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Elementary Schools
Are you thinking about starting a new project in your school? Whether it is an art show, after school art club, creating take home art kits, museum field trips, or some other idea, there are a few key things you can do to make your project a complete success! Below is a list of seven steps to take when creating a new project. These steps have helped me to create many successful projects. Step 1. Create a vision. What does it look like when your project is complete? What does the climate of your school feel like? What are you feeling/experiencing? It is important to look at this vision often throughout your project. Remind yourself why you decided to take on this project in the first place every time you feel stuck. Step 2. Create a goal. This needs to be specific and include dates. Here are some sample goals with examples of a time frame for each: • Create a series of fifteen take home art kits for elementary students at “Your” Elementary School to check out and use by September 1, 2008. These goals are specific, achievable and can be measured. You will need to set an exact end date for this project so that you can set up a timeline. Step 3. Create a timeline. Take a look at how much time is between now and your deadline. Make sure there is enough time, but don’t push your deadline so far into the future that it will never get done. Take a blank piece of paper and draw an arrow horizontally in the center. Put the end date at the end of the arrow and put today’s date at the beginning. In the center make milestone marks and date each one. I like to correspond mine with the first of each month, but if your deadline is 3 months away, you might want to make your milestones be every 10 days or so. Step 4. Create your milestones. What are the big milestones along the way? Do not start with the first one, start at the end. What is the last thing that needs to be done right before your project is completed? Then, what will need to be done right before that one, and so on. Back-map your way down your timeline until you arrive at today’s date. Don’t worry about the small stuff; just write down the big milestones. |
Step 5. Develop your actions. Start with your first milestone. What are the actions you will need to take to get you to the first milestone? Some actions might be: Step 6. BE IN ACTION! Now that you have spent time creating this wonderful project design, stick to your deadlines. Feel free to adjust things along the way as needed. Step 7. Reward yourself! This seems silly sometimes but you worked hard to get to that milestone, so reward yourself. Pick something that you normally would not do for yourself. Believe it or not, most people struggle with this one, I know I do. Rewards can be as little (like a piece of chocolate) or as big (like a cruise to the Bahamas) as you want (just remember who is paying for them). J
Note: This project design can be used for ANY project you want to do. From cleaning out your basement to writing a novel, the possibilities are endless. Visit www.accomplishmentcoaching.com for more information about project design and to learn more about life coaching. As always, feel free to email me.
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Elementary Schools
This summer I completed my degree program in supervision and administration. One of my classmates asked me how long had I been teaching, and I told her that I had just finished my ninth year. She said “Wow, you have done a lot in only nine years,” in referring to the numerous leadership roles I have assumed. Start Small: Local Level Leadership Opportunities (school/county) Artist-in-Residencies: Art teachers are not experts in all mediums, so it is a good idea to call on other artists. You can apply for a grant from the Maryland State Arts Council to have an artist-in-residence. Start by choosing an artist or a medium that you are interested in or that you have no background in. This is not only an opportunity for the students to learn but for you as well. Discuss the residency with your principal and PTA. Then, begin researching possible grants. Grant writing is a great leadership experience and it is not as difficult as you might think. There are many grants out there if you are willing to look. Visit http://www.msac.org/ or http://www.washpost.com/community/education/gia.shtml Host Collaboration Meetings: Invite other art teachers to come together and share ideas. Hosting meetings can encourage art teachers to collaborate, which is part of being a good leader. After School Art Club or Saturday Family Field Trip Program: Starting an after school club or a Saturday field trip program is a great way to promote the art program at your school. Plan out the purpose for your club or field trip then talk to your principal or assistant principal about this idea. Write a grant or talk to your PTA to get the materials. Join/Chair a Committee: Be willing to take on a leadership position. Some school districts require you to be on a committee in your school. Volunteer to take on the leadership role in that committee. Also, there are many leadership opportunities with in your school district, if you are willing to look. Take Administration Courses: Start your degree in Supervision and Administration (A&S). This 18 credit certification is required for most leadership positions. There are not many leadership positions in the arts so you will want to be ready when they come along.
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The Next Step: State Level Leadership Opportunities Attend the State Art Conference: This is a great opportunity to learn something new and bring it back to your classroom or your county. There is a pre-registration form in this issue of this MAEA Gazette. Present at the State Art Conference: In the spring the MAEA asks for teachers to develop and submit presentation proposals. Think about a topic that you are knowledgeable and passionate about and create a presentation for your peers. This serves many purposes in your leadership quest. (1) You will learn how to design and implement a successful presentation. (2) You will learn how to stand up and talk in front of a group of adults. And (3) you will be sharing and collaborating with other art teachers, it feels good to “give back” to your profession. Attend State Level MAEA Meetings: Or even better, take on a leadership role! In every issue of the MAEA Gazette we list the upcoming meeting dates. Come to a meeting and get involved! Scholarships: There are many different scholarships out there for teachers to receive. One is the Japan-Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholarship. (http://www.fulbrightmemorialfund.jp/) This scholarship sends teachers to Japan for three weeks. There are many more so keep your eyes and ears open! Go National!: National Level Leadership Opportunities Get Published! A newsletter to parents is a great place to start. You could also write up your favorite lesson to be published in School Arts. Another idea is to contact your local newspaper and send them photographs of your students work. Invite the newspaper photographer and reporter to your yearly art show. These publications are great portfolio pieces! Attend the NAEA Conference: This The 5-day convention includes over 850 participatory workshops, panels, seminars for job-alike groups, research reports, discussions, exhibits, and tours. There are keynote addresses by world-acclaimed educators, artists, researchers, and scholars. This is a once-a-year opportunity to meet in a major American city and meet colleagues from all over the world. Present at the NAEA Conference: After your presentation at the state level you are ready to go National! Refine your national presentation based on the feedback you received from your state presentation. I have been giving presentations at the national level for the past six years. You will able to really perfect your communication and leadership skills by presenting. Get involved with the NAEA: Starting with your state association and taking on leadership roles at that level will enable you to take on National Leadership opportunities. National level retreats are designed for local leaders to attend. When leadership opportunities arise, choose what interests you the most; but, remember to strike a balance between career, family, relationships, and fun! Happy, healthy people make great leaders who inspire others to accept leadership positions! |
Elementary Schools
These are a few interesting facts I learned about education in Japan:
During our second week in Japan we split into smaller groups of 20 teachers. My group had the opportunity to visit Soka, a small city in Saitama Prefecture, which is about 11 miles outside of Tokyo. We observed classes in High School, Junior High School and Elementary School. In high school I observed an English class that was very interesting. The students stayed in the same room all day |
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My experience in Japan changed me forever. I will hold Japan and its people close to my heart. It certainly will change my teaching for the rest of my career.
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Elementary Schools
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How to Keep the Teacher in You Alive
To keep the teacher in me alive I am always looking for fun new ways to learn. For the past two years I have applied for a Fulbright scholarship to Japan. Finally my persistence paid off and this year I was accepted to go for three weeks in October 2006. www.iie.org/jfmf
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How to Design a
see that many of my preconceived ideas about Japanese Education were incorrect. The president of the National Institute for Academic Degrees candidly shared the positive and negative attributes of the Japanese system. 
and the teachers rotated from room to room, I noticed the rooms were very sparse. The students did not participate in any class discussions and there was a lot of lecture and listen. In the Junior high school, I observed two art classes. In the first class they were carving the lid to a wooden box. There were 35 students in the class and the teacher worked in the front of the room with students who needed help. Then I went to another art class that was taught by one of the school’s English teachers. She had no formal training in art and was instructing from a textbook that was approved by Japan’s Ministry of Education. That day, they were using watercolor to paint a map of the United States. 
Near the end of my trip I had the pleasure of living with a host family. The Uratani family was some of the most generous and delightful people I have every met. They welcomed me into their home and took me to many wonderful places. I saw a Japanese castle that had been converted into a museum, a kite museum with kites from all around the world, and ate Mrs. Uratani’s wonderful cooking. Mr. Uratani taught me some Japanese 
calligraphy and sent me home with many supplies to show my students. Their 18 year old daughter Kasumi even made me a CD of popular Japanese music. It was hard to believe that I only stayed with them for one night; I wish it had been longer. I will never forget their love and kindness. 
