Posted Wednesday November 19 2014 at 10:51 pm
Description: Successful inclusion in secondary performing ensembles like choirs and bands is possible! Inclusion in ensemble settings may also present a number of challenges for individuals with disabilities because of teaching and performance traditions. The goal of this session will be to share some strategies that have been effective in providing meaningful opportunities for students with disabilities in secondary ensembles. We will also share video and audio examples, along with personal stories that will highlight and emphasize best practices within a Universal Design for Learning framework.
Takeaways: Participants who attend this session will take away many practical strategies that can be used right away in their ensembles. Main concepts include developing positive student roles, planning for instruction, using tools and technology to create better learning and performing opportunities, and strategies for communicating with school, home, and community partners.
Intended Audience: Teachers in secondary music education settings as well as secondary administrators who wish to see more students with disabilities participating in performing ensembles in their schools. Many of these strategies will also be useful for educators in secondary theatre and art programs, secondary administrators, teaching artists, artists-in-residence, community or church-based choral music professionals, and post-secondary educators in music education.
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Posted Thursday October 23 2014 at 9:16 pm
VSA teaching artist and noted sculpturist will be holding an open studio October 25 and 26, 2014 from noon to 5pm. Come see her wonderful sculptures and drawings.
11 Humphreys Street, Dorchester (end of the driveway, back studio). Wine, cider, refreshments.
Posted Tuesday October 21 2014 at 10:16 pm
Mission Statement:
As a media arts educator, I explore flexible and dynamic ways to utilize the multimodal possibilities of media to record, examine, and express our understanding of the world around us.
Philosophy:
Media is a critical part of our culture, but not everyone knows how to use and critically examine the application of various media tools. I approach media from an inclusive perspective to discover the potential of one or many tools to create inclusive learning spaces. Through media, students can develop lifelong, transferable skills in media literacy, collaboration, and executive functioning.
Experience:
My experience has been working with high school students and young adults in transition in Los Angeles and South Boston. I've worked in classroom, after-school, and nonprofit contexts teaching film and media arts. Media arts serve a powerful purpose in literacy and, at present, I am working with students in English Language Arts and Visual Arts classes at Dorchester Academy. I draw from constructivism, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), and sociocritical literacies in my teaching and curriculum development. I have high expectations of all students and seek to create spaces in which students feel comfortable to learn and share via multiple modalities. My lessons combine discussion with project-based learning so that students can build socio-emotional and cognitive skills as they work independently and in collaboration with one another.
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