Session I

Join us in our exploration of assessment and proficiency using the Studio Habits of Mind. This workshop will present a practical look at how we came to understand and use the constructs of Studio Thinking in our K-4 and K-8 classrooms to promote independent, self-directed learning. You will gain hands-on knowledge of these habits and leave with strategies you can use in your own classroom. Grades K-8 (Easily adapted for grades 9-12.) 

The thought of creating a proficiency-based curriculum from scratch can be daunting. When we try cooking something new for the first time, we seek a recipe to follow, and over time we adjust, improvise, substitute, and personalize the ingredients to make the recipe our own. We would like to share our recipe with you, it may not be exactly your taste, but we have ingredients and tools to share to help you get started. Grades 9-12 (Easily adapted for all grades.)

Michaela DiGianvittorio and Sarah Gould Gray-New Gloucester High School Visual Arts

Looking for meaningful conversations around assessment in the elementary music classroom? So often music teachers feel as if they are working in isolation. Come see how Teacher Leaders Cynthia Keating and Kate Smith worked together to unpack the standards to identify their essential learnings. Tips for how to report essential learnings to parents will be shared. Grades PK-5

Judy Fricke Main Street Music Studios Music

Essential what? Enduring Understandings? Why is it important to write down what I do in my classroom? Many districts across the state are focused on Curriculum Mapping and Unit Design using a variety of systems for tracking and organizing curriculum, units, and assessments.  This session will focus on developing skills in navigating the Understanding by Design model of unit and curriculum design. Participants will learn how to organize their curriculum, develop essential questions and enduring understandings, and determine assessment types based on what they are already teaching in their arts classrooms.  Examples and resources will be provided. Grades PK-12 (all Arts disciplines)

Session II

Are you an arts teacher who would like to incorporate more movement in your classroom, but may feel that you lack confidence or familiarity with dance movement? This experiential workshop will walk you through a powerful yet simple creative movement exploration and dance making process that are standards-based and well suited to integrate with any content area. You will learn simple movement tools and a dance making activity that you can implement – no dance background needed – to help your students explore lesson content and engage in creative problem solving together. Grades PK-12 (all Arts disciplines)

John Morris Dance

This workshop is focused on using Google Drive to create a digital portfolio as a means to show evidence of proficiency, allow for a method of feedback on student work and as a way to organize and maintain student work. This workshop can be used by all VPA teachers. Grades 6-12 (all Arts disciplines)

 Jeff Orth Richmond Middle/High School Visual Arts