ARTS FIRST Institute

Wonderful Turnout for ARTS FIRST Summer Institute 2011

Sixty teachers (representing Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawai`i island) and nine teaching artists participated in the Summer Institute at Keone`ula Elementary School at 91-970 Kaileolea Drive on May 31-June 3, 2011. Intensive teaching workshops on incorporating Visual Arts, Dance, Drama and Music allowed participants to learn experientially from master artist educators and demonstrated how the arts can be linked to other core subjects. 

Master Arts Educators Deb Brzoska and Jamie Simpson Steele conducted the morning sessions which covered the big ideas regarding arts integration, lesson planning, essential understandings, and assessment. Afternoon studio sessions in individual art forms were led by Mauli Ola Cook in dance, Daniel Kelin II in drama, Beth Fobbe-Wills in music, and Marcia Pasqua in visual arts. All in all, an excellent way to start the Summer!

Teacher comments -

The most meaningful thing I learned was the power of teaching through the arts in helping to deepen student learning.

I began feeling anxious…by the end of the first day I was excited!!! So many relevant ideas and lessons! I truly appreciate the teachers who led us in this Institute.

Art isn’t just painting a picture at the end of a unit, it can be coming up with ideas and creating a deeper understanding of different subjects through music, dance, drama and other art.

I loved the way the institute was planned. It gave ample amount of suggestions and ideas to use in the class. It also gave time to meet and collaborate with others outside the regular school setting.

I now understand the true meaning of arts integration and how to enhance my curriculum to promote student engagement and achievement.

 

Additional photos from the 2011 Summer Institute can be found here.

 

Funding and support for this Institute was provided by Hawai`i Department of Education, Hawai`i Arts Alliance, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the Kennedy Center National Partnerships Program, National Endowment for the Arts, and Hawai`i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.