First Annual Wisconsin Creativity Summit
Registration is FREE and NOW OPEN! Spots are limited, so don't delay.
Digging Into Discourse Workshop
Discomfort lies at the heart of all learning and growth, especially concerning discussing difficult and complex topics such as climate change, slavery, and police brutality. This workshop (and book) presents ways to help teachers become strong facilitators - not endorsers- of continuous conversations to promote a stronger sense of community.
Four themes arise when exploring civil discourse: courage, understanding, belonging, and empathy. Addressing the problem of having politically and emotionally charged conversations in the classroom, this workshop and book guide k-12 educators in facilitating discussion based on fact, intellectual reasoning, and mutual respect.
What: A 4-part series on teaching contentious topics
When: Kickoff: July 11 (online)
In-Person: July 24 (Madison) or July 25 (Stevens Point)
Online: September TBD & October 10 (online)
Who: K-12 educators looking to support productive discussion in their classroom for topics in social studies, science, environmental education, English language arts, and more!
Registration $30 and includes lunch and copy of the book Civil Discourse. If you need an accommodation, please provide details of your need through the registration process. Questions about accommodations should be routed to Kristen.McDaniel@dpi.wi.gov
Arts Midwest and Midwest State Arts Agencies Connect with Federal Agencies in Washington, D.C.
Over the course of two days at the end of May, Arts Midwest and the Illinois Arts Council Agency, Indiana Arts Commission, Iowa Arts Council, Michigan Arts and Culture Council, Minnesota State Arts Board, North Dakota Council on the Arts, Ohio Arts Council, South Dakota Arts Council, and Wisconsin Arts Board were inspired by a series of conversations and connections in Washington, D.C., about how we might build new partnerships across federal government.
During their visit, these Midwest arts champions connected with six federal agencies: the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Economic Development Association, and Health and Human Services.
How to Teach a Dance Style When You’re Not the Expert
How should a teacher pass on an embodied art form like dance to their students when they are not experts in certain dance styles?
It’s complicated.
On one hand, teachers are professionals at teaching. With proper preparation they can scaffold a lesson or unit on any dance style. That could look like students reflecting on video examples, reading articles, completing research projects or sharing their cultural dances with the class. The teacher can research and teach what they learned about the particular dance style and provide their sources and a verbal acknowledgement that they are not an expert.
By: Ella Rosewood
State One-Act Festival Summer Preview/Open House
Wisconsin Interscholastic Film Festival Planning
Safety
We are fortunate in Wisconsin to have an educator leader who is committed to making not only theater productions and classes safter, but also assemblies and music performances. Please consider taking one of Kristi Ross-Clausen's online classes this summer so that you can be better prepared and take the necessary precautions.
This is what Kristi has to say in her own words:
"I started working in theater safety when I heard about Tasha Schuh, a high school student who fell through a trap floor during a rehearsal for her school musical and became quadriplegic because of her injuries.
I wanted to know how I could prevent that from happening when I'm working. What can I do to make things safer for everyone involved in a live event such as theater, concert, dance, lecture, worship service, AV expo, or whatever?
That led to a Master's thesis focused on HS theater safety and a career designing and teaching the use of safe spaces. I consult and assist with numerous associations, producers, theater venues, houses of worship, and other event spaces to help them keep the people there safe while still giving a great show.
I'm an IATSE trained trainer; have OSHA 10 & 30, AVIXA CTS, AQAV CQT, and am ETCP eligible for both Electrics and Theater Rigging. I teach for and help folks through the Event Safety Alliance, Educational Theater Association, National Federation of State High School Associations, Stage Managers Association, United States Institute for Technical Theater, Wisconsin School Safety Coordinators, Alliance for Wisconsin Theater Education, and many other organizations.
My services range from site visits with detailed reports to informal consultations completed in a brief phone call. Many K-12 schools and theatrical producers have had me give webinars or in-person training for their teachers, student crew, technicians, and performers. I also consult on and design AVL systems for educational facilities."
I have included her summer courses below under the "Professional Development" section. You can also learn more on her website here: https://www.theaterhealthandsafety.com/home
Cultural Democracy in the Classroom
Rural Arts and Creativity Forum 2023
Wednesday, June 28, 2023, 10 am - 4 pm
At the Shell Lake Arts Center, 802 1st Street, Shell Lake, WI
Click here for more information and to register
Everyone involved in the arts, creativity and community - which means everyone who cares about Wisconsin’s future - is invited to join colleagues and friends in northwestern Wisconsin, to discuss and celebrate new beginnings at the 2023 Rural Arts and Creativity Forum. This year’s Forum will take place at the Shell Lake Arts Center in Shell Lake, WI, a renowned summer music program where students further their artistry and skills with master musicians/teachers. The Forum is hosted by Create Wisconsin, Wisconsin Arts Board, and the Shell Lake Arts Center.
The Forum has a 30+ year history bringing together leaders involved in the arts, business, economic development, education, government, and politics, to share stories, issues, and ideas on how to grow the region creatively and help creative people, businesses and communities flourish. Now, as the post-pandemic world takes shape, the work is even more important, to discuss and deliberate transformation and opportunities ahead.
Artificial Intelligence in Art School
Former Green Bay teacher's passion for art lives on through students
GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- Art teacher Tanya Paral is continuing to make a difference in a Green Bay school, despite her death last November. The 44-year-old teacher died after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer, according to her obituary. Despite her death, students at Webster Elementary are continuing to remember the lessons Paral taught them: one being that they are all truly artists.
This message was reinforced on Friday as every student in the fourth and fifth grade was handed an art kit to take home. Each bag contained a variety of paints, pencils and a sketchbook.
These Sheboygan North students are embarking on yearlong projects that include a musical garden and a hearing loop
SHEBOYGAN - Lasting impacts of North High School's Innovator Fellowship Program can be seen in the "Color Me Sheboygan" coloring book, the whale mural on Above & Beyond Children’s Museum and the Maywood park storybook trail.
North high teacher and program coordinator Jay Johnson and former principal Jason Bull founded the program in 2013, after being inspired by former student Jacob Olmedo, who sought local resources to pursue his passion in fashion design. They went on to Parsons School of Design in New York.
Wisconsin students' art to be featured in the U.S. Capitol
‘I love the way he runs this classroom’: Platteville art teacher one of 15 to win national award
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. (WMTV) - An art teacher at Platteville High School is being recognized at a national level for his commitment to his department and students.
Mr. John-Paul Butcher is one of 15 winners of the 2023 Artsonia Art Education Leadership Award. The national award honors art instructors who are dedicated to their students and motivate them using Artsonia, an online tool allows students to digitally collect and save their artwork from their time at school.
Waukesha 'Creativity Crawl' celebrates student art in downtown setting
WAUKESHA, Wis. - Out of the classroom and into downtown Waukesha. Student art will soon be on display in a "Creativity Crawl."
The halls of Waukesha South High School are filled with all kinds of art. Syd Shaffer's ceramics stop you in your tracks. "I like it when I can show my creativity," Shaffer said.
Washington Island native, Lawrence music student wins national piano competition
APPLETON - A Washington Island native and student at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music recently won first place in a national piano competition. Jonathan Bass, a double-degree student in his fourth year at the Appleton-based school, won the Biennial Piano Competition organized by the National Federation of Music Clubs.
Oshkosh North students took 2nd in a national film contest on human trafficking. Here’s what they learned.
OSHKOSH – Before the juniors and seniors at Oshkosh North High School started working on a short film about human trafficking, they assumed it was a distant problem.
But as they learned more about the dark world of sex and forced labor trafficking, they understood these crimes hid in plain sight all around them.
"You think of human trafficking and assume it's happening behind closed doors — and it is, but when we were going through this process and coming up with our storyline for the film, it helps you to understand that people around you, especially in school, could be going through this and you just don't know about it," said Emma Salentine, a senior at Oshkosh North and the film's producer.
Oshkosh North students launch podcast on teen issues as school unveils first new band uniforms in 30 years: What to know
The Oshkosh North High School marching band will debut its new uniforms at the 2023 Oshkosh Memorial Day Procession.
Getting the new uniforms has been a priority for North’s band director, Gloria Dorschner-Mackie, since she joined the Spartan teaching staff in 2020.
“The typical lifespan for band uniforms is 15 years," Dorschner-Mackie said in a news release. "Our previous uniforms were over 30 years old, heavy, and required extensive hemming and sewing in order to fit students each year. As our program continues to grow, these new uniforms bring a new contemporary look to the Spartan marching band, setting us apart from other programs and fostering a sense of school pride at North and in our community.”
'It pushes me to want to do better': Racine students turn shell casings into art with a message
Celebrating LGBTQ+ PRIDE Month
Congratulations to Jeanne Bjork, Wisconsin Art Educator of the Year
The Wisconsin Art Educators Association (WAEA) presents a number of awards each year. The Wisconsin Art Educator of the Year is awarded to a WAEA member who has significantly demonstrated a long-term contribution to the WAEA and art education on the local, state and/or national levels.
Jeanne is a veteran with 39 years of experience in the field of education including 21 years as an art educator. She has a range of experiences designing programs and teaching children and adults in varied settings including: schools, museums, college and professional development. Jeanne is especially interested in helping her students envision their future through the arts. In the Pewaukee School District Jeanne has developed a program that is robust in its infusion of technology. Bjork’s innovative approach to alternative photographic processes, mark-making techniques and new media such as laser engraving has given her students unique experiences in the field of art and design. Jeanne has also advocated for the arts, establishing an art scholarship for her students, designing and co-leading a travel abroad program and writing and publishing articles and podcasts with Davis Publications School Arts Magazine, K12ArtChat and The Art of Education. Jeanne has served 2 terms as a member of the Wisconsin Art Education Association Board and has presented at both the state and National conferences. Jeanne is a passionate advocate for art in her community and beyond, connecting her students to opportunities that enrich their lives beyond the classroom.
De Pere teen uses mural for mental health
ALLOUEZ, Wis. (WBAY) - As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, we want to introduce you to a young De Pere artist who’s using her passion to reassure people that if they deal with mental health issues, they are not alone.
“Painting is super therapeutic for me, you know?” Eva Passel said.
This 16-year-old Notre Dame sophomore knows the mural she’s painting will help an Allouez business be seen.
But what she really wants people to see is that our mental health is something we shouldn’t be afraid to talk about.
“I have anxiety, so whether that be, you know, about a test or just overthinking in general. This year I’m in a lot of advanced classes, and I was in a lot of sports last year, and it can be really hard to juggle that stuff sometimes.”
Her mural of the Chakra symbols is in front of Bay Area Yoga and personal training center Stealth Fitness.
Glacier Creek eighth graders play world premiere of new song
Dozens of Glacier Creek Middle School eighth graders, poised and alert, readied their instruments on Tuesday night.
A few feet away sat composer Kelijah Dunton. The students in the band and their peers in choir sounded the first notes of “Master of My Fate,” and the world premiere of the piece, played in the Middleton High School Performing Arts Center, began.
For Dunton, though, it wasn’t the first time he’d heard the song — he’d heard it electronically hundreds of times while composing it.
“In person, it’s a completely different experience,” Dunton said shortly after the concert ended. “The computer can only give you computer sounds, and when you put it on the stage, it’s so human and that’s what makes you feel so much more alive.” Dunton’s song, “Master of My Fate,” honors the life of Nelson Mandela. The title was inspired by a line in the poem “Invictus,” a work Mandela often recited.
Madison Art Guild brings inspiration to schools
School display cases turn into miniature art galleries thanks to a traveling exhibit of work by Dane County artists. Walking to the display case in the hallway at Randall Elementary School to view the artwork was like a “micro field trip,” said art teacher Joshua Ludke.
“For me, one of the more important things is for them to see these are people in Madison doing this important work,” Ludke said. “Seeing some of those skills from a professional artist in front of you is a way of seeing what those skills we have been practicing in class could become.”
A place for art in halting violence toward Indigenous people
PBS Wisconsin
Students, teachers and community members in Black River Falls are contributing to an art installation named Heart Spirits to build awareness about the tragedy of missing and murdered indigenous women.
These were the most frequently performed plays and musicals in high schools this year
June 5, 20237:01 AM ET
Heard on Morning Edition
Grants for Humanities Programs
Smithsonian: Educator Tools for Teaching about Race
CULTURE of, by, and for the people
Cultivating Learning: Digital Museum
In this professional development series, join educators as they model teaching techniques to use digital museum resources to support student learning in a diverse range of learning environments.
TeachRock
TeachRock improves students' lives by bringing the sound, stories, and science of music to all classrooms. From The Beatles to Beyoncé, from kindergarten to AP History, in the classroom or remotely, TeachRock offers meaningful lesson plans all at no cost to teachers, students, and families, inspiring deeper learning and understanding through the power of music.
Launched by Stevie Van Zandt with the Founders Board of Bono, Jackson Browne, Martin Scorsese, and Bruce Springsteen, Teachrock.org has provided free, standards-aligned resources to help teachers, students, and families succeed for more than a decade.
10 Reasons to Support the Arts in Wisconsin
Theatre Directors/Teachers Professional Development
Refresh! Conference July 18-20
WCDA aims to keep the conference fees at a minimum, to make this event affordable for everyone. Refresh! draws choral directors of every age and level: from first year to retired teachers, elementary, middle, high school, and collegiate teachers, and church and community choir directors. Refresh! sessions range from our popular “ed camps”, in which attendees choose from topics to discuss and learn from one another, to sessions where we learn from nationally recognized conductors. We also sing and share food and fellowship together.
Please join us this summer for Refresh! at the WCDA Summer Conference July 18-20, 2023 on the Carroll University campus in Waukesha, WI.]
MCA Video Game Scoring Workshop
Learn the skills you need to successfully write music for video games!
Students age 12+ are invited to apply. Open to youth and adults wanting to learn real-life applicable skills to score for video games.
July 3-15, 2023
Tuition $349 (early bird discount ends June 1)
✓ 25+ hours of real-time instruction from award-winning composers
✓ Get your music recorded in studio by professional players
✓ Fully virtual, live on Zoom. Participate from anywhere in the world
✓ Improve your composition skills in melody, harmony, and form
✓ Grow your confidence in using a DAW
✓ Learn how to record, mix and master your music
✓ Discover the inside secrets to the VG business (contracts, briefs, mockups etc.)
What we are NOT
✘ Boring, pre-recorded lectures
✘ Lame webinar course
✘ Expensive tuition
https://www.musiccreatorsacademy.com/
Join the PBS Media Literacy Educator Certification Cohort!
PBS Wisconsin Education invites Wisconsin educators to apply to be part of the PBS Media Literacy Cohort. During the 2023-2024 school year, the cohort will work together with PBS Wisconsin Education to earn PBS Media Literacy Educator Certification.
This certification recognizes PreK-12 educators who demonstrate their ability to help learners think critically about media consumption and creation. It is broken out into eight micro-credentials on the Digital Promise platform that cover essential competencies.
Space in the cohort is limited. Please complete the application here by June 22, 2023, to be considered. Applicants are required to attend this short informational webinar.
Applications will be reviewed by July 7, 2023, and applicants will be contacted by July 14, 2023, via email.
Technical Theater for Performing Arts Teachers Summer Institute
Specially designed for K-12 teachers of music, theater, dance, art, PAC managers, parents, and others who find themselves needing to design, supervise, or teach technical theater skills. Others who may benefit include those who use technical theater skills for live events, houses of worship, community theaters, technical theater professionals, and college students. All material is presented online, asynchronously, with optional in-person opportunities as may be identified.
Summer 2023 classes are:
Lighting (Course #619 Lec 003)
Covers terms, color use, fixture selection, photometrics,control boards, programming tips and spot light use, among other topics.
Theater Safety (Course #619 Lec 001)
NEW class! Covers common and uncommon safety issues in theaters and event spaces. Historical events to learn from. Physical and emotional safety in the space including fire codes, building codes, life safety codes, OSHA and schools, chemical usage/storage, crowd management, weather and events and much more!
Managing the School Theater (Course #619 Lec 002)
NEW class! What you need to know to manage a successful educational theater program. Creating theater classes and assessing achievement. Selecting shows right for your students' needs, obtaining rights, casting, funding, producing, working with booster clubs, getting admins to understand, renting your space, where to get supplies, and many others.
Registration is open! Classes run June 19-Aug 13 online, asynchronous.
Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance (CMP) is Back!! July 10-13
Created and taught by real teachers, this is the authentic professional development experience that will really transform your work. Come experience the energy and excitement of creative, passionate K-12 music teachers, new and veteran, instrumental, general and vocal all in one place.
Watch demonstration classes taught by master teachers
Think about how this model will fit with your particular style and students.
Discuss ideas, ask questions and hear from others all around the country in small group settings.
Create a teaching plan that you can really use.
- A natural fit for professional goals.
- Current educational initiatives are examined from a CMP perspective.
- A perfect mix of inspiring and practical!
Play, Make, Learn Conference July 20-21, 2023 Madison
The deadline to submit a proposal at the 2023 Play Make Learn Conference (PML) is quickly approaching! PML is a gathering of researchers, game designers, makers, artists, and educators. The conference is a place for collaboration and discovery in the design, research and practice of playful learning, games for learning and positive social impact, making and makerspaces, STEAM education, and arts integration in education.
PML creates an inspirational space for PreK-12 students, educators, designers, developers, innovators, librarians, museum professionals, makers, and researchers to tinker together, share knowledge, and celebrate one another’s work.
Interested in attending, but not presenting? Save the date for registration opening in April!
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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