Meet the Teaching Artist: Tim Van Egmond
Musician, Storyteller
Posted Friday January 10 2014 at 10:29 pm.
Used tags: cool, music, student, teacher
My work as a teaching artist involves lighting up students' imaginations, and bringing out their unique expressions of creativity in whatever area of learning we're exploring.
Like other arts, singing, playing instruments, movement and storytelling engage the students' multiple intelligences to support their learning. There are both direct and indirect connections. For instance: learning numbers through fingerplays; colors, shapes, letter sounds, and positional concepts through songs; learning language skills, vocabulary, sequencing and narrative form through singing games and storytelling activities; problem-solving and motor skills through instrument-making. Concepts such as rhythm, pitch, dynamics and associated patterns are important in creating pathways in each student's cognitive development that form the underpinning for their learning and memory skills.
In initial meetings with teachers we identify the main learning goals they would like for the COOL Schools programs, discuss students' needs and developmental levels and how I would tailor my art forms to address those goals. We also plan how the teacher and assistants will participate in the COOL activities, what ways they can follow-up between sessions, and what documentation and resources I can provide (such as audio or video recordings as well as printed material) to help them continue using these activities in the future.
My work magnifies and increases the effectiveness of the teacher's goals through a multi-sensory approach.
Through the COOL Schools programs I've worked in classrooms at the elementary, middle and high school levels. I've worked with students with learning disabilities, developmental delays, autism, behavioral and emotional disabilities, as well as English Language Learners. I've also worked in inclusion settings in which students with disabilities worked side by side with their general education peers. Subjects my work has supported include English, Science, Math, Social Studies, Music, Dance, and Visual Art.
Teachers gain new resources and experience giving them new tools and approaches, incorporating my art forms in their teaching. Students develop new skills aided by the excitement of discovering and exploring their creativity through the arts.
I began as a Teaching Artist in schools in 1977, and as a VSA COOL Schools Artist in 1985. In 1987 I acted as a trainer for a new VSA Artist, observing, assisting and coaching. I've attended many training workshops and symposia through VSA, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the New England Consortium of Artist-Educator Professionals, Sharing the Fire Northeast Conference on Storytelling, National Storytelling Association Conference, Pinewoods Dance Camp, and Augusta Heritage Arts Workshop. I've also presented workshops for VSA, NECAP, and the Massachusetts Department of Education, as well as other educator conferences. I've been chosen for the Massachusetts Cultural Council's Education Programs roster, as it evolved from Events and Residencies to Creative Teaching Partners. Most recently, a school has been awarded the MCC's STARS Residency grant to work with me. (Resume available).
Student Feedback:
"Thank you for the wooden guys. Thank you for visiting us. Thank you for the music. We'll miss you."
"I liked Mr. Tim's lesson. It was good to make an instrument. I liked using tools and blue tape. Mr. Tim's lesson was cool. I can’t wait until next week for Mr. Tim."
Teacher Feedback
"He treats all children with respect. Mr. Tim ROCKS! The children love him."
"He is very patient and engages all students."
"Tim Van Egmond did a residency here this winter and it was a wonderful experience for my students. Not only did he provide songs and activities which were geared to our curriculum and learning standards, but very sensitively supported a number of my students with intensive special needs so that they had a showcase to perform and excel in front of peers."
One story from my work in COOL Schools programs that stands out for me happened at Adams Elementary school in East Boston. At my first visit to a classroom of students in Grades 3 to 5 with autism, one student named Sheila didn't join the rest of the students. Instead, she stayed seated in another part of the room. Her teacher, Ms. D’Eramo, assured me that this was as much as Sheila could manage at this point. In the next few weekly sessions, Sheila began joining the group, taking part tentatively at first and then with growing confidence and enjoyment. To our delight, Sheila’s growth allowed her to be chosen as the VSA Massachusetts Student of the Month!
As Ms. D'Eramo was quoted in the announcement, "When Sheila first started the VSA program, she would hide in the corner of the room throughout the whole session. She has now started to show participation independently and is actively engaged for most of the session. She is so excited when Mr.Tim comes to our class and has even showed this enthusiasm through physical responses such as hugging Mr.Tim when he comes in. This shows tremendous growth, especially since the only person Sheila hugs in school is her classroom teacher that she has been working with for over a year! She has shown amazing growth behaviorally, socially, and emotionally due to the VSA program. Way to go Sheila!"
This distinction meant the world to Sheila. During our final performance, I announced Sheila's accomplishment and gave her a certificate and a storybook about creativity. Ms. D'Eramo told me that Sheila's tearful thanks in front of all the gathered students and staff was another big sign of her growth. Sheila's family came to the assembly to see her recognized with this award, and her mother was in tears as well. The school put up a bulletin board display about Sheila being chosen as VSA MA Student of the Month. I'll always remember how she blossomed during my time with her class.
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