Professional Development

Summer of Surprises Part 1: NEW Conference Presenters Announced!

3 Min Read  •  Conferences

What would summer be without a few surprises thrown into the mix?  We are working on a BUNCH of exciting projects for you behind the scenes (which is being documented on Instagram – follow along!). Today, I get to reveal the first one.

NEW CONFERENCE PRESENTERS

Our summer online arts integration and STEAM conference event is happening in July! We couldn’t be more pleased with this season’s lineup of presenters.  We just added the final four and I think you’re going to LOVE what they have to share!

deirdreDeirdre Moore: Exploring the Creative Process with Dance

Resident EdCloset writer and Arts Integration Specialist Deirdre Moore is presenting a session all about using movement to work through the creative process.  Her extremely popular article Facilitating the Creative Process just touches the surface.  In this presentation, she’s getting into the heart of how curriculum components already available and can be used to connect in and through the choreographic process.

Brianne Edit 6 copyBrianne DeFrang: Project-Based Learning as a Means for Arts Integration

Following up on her amazing workshop on Project-Based Learning in the Arts, Brianne is going to dive into how PBL, AI and STEAM can work in tandem, when they need to stand alone, and how to keep the integrity of the arts in tact.  You’ll also be taking a look at the parallels between the inquiry-based learning process and the artistic processes – where they intersect for maximum lesson success!

victoria brownVictoria Brown: Early Childhood Story Drama – Living through the Eyes of the Protagonist

Victoria is one of my own personal heroes.  She is the founder and director of Lucy School, a private Arts Integration school in Maryland.  People come from all over the country to work with her in the summer at their beautiful school which has working gardens for students and a certified LEED building on premises.  I’m so excited that she agreed to share a session with all of you – it’s like getting the gift of a personal master class!  In this session, Victoria is going to share how she uses drama with story as a way to explore character traits, problem-solving, critical-thinking, dialogue and socialization with our youngest learners.

shapeimage_8Marcia Daft: Patterns in Music, Dance and Mathematics

Truly, this is a session not to be missed!  Marcia Daft is a Teaching Artist for the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center, author, and renowned clinician who created the “Movement through Math” and “Movement through Science” series.  In this exclusive session, Marcia will share how to find the pattern concepts in the Common Core Math Practices and to teach these mathematical habits of mind through arts integration. You’ll learn how patterns form the building blocks of mathematics, music and dance. And, you’ll explore ways to help students move past rote memorization and develop conceptual and creative thinking in mathematics.

Are you excited yet???  These are just 4 of the 15+ sessions being shared at this summer’s conference.  Registration is still going on (until July 20) and we already have hundreds who are joining us.  As if that wasn’t enough…

SURPRISE GIVEAWAYS!

This summer, our partners have been extremely generous in their support of educators.  Between stuffing the mailed TinkerKits with materials and offering exclusive discount codes, coupons and downloads in our digital TinkerKits, they have really outdone themselves.  But here’s even more reason to celebrate their support: amazing giveaways!  Check out the items that our partners are providing as giveaways during the conference:

  • Google Chromebook
  • Full-size classroom art sets
  • Boogie Boards
  • Kindle Fires
  • Gift cards to some of your favorite supply stores

Don’t miss out on the chance to win one of these incredible gifts AND to get some amazing professional development from the world’s BEST arts integration teachers, clinicians, and leaders.  I look forward to seeing you at this summer’s STEAMiest conference event!