Weekly Arts Wrap Up- HOLIDAY Special

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If you are reading this, you survived the week before Winter Break!


 I would like to take this Blog moment to wish you all the merriest, the most artful and musical seasons. You are the teacher who shows our kids how to love art, music, theater and each other, through those six aptitudes that Dan Pink talked about in A Whole New Mind...
  • Design.. the design of lessons and tasks, of the classroom space, and of the thinking that you frame through your teaching!
  • Story..  your class gives students a place to express their story through the arts!
  • Symphony..  that "controlled chaotic noise" in your classroom is the symphony of students bustling, working, talking, singing, drawing, painting, playing!
  • Empathy..  we model empathy as we offer that ear to listen with, a heart to care with, and taking in those unexpected hugs you get when kids say thank you!
  • Play..  the best way to experience learning!  We ask students to not be afraid to play with sounds, instruments, their voices, paint, markers...  Creativity DOES take COURAGE, and kids build courage through play!
  • Meaning..  Finally, your work is meaningful, in more ways than one.  You are the teacher who models the skills within your arts strand, but you instill in our kids that the ARTS ARE ESSENTIAL.  Left brain skills are no longer sufficient for our students as they graduate..  
These six aptitudes that you continue to model for them will help them to be successful long after they leave us, and they have you to thank for that!

Collaboration and Growth:
  • January is a time for new beginnings!  We will be having a PD day on the 30th where I will be planning some great things for K-8 Music and Art teachers.  Please check in with your building principals to ask if you can attend in the morning.  Details will be sent when we return from break with specifics.
  • Also, for Durfee teachers, we will be having part two of our differentiated PD with other Durfee staff, and you will also have an hour to be with me in the afternoon.  
  • I would like to continue with the idea of the K-8 monthly department meeting beign held after the PD day so we don't have to reconvene on another afternoon.
New Year, NEW ME:
  • For Durfee Faculty, we discussed at the leadership meeting that we would like to instill a few key "resolutions for a solid month of learning"..  Here's what I would like us to commit to:
    • Ready to Learn: Cell phones away, hats off, hoods off heads.
    • Solid Attendance: Try taking CLASS attendance during your work period so that you have absolutely accurate data.  (VPs look at report and notice that lots of students who come in late are not marked present afterward, and thus labeled as cutting- taking attendance during the work period will not only eliminate this, but also allow you to give your lesson first, and then take attendance when you release the students into the work period)
    • To Pass or not To Pass: Students who ask to go to the bathroom, office or nurse NEED A school pass.  Use the agendas or passes.  Let me know if you need any.  
Evaluation Nuts and Bolts, Continued: 
  • Teachers on one year plans- set aside student work that might serve as evidence for your Student Learning Goals if you see students scheduled on a semester basis, as before you know it, we will be in semester two, and you may be switching student groups/cohorts/classes!
  • Teachers on one year plans- I have emailed you this week, to remind you that we will be meeting to discuss your formative collection of evidence after the holiday break.  Please make sure you have one to three artifacts per standard and have a status as to your work toward achievement of goals..  Can you invite me on the calendar for your Formative?
  • Two year planners- we will not meet until the spring, so you have more time to collect evidence, data and student work artifacts.  
  • I am continuing to make my way to you in January and commit to giving you feedback that is grounded in your specific content with commendations  and recommendations.  As always, feel free to email me if you would like to meet and discuss ideas!

On the Calendar...
  • Tuesday, 1/3: School Starts- Morton CPT 8:00, HLCS CPT 8:30
  • Thursday, 1/5: Durfee CPT Whole Group 10:45
  • Friday, 1/6: Itinerant CPT 12:30
  • 1/10- Durfee Band Aids Meeting 6:30PM, Durfee Faculty Meeting
  • 1/18- Durfee Department Meeting
  • Full Day PD Day- Monday, January 30th.
Also, teachers, please know that in January, you will have three Mondays with no classes- 1/2, 1/16 and 1/30!  Plan ahead!

Have a wonderful break!

Jackie

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