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I’m dying to learn some new dyeing techniques!!
If you plan on being out for First Friday On October 7th during the PAEA conference, then be sure to check out this event!! Fabric artist, Diane Hricko will be presenting dyeing techniques to explore on paper and you will walk away with ideas to apply to your classroom. Oh! And there is going to be drinks and yummy desserts too!! Check out the flyer below!
Weave anywhere sneak peek
Marie Elcin and Johanna Marshall are both Philadelphia art educators, instructors at Fleisher Art Memorial, and practicing fiber artists (as well as notorious stitch bombers).
They will be presenting a demonstration session entitled “Weave anywhere, anyhow” on Saturday at 9:00 – 9:50 AM. They will share their weaving and felting tips and tricks with connections to art history and artistic development in fibers for k-12. Attendees will have a chance to try out weaving and will come away with strategies for how to introduce fibers into the curriculum no matter what your budget, supplies, or space is!
“Do we love our kids? Do they matter to us?”
There’s a lot going on in the world right now that affects many of our students’ lives, opinions, and environment as as well as our own. So when we are teaching or talking to our kiddos, how do we take everything into consideration? Are you wrestling with how to approach these issues in your art room?? I know I am. How do we make our art room the safe and nurturing environment it should be so that students can express themselves and grow emotionally?
This article was sent to me, and it resonates loudly. Click the text link below, and give it a gander:
“Part of our job as educators and caring adults is to make school a place where all students can find productive outlets for their emotions in response to the adversity and trauma they experience. But educators do not bear the sole responsibility for helping communities recover or changing systems that perpetuate injustice. ”
The article mentions that as educators we must be connected with our communities to help support our students and help them get through what the world is throwing in their faces. This, obviously is where we must go above and beyond our call of duty. This is our before and after school time, where we give ourselves selflessly to our profession without consideration of being compensated for that time. There are of course teachers who only work the contract, and I understand. BUT, if we truly want to affect change and to make a difference in our children’s lives and communities, then we have to give a little more of ourselves. I believe it to be our call of duty as educators. One does not get into this profession for the pay, nor do should they come into the classroom thinking their job starts and stops at the school doors. Being and educator in today’s world is demanding, and no one should have a veil over their eyes on that.
The article continues to give some advice on how we can help support our students, and as art teachers I believe we are the perfect conduit to follow through on those points. We see our students year after year- we are a constant in their life. We are the ones that can develop long and lasting relationships where students can come to trust us. Often, the art room is the place where they can fully express their dreams, hopes, rage, and personality and we need to remember to embrace that. Art educators need to give students that room for choice and expression so that they can fully realize their potential.
Naturally this article made me think about teaching from a trauma informed or trauma sensitive background. And during a summer where I am reevaluating and reconsidering my approach to classroom management, this article enforces my belief that we must be the calm and centered educator they need. If they lash out, don’t lash back. If they say hateful things, don’t take it personally. Always remain calm, and tell them you love them. And keep striving to make schools a better place, and the world a better place.
“So as we work to prepare our kids for the world they live in today, we will not stop fighting to create the world we want for them.”
BTW- This year’s theme for the PAEA is “social justice” and I hope that you consider how you approach these issues in your art room this year.
Thanks for letting me bend your ear.
Sneak Peek: Rande Blank’s Presentations
Rande Blank has been the Director of the MAT in Visual Arts Education program since 2012 and a faculty member with UARTS – Art + Design Education department since 2003, teaching graduate courses, and mentoring students in their practicum experiences. Most recently she has been selected to be on the Advisory Council for the Design-Ed organization and the Director of the Higher Education Division for the Pennsylvania Art Education Association. (Text borrowed from http://www.uarts.edu/users/rblank )
Rande will be delivering not one, but two presentations!
Support Your NAEA Student Chapter Through Fundraising Events: University Student Panel Discussion
Friday at 2:00 – 2:50 PM
University faculty and students discuss advocating for professional association participation, fundraising activities, conference proposal writing, and art education studio workshop opportunities. Experience pride and success with your university chapter.
Design Thinking as a Problem Solving Process: 5 hands-on participatory activities
Sunday at 9:00 – 10:50 AM.
Teach students to become independent, innovative and thoughtful decision-makers. Apply the design thinking cycle where problems are identified, solutions proposed, produced and evaluated. Participate in design activities to explore process.
Liza Dolmetsch and Amanda Eisen Sneak Peek
If you are a mobile art room teacher, that is to say- art on a cart, then be sure not to miss Liza and Amanda’s presentation at this year’s PAEA conference! I have the pleasure of knowing them both, and can attest to their creativity and problem solving when faced with any issue their teaching environment throws at them. Both ladies are art educators in the School District of Philadelphia, and have been involved in art education for some time now. Get connected with them- attend their presentation!
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Art on a Cart: Celebrating the Challenge!
Sunday October 9, 2016 at 11:00 – 11:50 AM.
Take advantage of PAEA to connect and build community face to face with other art on a cart teachers. We will discuss some of the unique challenges, both large and small, facing art on a cart teachers and share and collaborate on creative solutions. From cart hacks to mixed media solutions, advocacy and troubleshooting shared space, it’s all fair game! Come to share ideas, workshop challenges, and participate in discussion and activities for teaching art on the go.
Please allow me to introduce myself…
Hi there everyone! My name is Leslie Marie Grace and I will be one of three facilitators for this blog. If you scroll down to the second post, you will see my goofy face being all goofy like on the day this blog was conceived- what a happy blog mother I am! 🙂
I am truly looking forward to connecting with other PAEA members through the blog, and keeping everyone more informed and in tune with the PAEA happenings. I will be bringing y’all the first our formal posts in which we will be giving sneak peaks into a few of the conference presentations.
But first! A little about yours truly…
I have been teaching since 2004 and am currently at Nebinger Elementary, a K-8 school in the School District of Philadelphia. I received my undergrad education from Georgia State University and taught high school for two years at North Springs High School, which at the time was a Magnet Arts and Science school. After two years, my journey brought me up north. My first year in Philadelphia, I ended up teaching at two elementary schools in Delaware. The drive from South Philly to Newark and Wilmington, left very little to be desired so I sought employment elsewhere. I spent the following six years teaching middle school art at Friends’ Central Private School. While teaching I received my Masters degree from Saint Joseph’s University. Feeling the urge for more growth and challenge (and, like, I really needed a GOOD challenge) I became employed by the SDP. I am going on my 4th year teaching in the district, and boy, have I learned A LOT in 4 years. In addition to teaching, I run a little group of teachers called the Philadelphia Art Teachers Alliance.
I don’t even really know if that is stuff y’all want to read about me, but I felt the urge to provide my credentials.
Tell ya what… I will stop jabbering on and just provide a few links for you to peruse. Click away:
Philadelphia Art Teacher Alliance
Did I forget anything?? Pinterest maybe… not really up on my Pinterest game… oh well.
Hey- y’all take care. I look forward to hanging out here.
Meet your new blog facilitators!
Leslie Grace
Susan Liedke
Christina Franko Uliano
We will formally introduce ourselves in the next few weeks. 🙂 We are looking forward to keeping y’all connected with the pulse of PAEA.
D5 Creation