Top Ten ArTs-In-ed progrAms for februAry

Favorite programs among Suffolk school districts Some Artists have more than one popular program

DISTRICT STARSHere is some of the recent feedback we’ve received for Arts-in-Education and Exploratory Enrichment programs. Your online evaluations are an invaluable resource for Eastern Suffolk school districts. Thanks so much to the following ‘district stars’ for sharing their views.

Special Issue:International Performing Arts

for Youth Showcase 2016

Eastern Suffolk BOCES Arts-in-Ed NewsletterVol. 13, Number 6 - February 2016

Young Artists and Writers Project – Stony Brook University This program fosters a deeper appreciation of playwriting by giving our students first-hand experience with creating a play from their own ideas. Also, students perform each other’s work in class, which fosters an appreciation for performance decisions that work and enhance a play. The student worked collaboratively on a long-term project, hearing criticism and dealing with it as well as synthesizing responses and putting that to work in the play. – Lenore Wright, English teacher, Bridgehampton HS, Bridgehampton

Title Artist/Art Organization Website Target Audience

My Holocaust Story – A Message of Perseverance Marion Blumenthal Lazan www.fourperfectpebbles.com 5-12

Nanotechnology/Magnets to Go/DNA Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC Extration/Nowcasting – Cloud – Brookhaven National Lab

http://www.bnl.gov/education 5-8 formation lab/Graphic Exposure

Donna Coogan Yoga with Donna Coogan donnacoogan@aol.com 1-12

Changing Hearts & Minds Disabilities Unlimited Inc. dennisoehler@netzero.com K-7

Trial of Goldilocks Junior JD’s, Inc. glen.vogel@hofstra.edu 5-6

Starlab Night Sky Educational Services www.nightskyeducational.com K-12

Survivor Testimony & Holocaust History Irving Roth irving.roth1@verizon.net 3-12

Ideas to Build on Ceramic Workshops Catherine Sparacino cathmandoo@aol.com K-12

Dance Theatre of Harlem Tilles Center-LIU University www.tillescenter.org 3-12

Running Scared Running Free The Ward Melville Heritage Organization www.wmho.org 1-12

DISTRICT STARS (continued)

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Music Education Symposium Day In-Service Conference – Society for Ethics in EducationThe ideas gained from the programs can be implemented immediately. All workshops are geared towards specific music disciplines – band, orchestra, chorus, classroom music. – Donald Meier, music teacher. Babylon Junior/Senior HS, Babylon The workshops I attended were mostly focused on the technique of playing the violin, viola, cello and bass. I will impart the knowledge I gained from the workshops to my students in the small group lessons. Another workshop focused on the repertoire for elementary orchestra. It will give me more concert repertoire to play with the students. – Paul Grisafi, music teacher. Babylon Junior/Senior HS, BabylonThis conference was also attended by educators in Bay Shore, Bridgehampton, Copiague, Hauppauge, Patchogue/Medford, South Huntington, Southold, and West Babylon.

Hoyt Farm: Hibernation and Migration – Town of SmithtownThe students were enthusiastic and loved the hands-on experience. Cheryl presented the curriculum in a way that the students could understand. She was patient and encouraged discussion about the content being learned. Cheryl did a great job as usual! – Kathleen Hudzik, Grade 3 teacher. North ES, Brentwood

Engeman Theater: Frosty – HarborSide Productions This was a great play for the children to watch as we begin the winter season. We discussed winter and how the changing weather affects our environment. We also compared the version of Frosty that the children already knew to the version presented in the play. We had a great time and everything was so well organized and went smoothly! The staff at the theater was wonderful and helped with setting up the trip! – Amy Gessner, kindergarten teacher, Ocean Avenue School, Northport-East Northport Sachem students also saw this performance.

The Memory Project – The Memory ProjectThe Memory Project brings both artistic and social/global appreciation to students by allowing them to learn a bit about the culture and quality of living of needy children in another country, and by allowing the students to reach these children through an artistic outlet – children’s portraits. Portraits are drawn or painted, based on the student’s level and the teacher/advisor’s comfort level and flexibility. The project allows high school students to develop their own artistic voice, while recognizing the global impact of their art. Learning that their art can help others is an important lesson... it’s not just about creating work for oneself. We love the Memory Project and try to do it every year! Students ask for it! – Laura Lewonka, art teacher, Sachem HS East, SachemThis project was also experienced in Longwood.

Be a District Star…and advocate for your Arts-in-Education programs! Your school can be featured in District Stars. Just submit an online evaluation for recent arts-in-education and exploratory enrichment programs. In addition, we encourage schools to send us a summary paragraph, describing the program’s impact on student learning and curriculum connection, and/or a digital photo to Carol Brown at cbrown@esboces.org

Long IsLand aIE nEws

LI Arts Competition Focuses on Social Justice and Respect for DiversityEvery year, the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center of Nassau County hosts the Creative Arts Competition. The Competition, which focuses on a theme of social justice, tolerance, and respect for diversity, is opened to middle and high school students. Applications for the 2016 Competition, which has a theme of “Reflecting Back, Looking Forward,” are now being accepted.

The Creative Arts Competition offers students a chance to demonstrate their creativity as well as their understanding of history. Students may compete in a variety of categories, including poetry, visual arts, photography, music, and multi-media. The deadline for submissions is March 4, 2016. To learn more, visit http://www.hmtcli.org/creative-arts-competition/

Teaching Artist/Cultural Partner Institute is slated for AprilEastern Suffolk BOCES Arts in Education is holding its annual Teaching

Artist/Cultural Partner Institute on April 7-8, 2016 in Bellport, NY. The goals for the two-day event, which is funded through a generous US Department of Education Arts integration grant, include: • Exploring current creative pedagogy, curriculum, and

assessment models • Sharing lessons learned through working with East

Suffolk schools • Building partnerships between the schools, teaching artists

and their organizations.

Teaching artists, such as professional writers, visual and performing artists, as well as cultural organization educators are welcomed to apply for the two-day training. To access the application and program description, visit https://goo.gl/aMKG5L. There is no cost to those who are accepted into the program. Please note: The institute has been scheduled during the week when the schools are busy administering the statewide English Language Arts tests. Feel free to share this information with friends and colleagues who may be interested in participating.

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Arts Ed Partnership Teams up with Ed Commission of the StatesIn January, the Arts Education Partnership (AEP) joined the staff at the Education Commission of the States (ECS). For the past 50 years, the ECS has offered education policy resources and reports as well as rallied support for issues affecting Pre-kindergarten through postsecondary education for the states. Since 1995, the AEP has held arts education forums and acted as a clearinghouse of arts education research. The AEP has “worked so tirelessly over the past several years to ensure that equitable access to a high-quality education that includes the arts remains within the reach of every child and young person in America,” notes retiring AEP director Sandra Ruppert. With the transition of AEP to the ECS host organization, Ms. Ruppert predicts that the “AEP will be particularly well-positioned to assist state policymakers at every level and in every state to achieve that goal.” To learn about the future collaboration of the AEP and ECS, visit http://www.ecs.org/

NEA Research Focuses on Arts and Early Childhood DevelopmentA new National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) study suggests that exposure to the arts may offer both social and emotional benefits for very young children, including those with autism. The Arts in Early Childhood: Social and Emotional Benefits of Arts Participation: A Literature Review and Gap-Analysis (2000-2015) looked at 18 recent studies involving young children (birth to 8 years old) who participated in art activities (ie, music, dance, theater, drawing, and painting). While the researchers stressed that further investigation is necessary, their review suggested a positive link between arts activities and the development of social skills (such as helping, sharing, caring, and empathizing with others) and emotional skills. These benefits were not gender-specific. Moreover, in one study, autistic children, ages three to five, had more positive outcomes (such as making and maintaining eye contact) after participating in music sessions than after participating in play sessions. For further details, visit https://www.arts.gov/news/2015/arts-and-early-childhood-development-focus-new-nea-research

Through the Arts, Students Build a Reservoir of ExperiencesIn the wake of recent controversy over the academic benefits of arts integration, the New York Times heralds a Connecticut school district that believes the arts are making a difference. After four years of arts integration through an initiative called Hartford Performs, participating Hartford, CT, students have out-performed control subjects in writing. The project, which brings teaching artists into the classroom, also funds field trips to local museums and other cultural venues. “Hartford Performs builds a reservoir of experiences from which to draw as [students] make their way through the curricula,” says Tracy Kane, arts director for Hartford schools. District officials are hoping to expand the program, which is currently offered in Grades PreK-8.

Hartford Performs also offers teacher training on how to integrate arts into academic lessons. “Most people don’t consider themselves artists, teachers included,” explains Rei Poirier-Campbell, executive director of Hartford Performs. “It probably wouldn’t occur to a teacher to use dance or drawing or other art forms in their lessons. We break it down, give them techniques.” To learn more about this initiative, visit http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/10/nyregion/in-hartford-schools-granting-artistic-license-to-learn.html?WT.mc_id=SmartBriefs-Newsletter&WT.mc_ev=click&_r=0

Researchers Give Doodlers a Thumbs UpCan writing and drawing make you smarter? The author of a recent Education Week TEACHER article thinks so. According to Deidra Gammill, research suggests that students learn more and retain more through various forms of doodling during instruction. In one study, 40 students were asked to listen to an extremely boring telephone conversation. Half of the students were told to doodle and the other half was given no instruction. In their Applied Cognitive Psychology paper, the researchers reported that the doodlers remembered 29% more information than the non-doodlers. Doodling has “all kinds of benefits for our brains,” writes Ms. Gammill. “Doodling is actually a form of mnemonics, connecting images with information and significantly increasing our ability to remember what we’ve learned.” To learn more, visit http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2016/01/04/the-benefits-of-using-doodling-and-sketchnotes.html

Some Computer-based Exams May Discriminate, says StudyIn 2012, the United States Department of Education gave 10,000 fourth graders a laptop computer and challenged them to complete two 30-minute writing assignments. The study’s positive results led to the adoption of computer-based writing tests across the country. However, a recent investigation suggests that writing on a computer may benefit certain students and not others.

When the 2012 computer-based test results were compared with a 2010 pencil-and-paper assessment, researchers found that high-performing students scored better on computer-based writing tests than on pencil-and-paper tests. However, the opposite was true for average- and low-performing students. Those students scored better on pencil-and-paper tests. One possible explanation for why high-performing students may do well on computer-based tests is that they are more likely to have access to a computer and the Internet at home, according to a recent Hechinger Report article. “Your familiarity with the tool makes a difference,” notes Steve Graham, a professor at Arizona State University and an expert in research on writing instruction. To read the full article, visit http://hechingerreport.org/online-writing-tests-widen-achievement-gap/

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IntErnatIonaL aIE nEws

Int’l Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) 2016 Showcase: A WrapAs usual, International Performing Arts for Youth (IPAY) Showcase was a mix of the artistic, the outrageous, and the compelling. Some performances are directed specifically to Performing Arts Centers (PAC), while others are best for Music and Arts Festivals, and some can go directly into your school. I look forward to hearing what some of our local PACs are planning for 2016-17.

One of my favorites is Jabber. This High School performance comes directly to your school. If we get a substantial block booking (8 performances in a week), the cost will be $800/performance plus travel.

JabberMontrealAge Range: 12–18Website: http://www.geordie.ca‘Jabber’ is about a 16 year old Egyptian girl whose parents transfer her to a new school when one morning some graffiti saying ‘All Muslims must die’ is found on the school wall. At her new school she is the only person wearing a hijab. The play’s focus is on judgement of differences through the eyes of a recent immigrant, as well as those of a young man who has a violent reputation. There is a complete study guide for teachers.

Guy DavisTitle of Performance: A Blues Ambassador Country: USAAge Range: 7-13Website: http://www.guydavis.coDavis has been called, “An Ambassador of the Blues.” As a performer for children and family programs, Guy has traveled the globe from the

Equator to the northern Arctic, performing residencies for Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Annenberg Center, and other programs. Guy’s proudest project is the I Will Be Your Friend: Songs and Activities for Young Peacemakers for

the Southern Poverty Law Center. Guy contributed the title track to this collection of songs and classroom projects that help teach diversity and understanding as part of the national ‘Teaching Tolerance’ campaign.

Teatro de OcasiónTitle of Performance: Una Mañanita Partí... / Once Morning I Left... Country: ChileAge: PrimaryWebsite: http://www.teatrodeocasion.cl/Ana decides to go on a trip in the company of Gaspar and Oliver, who help her throughout her journey. She discovers nature: the sun, flowers, butterflies… Along the way, she milks a cow in the countryside, flies on

a bird through the desert, dives in a sea of bubbles and explores the jungle. Clothes, b u c k e t s , funnels and ropes support this journey that magically comes to life.

The story is told through live music, sound effects and songs, a mixture that makes One Morning I Left an intimate and captivating show.

Ailie Cohen, Puppet MakerTitle of Performance: The Secret Life of Suitcases Country: UK Age: Primary and Intermediate ElementaryWebsite: http://www.ailiecohen.com/Larry works in an office and he likes it very much. He likes sorting and tidying and generally putting things in order. Everything in its place, a place for everything. But one day, a suitcase suddenly appears at his door. A suitcase with a tiny label. A tiny label with Larry’s name on it. And this suitcase has a mission... Join Larry in ‘The Secret Life of Suitcases’ as his world gets turned upside down by a fantastical flying suitcase taking him further than he ever thought possible. Follow Larry’s journey as he discovers the thrill of adventure and the joy of coming home again.

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IntErnatIonaL aIE nEws (continued)

For those of you who may want to treat your HS students to a remarkable voice orchestra (yeah really), and for a group I’ve recommended to perform at several music festivals, is Awake Love Orchestra.

Company: Awake ProjectsTitle of Performance: Awake Love Orchestra Country: Sweden / UKAges: Middle and Senior HSWebsite: http://boatrockerentertainment.com/Video (full performance): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj32jV01S_gTrailer: http://boatrockerentertainment.com/portfolio-item/awake-love-orchestra/Members of Awake Projects’ multi-talented performing ensemble form the Awake Love Orchestra. This unique fusion of folk, choral and popular music transports the listener from Scandinavia and the Mediterranean to Eastern Europe and the USA. The Awake Love Orchestra has been entertaining international audiences since 2009. “★★★★ The theme is love and it is beautifully expressed through the group’s absolute joy for the music. The talent coming from this international ensemble is obvious as they use their mouths, bodies and instruments to create sound in a wonderfully unique and connected way” (Three Weeks).

Monkey Baa Theatre brought us “Hitler’s Daughter” a few years ago, one of my standing favorites for grades 6-12. The 15-minute Spotlight of Unknown Soldier at IPAY made me eager for more. Always well-conceived, well-written and directed and well-acted. Hope it comes to one of our PACs soon.

The Unknown SoldierMonkey Baa Theatre CompanyCountry: AustraliaGrades 6-12Website: http://monkeybaa.com.auThe Unknown Soldier explores themes of war through several journeys: a modern-day family crisis in which a father back from Afghanistan is

suffering from PTSD; a young soldier facing almost certain death as he prepares to ‘go over the top’ in the French trenches of WWI; and a volunteer nurse in search of her son missing in action.

Dare to SeaPeut-être TheatreCountry: United KingdomAge: Primary Website: http://peutetretheatre.co.ukA magical journey, brings together dancers, circus and visual artists. The aquatic world is conjured through hand-made animated projections; waves are created through an original score and objects such as juggling clubs become fish darting through the water. Dive in to indulge yourself in a magical and moving adventure of waves, acrobatics and magnificent images.

Fun, a bit of zaniness, clever…The Bockety World of Henry & BucketBarnstorm Theatre CompanyCountry: Ireland Ages: Elementary School Website: www.holdenarts.orgPoetic, humorous and rich in visual antics, The Bockety World of Henry and

Bucket inventively stages a day in the life of two best friends in a land of discarded objects. Henry and Bucket may have their ups and downs but as long as they are together, their imagination

transforms their world into a place of wonder and adventure.

By Carol Brown, Eastern Suffolk BOCES Administrative Coordinator for Arts-in-Education

CALL FOR REVIEWS OF RESIDENCY PROGRAMS

Residencies offer some of the most valuable Arts-in-Education experiences, giving students ongoing, sustained learning with artists and specialists in the arts fields. To honor the value of residencies, ESBOCES Arts-in-Ed will highlight these types of experiences in this monthly newsletter. Please send us a few paragraphs, photos (if available, and always w/ releases, please) to help us herald the residencies you are

offering your students. Email Carol Brown at cbrown@esboces.org

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Program ProfILEs

Boxing Out BullyingBy Virgie Torres In September, students (and teachers) at Paumanok ES (Half Hollow Hills) were on the edge of their seats during Boxing out Bullying by Boxing Out Bullying Productions. The audience couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. The presenters, Kyle (far right in photo) and Jeremy, were awesome! They interacted well with our students and gave them a better knowledge of bullying. Students learned how to interact to stop the bullying process, how to show empathy, and what to do when they are unable to diffuse the situation. It was an excellent program to start our school year. We had two assemblies, one for Grades K-2 and the other Grades 3-5, geared to the audience’s age level. I would recommend this program to other schools.

Ms. Torres is vice president of Paumanok ES PTA.

If Students Could Be President, What Would They Do?In “Kids 4 President,” a program offered by Child’s Play Touring Theatre, students are given an opportunity to tell others what they would do if they were elected President of the United States. Through writing prompts and a classroom simulation game, students are encouraged to write a story, poem or a campaign speech that expresses their feelings and thoughts about the challenges that would face a newly-elected President.

As part of the program, students may submit their work to be considered for adaptation into a play, song or dance. The chosen writing, which is selected by the actors, is performed during a full-length repertory show of the Child’s Play Theatre.

Kids 4 President, which may be adapted for writing about community elections, such as a mayoral campaign, is part of the theater group’s New Voices series. To book or learn more about this program, visit http://www.cptt.org/

mark Your CaLEndar…January 16- Black Voices, an exhibition at the Art League of Long Island, features artists from Brooklyn, Queens, and Nassau andFebruary 21. Suffolk counties. For information, visit http://artleagueli.net/ or contact Elizabeth Kisseleff at ekisseleff@artleagueli.org

April 1. LI Media Arts Show. Five Towns College. http://esboces.org/Page/306 Contact Carol Brown at cbrown@esboces.org

April 7-8. Arts Ed Partners Institute. Bellport. For description and application, https://goo.gl/aMKG5LC Contact Carol Brown at cbrown@esboces.org

April 29. LI Student Shakespeare Festival. Five Towns College. Contact Jeff Dailey at dpmusicart@aol.com

May 18. Conference for Kids. Suffolk Community College Riverhead Campus. Contact Carol Brown at cbrown@esboces.org

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WEB VIEWS

Quote of Month

“We measure the success of a civilization by how well they treat their creative people.”– Neil deGrasse Tyson, astrophysicist

GREAT MINDS: AN ASTROPHYSICIST AND MUSICIAN TALK ABOUT ARTS EDAstrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and musician David Byrnes discuss the importance of arts education in a recent interview for National Geographic. “Art education doesn’t mean your ambition is to grow up to be a painter,” notes Mr. Byrnes, formerly of the rock group Talking Heads. “You can apply that creative thinking to everything else – business, engineer, and science.” To view the short video clip, visit http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/startalk/videos/the-importance-of-art-education/

5 TIPS FOR CREATING AN ASSESSMENT TOOLTeachers spend time and effort to create dynamic unit plans. However, when it comes time to creating a tool to assess students’ knowledge of the unit’s content, the United States Department of Education (USDOE) says there’s no need to start from scratch. Existing assessment tools can be adapted and adopted. While the USDOE suggestions focus on assessments for arts content, the information, such as how to write assessment questions and to check the tool’s reliability, can be applied to any content. To read full article, visit http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USED/bulletins/12d317c

HOW DO YOU MEASURE STUDENT ENGAGEMENT?Improving student engagement through arts integration was one of the key goals for North Coast Arts Integration Project, an Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination (AEMDD) grant. However, finding a reliable way to measure that engagement was challenging. The “process helped us refine our thinking about what we wanted to measure and how we could make the instrument work for us,” reports project co-coordinator Mr. Funkhouser. “It served as a catalyst for conversations with teachers about student engagement.” To read full article, visit http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USED/bulletins/12d317c

EditorsSusan Neale Diane Bloxon Carol Brown

www.esboces.org/AIE

Please submit articles and items of interest toCarol Brown: cbrown@esboces.org

631-286-6989 (voice)

631-286-6991 (fax)

EdItorIaL staff:

OC 4461 2/16 CAS

Eastern Suffolk BOCES Board and Administration

PresidentLisa Israel

Vice PresidentSandra Townsend

Member and ClerkFred Langstaff

Members Arlene Barresi Joseph LoSchiavo Walter Wm. Denzler, Jr. Anne Mackesey Stephen Dewey, Ph.D. William K. Miller Stephen L. Gessner, Ph.D. Catherine M. Romano William Hsiang John Wyche Susan Lipman Interim District Superintendent Chief Operating Officer Maureen Donohue-Whitley Julie Davis Lutz, Ph.D.

Associate SuperintendentRyan J. Ruf – Management Services

Associate SuperintendentPeggie Staib, Ed.D. – Educational Services

Assistant SuperintendentR. Terri McSweeney, Ed.D. – Human Resources

Directors/ManagersKeith Anderson – Building Services

Leah Arnold – Career, Technical and Adult EducationKate Davern – Education and Information Support Services

Colleen Lipponer – Business ServicesSusan Maddi – Administrative ServicesGrant Nelsen – Technology Integration

Gina Reilly – Special EducationDarlene Roces – Regional Information Center

Candace White-Ciraco, Ed.D. – Planning and Program Improvement

www.esboces.org

Eastern Suffolk BOCES does not discriminate against any employee, student, applicant for employment, or candidate for enrollment on the basis of sex, gender, race, color, religion or creed, age, weight, national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, domestic violence victim status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or any other classification protected by Federal, State, or local law. Eastern Suffolk BOCES also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Inquiries regarding the implementation of applicable laws should be directed to either of the Eastern Suffolk BOCES Civil Rights Compliance Officers: the Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, 201 Sunrise Highway, Patchogue, NY 11772, 631-687-3029, ComplianceOfficers@esboces.org; or the Associate Superintendent for Educational Services, 201 Sunrise Highway, Patchogue, NY 11772, 631-687-3056, ComplianceOfficers@esboces.org. Inquiries may also be addressed to the Office for Civil Rights at the US Department of Education, 32 Old Slip, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10005, 646-428-3800, OCR.NewYork@ed.gov.