent discussing how the things we learn apply to what you do with students every day. Part of the power of the arts is that they transcend subjects and age levels.
Not to mention, YOU will get something personally out of this too…
The arts touch us all
Get the PDPs or Grad Credit You Need
In addition, we will have some options for you to earn GRADUATE CREDIT! We will have this info up by April 1st. Even if you resister for the retreat now, you can always opt to register for the grad credit later. For now, here’s the info from last year…
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I'm coming from far away. Where can I stay?
Coming from far away and need a place to stay? We are fortunate to have two local hotels willing to give us a
discounted rate. Both will provide you with a great place to stay and have been wonderful about giving us a break in price.
Lamie’s Inn is located on route 1 in downtown Hampton, NH and is attached to a local favorite restaurant and bar, The Old Salt. Please let them know you are reserving your room to attend the Teacher Art Retreat and you will receive 15% off the regular room rate. Call (603) 926-0330 to make your reservations and go to the Lamie’s Inn website for more information.
The Hampton Falls Inn is less than 5 minutes from our retreat site and is conveniently located on route 1 with quick access to route 95, 495 and 101. They also have a wonderful pool and jacuzzi to use. Please let them know you are reserving your room to attend the Teacher Art Retreat and you will receive a great flat rate: $89 for a double room and $79 for a single room. Call 1-800-356-1729
to make your reservations and go to the Hampton Falls Inn website for more information.
If you have any questions or run into any trouble, please send Elizabeth an email.
It is so fun to meet people from various places who share an appreciation in arts in education! If you are coming from far away, you will certainly enjoy your time in and around Hampton, NH. It has a nice downtown with many restaurants and shops to explore. Not to mention, you will be a very short drive to the ocean!
In addition, Hampton is 60 minutes to Boston, Massachusetts and less than 15 minutes to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. These are both wonderful and exciting cities to visit while you are here!
Other Activities
This year, we will be organizing other fun activities for after the retreat. (These are not included in the registration for the retreat and are optional activities.) Think dinner on Hampton Beach, drumming circles in Boston, dancing to live music in Lowell… More details will be forthcoming on this.
Don't miss an update!
If you are interested, but still want to know more, be sure to email me, Elizabeth and I will personally make sure you are kept up to date on any new plans surrounding the retreat. Of course, if you register now, I will automatically email you whenever something new is live!
Registration Information
Registration is now open!
Don’t forget to RSVP on Facebook by joining our Teacher Art Retreaters group!
If you don’t want to register through PayPal, download this flyer and registration form and send a check to The Inspired Classroom, PO Box 303, Hampton Falls, NH 03844.
Come to the retreat with a friend! Tell your colleagues about this great event and get special pricing! Start asking around now, so you won’t miss out!
Listening to instructions before it’s time to play.
Follow-up Links and Additional Information
Keep in mind, this retreat is not just about the workshops, it’s about building a community of like-minded passionate teachers. We will be busy with other activities too: movement, brain gym, collaborative art work, discussions, drumming. When you register, you will get more info on all this other fun stuff!
For general information about the retreats, visit the Teacher Art Retreats page.
Reflections on the Teacher Art Retreat from a Repeater Retreater Here is a wonderful reflection from Mary Krikorian. She has attended every Teacher Art Retreat and in this piece, she captures the essence of what this type of professional development is all about. Thanks, Mary!
For ALL the posts about our TEACHER ART RETREAT go to this link.
Come to the retreat with a friend! Tell your colleagues about this great event and get special pricing! Start asking around now, so you won’t miss out!
Check out our location!
We love our spot in Hampton, NH. It’s close to major highways and just over the boarder from MA. It’s also bright, quiet and ACed. It’s a wonderful place to retreat!
St. James Lodge in Hampton, NH
77 Tide Mill Rd Hampton, NH 03842
There is plenty of space for eating and creating.
There is a large yard, a patio gathering area and a great view of the marsh. (Not too mention a great kitchen and sound system!) This is a lovely site for our Retreat!
Cancellation Policy
If for any reason you can’t attend, 100% of your paid registration will be
refunded when you notify The Inspired Classroom at least 48 hours in advance.
Notifications after this time will be refunded less a $25 service fee.