Reaching All Learners (ReAL) workshop at the Ordway featuring Kairos Alive

VSA Minnesota © Photo: Jenea Rewertz-Targui

Presented by VSA Minnesota

Hosted by Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

Wed, Aug 12

9:30 am - 4:00 pm

In collaboration with VSA Minnesota, the Ordway will host one of three professional development workshops for artists and teachers seeking to improve their skills in working with students across all abilities. Join us for interactive learning session with Kairos Alive followed by a facilitated discussion.

$20 per workshop includes refreshments and lunch

Call 612.332.3888 or 800.801.3883

Email Craig Dunn, VSA Minnesota craig@vsamn.org

Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, 345 Washington St., St. Paul

http://vsamn.org/reaching-all-learners-workshop-series-announced/

The ReAL workshops are an effort of VSA Minnesota with funding from the VSA and Accessibility office of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

Every Child Achieves Act Gains Momentum

Big news in the world of Education!  If you missed it, read up on the Every Child Achieves Act, and how it benefits arts classrooms  

For the first time since 2001, the Senate has approved new education legislation. 

Photo by Scrumshus, www.commons.wikimedia.org

Known as the Every Child Achieves Act (S.1177), this bill potentially provides states with a greater authority to enact and implement educational policies. The legislation also explicitly specifies 11 Arts Education provisions, such as naming the arts as an academic core subject.   

If these provisions continue to remain intact, state authorities will have a greater flexibility to support arts-specific programming, both within the school day and as a part of extracurricular programs.  

Welcome Sarah Wiechmann, Education Intern

Sarah Wiechmann, Education Intern

A  Twin Cities native, Sarah is eager to explore the world of Educational programing with the Ordway! She is also looking forward to learning about the day to day workings of an arts organization, while sharing her passion for arts education with the Metro community.

Sarah recently graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, majoring in Vocal Music Education and minoring in French. As a student at Concordia, she participated in several choirs, including Tactus; a student organized nine voice chamber ensemble. With the Concordia French club, she attended the Festival du Voyageur, an annual winter celebration of French-Canadian fur trading culture in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Outside of life at the Ordway, Sarah enjoys singing in community choirs, and exploring the Twin Cities restaurant Scene. 

STEAM: A New Approach to Arts Instruction

"Arguing that the arts and science should and could remain totally separate misses the point. This is not about cultivating more artists or diluting STEM—it’s about creating STEM students who think creatively and remain engaged in their learning." 

   -Anna Feldman, Slate

STEAM advocates for the addition of arts instruction into the popular STEM acronym.

Supporters argue that STEAM adds a layer of interest to technical fields for students not otherwise inclined to explore science or math. Furthermore, students are asked to think holistically, a skill frequently required by individuals employed as engineers, designers and other advanced technical fields.   
 

Read the full article here

Resource Repost: Elements of Dance

Perpich Arts High School dance program- photo by Dan Markworth

Hey teachers- check out the revamped Elements of Dance website! The site provides a concise resource for students to learn about BASTE (Body, Action, Space, Time Energy), the building blocks of dance.     

In addition, the site features individual and group assignments specific to each dance element, and video examples of each element by Minnesota dancers and choreographers.    

Apply it to your learning! Try an Ordway Education Video Lesson on dance, and see how many elements you find in the lesson.