Accolades for Our Embodying Literacy Professional Learning Community
Posted Saturday June 20 2015 at 11:49 pm.
Used tags: education
The VSA MA Embodying Literacy professional learning community enabled 11 Boston Public Schools Arts Teachers to explore arts integration strategies to support literacy and inclusion of students with and without disabilities. Through discussions with fellow participants and coaching from the instructors, participants developed inclusive, arts-integrated literacy curricula based on Dance, Drama and English Language Arts Common Core standards. The program was led by two VSA MA master teaching artists; Priscilla Harmel (dance) and Marianne Adams (drama).
Embodying Literacy had a very successful and productive second year, and continued to build important collaborative relationships between BPS arts teachers who rarely have the opportunity to collaborate. Pending funding, we will offer the program again next year.
Stephanie Nikolau, who participated in our Embodying Literacy Professional Learning Community, wrote this about her experience:
The inspiration, support, advice, resources and teaching you have shared with us certainly fills my classroom and lives in my Theater students this year. You have helped me develop a Playmaking process that's transparent to the kids. They can speak to the process and create original performance pieces, when last year it seem like a lofty, and more abstract, string of activities and events. You have given me the language and confidence to advocate at the department, school, district and city-level when it comes to meeting our students needs (inside and outside of the arts classroom). You have helped me create a mission statement for my team, helped me train a school of teachers (and arts colleague close to my heart) in differentiating instruction through movement and storytelling. I have met so many of my professional and personal goals this year through the participation of "Embodying Literacy", and I hope we have given back the support and genuine encouragement you have given to us! You are brilliant, and I look at your work and presence in this field with awe. I truly hope to work at the capacity you do one day. You transform practices in education and help improve the practice of teachers across the country. Thank you for helping me build my future.
TweetNo comments