...your monthly Collaborative happenings in one place!
|
|
|
|
PreK students at Sonnie Hereford Elementary practice moving in their ‘personal space’ as Teaching Artist Kerri-Noelle Humphrey gives instructions.
|
|
|
Spotlight on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and PreK at Sonnie Hereford Elementary
|
|
|
The North Alabama Arts Education Collaborative (NAAEC) is piloting a new Arts Integration Program using the four arts disciplines - music, visual arts, drama and movement/dance - to help PreK students master Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Standards.
SEL competencies are receiving increased emphasis due to the pandemic and COVID-19 restrictions. Teaching Artist Kerri-Noelle Humphrey is using movement and dance to help students understand the concepts of personal space, self-awareness and how to manage anxiety through focused breathing techniques. Students will also study the book "I Am Enough," by Grace Byers. Other arts disciplines featured in this residency will be visual art, music and drama.
This is the NAAEC's first experience with PreK, and the collaborative hopes to be able to bring this ground-breaking residency to other schools in the area. NAAEC thanks PreK teachers Charla Smith and Monica Greene, and Principal Donna Williams for their support and participation in this program.
The North Alabama Arts Education Collaborative (NAAEC) has served many area schools and students this year. To create a custom plan for your school/classroom or for more information, please contact
NAAEC Director Karen Anderson, karen@artshuntsville.org.
|
|
|
March is Arts Education Month
|
|
|
The Alabama State Board of Education has recognized March as Arts Education Month. The NAAEC encourages all arts organizations and artists to post on their social media pages about the transformative power of the arts. This is a chance for educators to either talk about their own arts education experience or a student's personal experience - and/or to share a video or picture.
When you post, be sure to use the hashtags
#TheArtsMakeAlabamaBetter or #ArtsAreEducation.
To support this year’s campaign, the NAAEC is asking classroom arts educators to submit a photo or short video to be posted on the Arts Huntsville social pages. This will allow the NAAEC to publically showcase the wonderful arts education work that is being done locally. Please include the name of the school and a brief description of the activity or artwork.
- Send your photos or videos to karen@artshuntsville.org -
|
|
|
|
Teaching Artist Pat Nickel works with a Madison County Middle School eighth-grade student to attach strings to a Cigar Box guitar.
|
|
|
Madison County Eighth-Grade Students Study Sound Waves
|
|
The NAAEC is pleased to continue its partnership with students at Madison County Elementary and Middle School. This semester, eighth-grade science students are adding music to their unit on sound and sound waves. Teaching Artist Pat Nickel is helping them construct Cigar Box guitars using basic hand tools.
Students are learning how sound waves travel through different substances and how tension and length affect frequency and pitch. After the guitars are completed, the students will learn basic strumming patterns, chords and songs. This residency will culminate with a lecture presentation and concert for students and parents on Thursday, March 10.
This is the NAAEC's second residency using Cigar Box Guitars to study sound. Thank you to The Cigar Box Guitar Store, located in Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment, for their assistance in preparing the kits for the students.
|
|
|
Registration Open for
Alabama Youth Ballet Theatre's (AYBT) School Performances of
Snow White and Paquita,
a Fairytale Ballet
- April 1, 2022 at the VBC Playhouse -
Two Shows
|
|
|
Grades: PreK to 5th grade
Cost: $5 per student (fee waiver for Title 1 schools)
Public School Contact: leah@aybtheatre.org
Homeschool Ticketing: Click Here
|
|
|
|
Barton Dwayne Craft
Fine Arts Coordinator - Huntsville City Schools
Barton Dwayne Craft was born into a military family in El Paso, Texas, but grew up in Huntsville. His undergraduate degree is from Athens State University in secondary education / language arts. Craft holds a Masters of Science in theatre from Florida State University and a Masters of Arts in school leadership and administration from The University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Craft is a Bill Wilson Scholarship winner (Southeastern Theatre Conference), A Dorothy Schwartz Outstanding Theatre Educator recipient (Alabama Conference of Theatre) and has served in leadership roles with various arts organizations through the state and southeastern region. He taught theater at Bob Jones High School for 28 years. Craft has six published plays and his work has been produced throughout the US. He currently lives in Madison with his wife Katelyn (who is an art teacher) and his children Kennedy and Barret.
|
|
|
What made you decide to become a theatre teacher?
When I was in high school I tended to be very unfocused and had my fair share of encounters with school assistant principals for one infraction or another. One day I skipped my English teacher’s class (Mrs. Carol Chandler) and instead of sending me to the assistant principal for yet another paddling, she gave me the option of helping out with auditions for the spring play. At the end of the auditions, she offered me a leading role. I was going to quit a few weeks in and escape punishment for skipping until I read the second act and realized that I would have to kiss the prettiest girl in the senior class twice in that act. I decided to tough it out and found that I enjoyed theatre.
Upon graduating from high school, I enrolled as an engineering major at UAH and took three years of coursework before I realized that I missed theatre - SO I changed majors to education, changed schools and found happiness. From that point, I went on to get a Master's degree in theatre from Florida State University and taught 28 years before moving into arts administration.
I do remember telling Mrs. Chandler that when I grew up I wanted to be a theatre teacher. Her response was that I couldn’t do both…grow up and be a theatre teacher.
What excites you about working with students?
The possibilities and potential young actors have. They are just a bundle of new horizons and are really well suited to the art form. Once they get past their fears and really embrace the idea of risking failure to achieve success, it becomes a lot of magic moments of hearing their own voices through the characters they play.
Why do you think arts education is important?
Research has proven that students who are involved in sequential and sustained arts education score significantly higher in virtually every subject area on the ACT and SAT.
The social/emotional skills developed through the arts are also very important. Of all the leading indicators for success that business and industry professionals seek in candidates the ones valued most highly are intrinsic to the arts. Teamwork, leadership, communication, creative thinking, collaboration, problem solving - all are practiced as part of a rigorous arts training program. Science and math make life liveable, the arts make life worth living.
What is a fun fact that most people don’t know about you?
I love race cars and racing. I have a Mustang GT that is tuned for racing and has been modified throughout. I have worked in the pit crew for Rocketham Racing in the ChampCar Series. If goes fast and has two or four wheels, I probably like it. My wife and kids aren’t as keen on it.
|
|
|
2021-2022 CLASSROOM ARTS PARTNER GUIDE AVAILABLE
|
|
|
The 2021-2022 Classroom Arts Partners Guide is filled with information about local arts organizations and teaching artists that have virtual and in-person programs available for children in grades PreK-12. These programs include field trips, in-school performances, lecture demonstrations, and classes & are identified by the type of arts experience: Arts Integration, Arts Enhancement, Arts Exposure, Arts Competitions.
New this year! There are offerings of classes taught by individual teaching artists, in addition to organizations.
Teaching artists Kerri-Noelle Humphrey and Jessica Nunno offer dance and visual art classes that integrate with creative writing, language arts and other core subjects. These classes are designed to deepen student understanding and increase their engagement.
|
|
Download your FREE copy of the 2021-2022 Classroom Arts Partners Guide!
Browse the NAAEC's classroom offerings for updated program info - Arts Huntsville strives to support local educators who work hard every day to provide quality education to our children.
|
|
|
|
The North Alabama Arts Education Collaborative (NAAEC) partners with local schools, teaching artists, and arts and community organizations to extend school-based and after-school arts education opportunities across the Collaborative's service area. If you are interested in partnering with the NAAEC to serve students at your school, please click the link below to contact the North Alabama Arts Education Collaborative's Karen Anderson.
|
|
The goal of the North Alabama Arts Education Collaborative is to increase access to high quality arts education that enlightens, inspires and develops in every student the creative and innovative thinking necessary to ensure college and career readiness.
The Collaborative serves all of the public school districts in Madison and Limestone counties and Decatur City and partners with area arts organizations and teaching artists to expand access to the arts, arts integration and creative learning.
|
|
|
- Leadership support for the North Alabama Arts Education Collaborative is provided by -
|
|
|
- Collaborative Artist Partners -
|
|
|
- Your Donations Help Expand Arts Education -
|
|
|
|
|
