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Showing posts from 2019

2019- That's a WRAP!

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Wrapping up the last year of this decade with a few pics and a closing message...  YOU give our kids hope.  The most important skill you can model and teach is to NEVER GIVE UP.    Some Pics from the Week in the Arts! Happy Holidays to You All!  Celebrate, rest and come back ready to ROCK! Jackie 

Snowy Week Ending 12/13/19

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In the BLOG This Week... Coming UP: Kuss Winter Concert: 12/17- 7PM Doran at HLCS Winter Combo Concert: 12/17- In School Event HLCS Jamboree- 12/13- In School Silvia Winter Concert- 12/18 @9AM Spencer Borden Winter Concert- 12/19 @9AM Tansey Winter Concert- 12/18- @9 and 10AM The   Fine and Performing Arts Term 2 Learning Walks  will happen the week of January 6th. The focus will continue to be on the Academic Arts Expectations and Classroom Design !  Thank you! Caroling at Viveiros ! Durfee, Talbot and Morton had their Winter Concerts !  What a heart-warming experience to see our kids up there on stage giving it their all for their families, friends and teachers...  It truly takes COURAGE to perform, and the PERFORMING ARTS give our kids PRACTICE in the ART of BEING COURAGEOUS.   Next week, we have Kuss and HLCS/Doran- break a LEG! HLCS Jamboree! Ms. Laprise- Turgeon and her students  working on notes/dry erase board! Morton Wint

Week of 12/6/19

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Welcome to a WELL DESERVED Friday! What an interesting week!  Any time there is a snow day, I always feel like our kids get a little off for the week.  We are all creatures of habit, and when our habits are changed due to unexpected weather stuff, it can set those "crazy wheels" into motion!   For the next two weeks, I have one recommendation for the team...  OVER-PLAN .  What do I mean?   Lesson plan for engagement and solid work time - I know we are all excited for the holiday break (me included), but the work needs to continue, business as usual!  Continue to plan those engaging and relevant arts tasks that get our kids thinking, doing, making, performing...   Continue to set the behavioral and learning expectations clearly - never ASSUME the kids know what you expect in the next two weeks..  Our kids THRIVE on your high expectations , so continue to be that Artsy Beacon in their life! Plan for BELL TO BELL work - D

BLOG- TEACHER TAKE OVER!

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This week, I'm having the BLOG "taken over" by two teachers! First, Abby Casey from Talbot ! Check this out! I wanted to make guitar playing accessible for all students, regardless of their previous experience. Drawing off the elementary "Recorder Karate" program and adapting the success rubric that we'd used for our bucket drumming unit, I implemented this plan for "levels" that encourage independent learning with teacher coaching as opposed to exclusive direct instruction. Every class, we open with a quick review, a Do Now question, or listen to a song that uses the chords that we're working on this month. Then, we move out to guitars and I conference with each group to assess and troubleshoot. Students who have shown aptitude have become "peer coaches" who take 2-3 students and guide them through finger placement and the day's work period. This leaves me available to work with struggling groups or to give extensions to