Why?
Having been viewed nearly 64 million times, Simon Sinek's TEDx Talk "How great leaders inspire action" continues to resonate with people around the world? Why? In the talk he explores the idea that successful individuals and organizations distinguish themselves by clearly understanding and communicating their "why" – the purpose, cause, or belief that inspires them. Sinek argues that focusing on the "why" before the "how" or "what" leads to more profound and lasting success, as it creates a sense of purpose that resonates with both internal and external audiences. The talk, along with his book "Start With Why" emphasizes the importance of aligning actions with core values to build trust, loyalty, and a strong sense of identity.
As educators, administrators, and folks involved in arts education and creation, it is essential that we continue to reflect on our "why". Our world is becoming more complex not less. I believe this message illuminates an essential truth - identifying our why is powerful way to clarify what is most important.
Here's to connecting to our "why" and each other! As always, let me know if I can be of service to you.
Warmly,
Chris
Plan To Use The Materials? Let Me Know!
A new page has been created on the DPI Website to highlight those schools who are participating in the Wisconsin Arts Celebration Project "Like The Wind". Add your school to our growing list if you plan to use any of the resources with your class. Want to learn more about the project? Just click here!
Save The Date - August 7
Plans are underway for the second annual Wisconsin Creativity Summit. The Summit will once again be online and FREE! This year we will feature up to FOUR guest speakers including a panel of Wisconsin educators sharing ideas and strategies for cultivating the creative capacities in all of our students! Look for more information and registration in the next newsletter!
2024 Summer Institute: A three-day retreat for school teams on innovation and growing hope
When: July 15–18, 2024
Where: Land O'Lakes (tentative)
Who: School teams of between 4–6 people, including (but not limited to) administrators, educators, and instructional leaders.
What: Through hands-on experiences, concurrent sessions, small-group discussion, networking, and reflection, school teams can joyfully explore ways to create their own pathways to hope. Participants will also receive implementation support throughout the 2024-25 school year through online sessions.
Topics include:
- Alternatives to Traditional Grading
- Culturally Relevant Instruction
- Flexibility within the Law
- Growing Hope
- Personalized, Competency-based learning
- and more…
Registration will include food and lodging. Limited to 60 participants. Registration priority will be given to school teams of between 4–6 people. Scholarships will be available based on need.
Applications for scholarships and registration materials will be posted here as they become available. Sign up on the Google Form found on this page to be notified by email.
WAEA Youth Art Month Celebration
- Youth Art Month Celebration will be March 22, 2024 from 12:00-1:00 pm with make and takes, prizes, music, and much, much more!
- State art show will be March 2-22, 2024 at East Towne Mall in Madison, Wisconsin
- Participation will be FREE for members and $20 for non-members.
- The top 30 award winners will get a prize.
- The top award winner will have their artwork displayed on the cover of the WAEA Art Times Magazine!
- Read More & Register Here
WMEA Capitol Concert Schedule Released
Each year, WMEA sponsors school music group concerts in the State Capitol Rotunda during March. The concerts kick off as a celebration of NAfME’s Music In Our Schools Month and offer groups an opportunity to perform in this beautiful Wisconsin landmark. WMEA members may apply to have their school music groups perform in Capitol Concerts.
2024 WMEA Capitol Concerts Schedule
All Concerts begin at 12:00pm on their respective date(s)
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 – Middleton High School Sinfonia & Cardinal Orchestras (Middleton, WI – Steve Kurr, Music Educator)
Thursday, March 7, 2024 – Lancaster Middle School (Lancaster, WI – Ashley Miller, Music Educator)
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 – University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Wind Ensemble & Chamber Winds (Milwaukee, WI – Dr. Thomas Gamboa, Music Educator)
Thursday, March 14, 2024 – Panther Orff Ensemble: East Elementary School 5th Grade (Baraboo, WI – Dakota Mellen, Music Educator)
Friday, March 15, 2024 – West Allis Central High School Orchestra (West Allis, WI – Mary Pat Michels, Music Educator)
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 – Preble High School Varsity Treble Choir (Green Bay, WI – Kimberly Meader, Music Educator)
Thursday, March 21, 2024 – Atwater & Lake Bluff Elementary Schools Orchestra (Shorewood, WI – Julie Nolan, Music Educator)
Friday, March 22, 2024 – Bloomer High School Jazz Ensemble (Bloomer, WI – Matt Tiller, Music Educator)
Tuesday, March 26, 2024 – Menomonie Middle School 8th Grade Choir (Menomonie, WI – Jean Enyeart, Music Educator)
Thursday, March 28, 2024 – Ben Franklin Junior High School Concert Band (Stevens Point, WI – Megan Lawrence, Music Educator)
Did You Know WISDAA (WI Interscholastic Speech & Dramatic Arts Association) Has Multiple Seasons?
Students may participate in multiple activities, and schools with middle level grades may participate in any of our activities, with only Speech having a distinct/separate contest series for middle level and high school. Speech and Theatre utilize a qualifying contest series, whereas Debate offers a single, monthly open structure, where students must earn qualifying records/scores at at least two contests, or apply for at-large consideration. Film is a “one-off” State-level event only. There are also other Speech contest opportunities in Wisconsin beyond WISDAA.
'It's inspiring': Students at Wisconsin School for the Deaf share Alaqua Cox's impact
Echo on Disney+ centers around Maya Lopez, a deaf woman with a prosthetic leg, as she connects with her indigenous roots. The lead actress, 26-year-old Alaqua Cox is from Wisconsin's Menominee Indian Reservation. She spent her teenage years in Delevan at Wisconsin School for the Deaf. Students and staff at the WSD were interviewed at the school for this awesome story.
Central Wis. mental health initiative commitment solidifies; Community mural to center student voices
The community collaboration initiative centered on addressing the mental health crisis among kids in central Wisconsin, Caring for Our Community Kids, became more formal Wednesday. The group received the paperwork to officially become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit under a new name, the Mental Health Collaborative.
The news came at the same time members of Caring for Our Community Kids facilitated a workshop on Wednesday with student mental health advocacy and resource club, Raise Your Voice.
“As we talk to the Raise Your Voice clubs, and we started to expand them into other communities, one thing we heard was art was really important to them, and art was kind of a way of addressing mental health or coping with mental health.”
550 La Crosse School District Musicians Perform Together
The La Crosse School District Band Extravaganza took place at the LaCrosse Center. Over 500 musicians participated in this annual event. Read more about it here.
Northwestern Elementary School artists dive into bright artwork
Second grade students made tempera paint collages while studying Henri Matisse. Fourth grade students focused on value and rhythm for their watercolor paintings. Shading and lines were used by fifth grade students to create depth and a three-dimensional element to their work.
U.S. Congressional Art Competition
Each spring, members of the US House of Representatives sponsor a nation-wide art competition. The Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation's youth, as well as in each congressional district. This competition is open to all high school students in the state.
The artwork from three students, one from each congressional district, will be displayed for one year in the US Capitol, along with the winners from other congressional districts around the country. The Nebraska Congressional Delegation works with Nebraska Art Teachers Association and high schools to collect and evaluate the submissions. This year's deadline is March 22, 2024.
Unique and one of a kind': Wauwatosa East High School musicians reflect on Italy trip
It's not every day you travel to Italy much less perform a string concert inside Vatican City. This is exactly what 107 orchestra students from Wauwatosa East High School got to do this past fall.
Wauwatosa School District teacher appears on 'Kelly Clarkson Show'
A Wauwatosa School District teacher made an appearance on a national TV show in part thanks to his creative ways of teaching his students reading skills.
Jake Daggett, a first-grade teacher at the district's Underwood Elementary School, appeared in an interview with Kelly Clarkson on "The Kelly Clarkson Show" that aired Jan. 9. The show was recorded in December with a live audience.
Students learn about STEAM through polka music
Elementary students in Eau Claire learned about the science, technology, engineering, arts and math that powers polka music today.
High school students paint mural for a Chippewa Valley non-profit
Chippewa Falls Senior High School Students are putting in the hours to help brighten up a Chippewa Valley non-profit’s storm shelter with a mural.
National Endowment for the Arts Announces More Than $32 Million in Arts Funding to Organizations Nationwide
National Endowment for the Arts
The Wisconsin Arts Board congratulates Wisconsin recipients: Northern Sky Theater, Fish Creek; Madison Opera; Bembe Drum and Dance, Milwaukee; Florentine Opera, Milwaukee; Kids from Wisconsin, Milwaukee; Ko-Thi Dance Company, Milwaukee; Latino Arts, Milwaukee; Marcus Center for the Performing Arts, Milwaukee; Milwaukee Film; Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design; Milwaukee Repertory Theater; Present Music; UW-Milwaukee; and Wormfarm Institute, Reedsburg.
30 Essential Questions through the Creative Process
Have you ever tried writing essential questions for your lessons or curriculum? Some people find this to be a breeze while others struggle with the process. Certainly, coming up with a high-quality essential question can be a challenge all on its own. But try to write an integrated essential question – one that you can use to tie together standards from 2 different content areas – adds a whole new layer of complexity.
Teaching Posters from the Smithsonian
Request Lily Furedi's Subway, a student favorite, from the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Artful Connections Program and invite your students to learn about the Great Depression and tell stories about riders on public transit. Teacher-tested close looking questions and activities engage learners, coast-to-coast. Request your copy today! Posters are provided at no cost to teachers.
WAIT! There are more posters available, too! Want to include works of art from the Smithsonian in your classroom? Request posters from the National Gallery of Art. The posters are provided at no cost to teachers.
Featured Books: Your Brain on Art, and The Creative Act
While many of us perceive art merely as entertainment, there exists a profound depth to its functions. Art sparks breakthroughs in creativity and innovation. Notably, even Nobel Laureates find inspiration in artistic avocations. There is also a growing body of scientific evidence that art serves as a catalyst for healing, and well-being and boosting our brain power endeavors may even reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, authored by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, is a fascinating exploration into the science of neuroaesthetics and provides the latest evidence of the transformative power of the arts on our brains and bodies.
Dance Data Project
The English-Speaking Company 2023/2024 Season Programming Report represents the first-ever study examining season programming at ballet and classically influenced companies outside the United States.
California Prop 28 Toolkit
Check out the Prop 28: Arts and Music in Schools Planning Toolkit. This toolkit will help Local Education Agency (LEA) administrators, school site staff and their allies collaborate to effectively plan for Prop 28 and strategize to build or further develop a comprehensive arts program in dance, media arts, music, theatre and visual arts. The toolkit was developed by Create CA, in partnership with WestEd, California County Superintendents Arts Initiative, the Association of California School Administrators, the California Latino School Board Association and the Small School Districts Association.
ArtsEdSearch: Call for Focus Group Volunteers
AEP (Arts Education Partnership) will convene four focus groups over the next 6-8 weeks to discuss the future of ArtsEdSearch. We are looking for educators and teaching artists, program directors and nonprofit staff, advocates, and funders who can join a one hour meeting to offer feedback on the resource. These focus groups will be held virtually and facilitated by Asif Majid, AEP’s ArtsEdSearch consultant. Please reach out to Mary Dell’Erba for more information or to express interest.
Now Accepting Workshop Proposals
Theatre Education Conference
The Depot l Minneapolis, MN
September 26-29, 2024
EdTA's Theatre Education Conference is held each year to provide educators with the opportunity to meet and network with their peers during an event featuring a wide range of professional development opportunities, keynote speakers, and exhibits on the latest in theatrical technology and educational resources.
EdTA seeks theatre education workshop proposals that support a broad spectrum of teaching and learning to further the professional growth of teaching artists, classroom teachers and other theatre arts education stakeholders. Proposals should support the Conference themes of building community through collaboration and innovation. Submit a proposal.
Dance Teaching Strategies for Hip Hop Educators
April 22, 2024 from 7:30pm-8:30pm
Teaching Strategies for Hip Hop Educators
Presented by: John Barrella
This webinar will review some of the most important lessons every student should be receiving in their dance class. Teachers will learn Hip Hop terminology, major social dances, techniques for groove/rhythm, & choreography composition. Teachers will also learn about introducing styles such as Popping & Breaking into their classroom in effective and fool proof lessons.
Create Wisconsin Day, Wisconsin’s most important statewide creative sector conference, will be presented by Create Wisconsin, the state’s community cultural development organization, on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, 9 am – 2 pm, at the Overture Center for the Arts in downtown Madison.. A pre conference will take place Tuesday, February 20, 1-5 pm, at the Overture Center.
At Create Wisconsin Day, people involved in the arts, culture, and creativity throughout Wisconsin come together to learn, network and speak as one voice. This is an important time for colleagues and friends to make real change and galvanize support to increase investment in Wisconsin’s creative resources.
The 2024 Google For Education Innovator Academies
The Google for Education Innovator Academies are back and in person! The dates and locations have launched and are live on the Google For Education website. Read More Here
Building on a Strong Foundation: Developing and Maintaining a Lasting Mariachi Program
In this interactive presentation, we will explore the relevancy of mariachi for young musicians, learn strategies and tools for teaching mariachi and directing mariachi ensembles, discover repertoire that can be added to classroom curriculum, and discuss how to build community through mariachi. Though this roundtable will be geared toward music educators, all are welcome! You do not need to be currently teaching mariachi to join.
Mariachi Teachers Roundtable
Tuesday, February 6th
7:00 - 8:00pm ET
Zoom
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Chris Gleason
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
This publication and previous issues are available from: Division of Academic Excellence> Teaching and Learning Team> Arts and Creativity. https://dpi.wi.gov/fine-arts/newsletter
The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, creed, age, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, marital status or parental status, sexual orientation, or ability.
Email: christopher.gleason@dpi.wi.gov
Website: https://dpi.wi.gov/fine-arts
Location: 125 South Webster Street, Madison, WI, USA
Phone: 608-264-9554