Session Descriptions

Creative Drama and Storytelling: Techniques to Use Across the Curriculum (K-6) with Barry Stewart Mann

Barry, a former National Story Teller of the Year and a Creative Arts in Learning instructor with Leslie University's School of Education, has worked in schools and communities across the country for over 20 years. An expert in integrating Drama across subjects (Science, ELA, Social Studies and Math), join Barry to learn how to use techniques such as interpretation, improvisation, role play and characterization to promote literacy and a deeper understanding of the concepts that you already teach. Barry is also conversant in French and Spanish (along with bits of German, Greek and Russian) so Foreign Language Teachers are welcome!

Learning Through Music: Listening, Composing, and Performing from the Classroom to the Music Room (K-12) with Dr. Adriana Van Rensburg

Music Teachers, Elementary Teachers, and Content-Area Teachers will learn how to engage the imagination and inspire critical thinking by incorporating Adriana's music strategies into what they already do. Adriana, an author and Ph.D. in Music Education with 26 years of teaching experience in elementary, middle and high schools, also has Licentiates from UNISA and the Royal Schools of Music (London) in piano performance. She shares procedures, directions, and tips for using innovative listening, composing and performing skills that can be used in multiple subjects (such as English Language Arts, Math and Social Studies) or to enhance learning in the music classroom.

Dance and Creative Movement Integration with Stephanie White (K-6):

Can you dance the water cycle or move the way weather happens? Does creative movement help students to learn in science, social studies and language arts? Of course! Be prepared to move as dancer and choreographer Stephanie White shows teachers how to use easy dance and creative movement strategies to teach concepts they already use in ways that promote deeper understanding and long-term retention.

Visual Art Integration with Marquetta Johnson (K-6):

How can you use Visual Art to reach all students, including those who are gifted, at-risk, typical or who have special needs? Marquetta, one of the first VSA Arts Education Fellows, brings over two decades of experience working with students of all abilities to her workshops.

• integrate art across the curriculum,
• develop task lists that engage all students with rich learning,
• manage supplies and procedures, and
• use Universal Design for Learning to reach all students.

Develop Language and Thinking Skills through Visual Thinking Strategies with Lisa Saunderson and Raymond Veon (preK – 12):

Believe it! You can develop literacy and English Language Skills, critical thinking, the ability to use evidence to think critically, and social skills - in short 15 minute lessons once a week. A perfect tool for teachers pressed for time, Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) is based on 40 years of research, has been used effectively with students of all backgrounds and abilities in the US and across the world, and is even used to help medical students are Harvard University observe and diagnose patients more accurately. Based on the careful observation and discussion of visual artworks, VTS helps teachers become facilitators of student-driven learning. This easy to learn strategy gets better the more you use it. Presented by a VTS specialist and a USU instructor trained in VTS.

Active Learning and Design Thinking through STEAM with Courtney Bryant (K-12):

How do you effectively use the Arts so that students become problem-solvers and actively engaged with STEM learning? Master STEAM Educator, Courtney Bryant, coordinates the STEAM learning program in Georgia's premier STEAM school, the Drew Charter Schools (K-12). Working at all grade levels, Courtney shares a hands-on approach that encourages students to actively explore STEM skills through the arts.

Let Them Drive: Collaboration and Design Thinking in STEAM Learning with Jeff Mather

A nationally recognized Master STEAM Teaching Artist who has worked with over 100 schools, Jeff comes to Northern Utah twice a year to work in local schools. Familiar with our students and schools, Jeff shows how to inspire students through hands-on use of materials and tools. He demonstrates how to let students drive the learning process so they build skills in math, engineering, science and technology as natural parts of exploring and solving problems they design. He shares how he coaches both students and teachers to collaborate in thinking and learning "outside the box."

Teaching Artist Professional Development with Master Teaching Artists

We've reserved two-day block of time for Utah Teaching Artists – and college students or others interested in becoming a Teaching Artist – to work with, learn from, and share with one another. This two-day session will allow participants to identify and explore their own areas for growth with other Utah Teaching Artists while benefitting from the collective experience of nationally recognized Master Teaching Artists. Feel free to share the topics you would like to explore in this session.

• Collaboration – How do you collaborate effectively, especially if you often work alone in your own personal artistic practice?
• Working with school staff and administration – How do you gain an understanding of the school's needs and priorities, the district guidelines a school has to meet, and the (sometimes competing) goals of the school board, community, and the parents/community leaders who are often the funders of arts program in Utah schools?
• Developing arts centered/integrated projects – How do you balance providing an authentic and rigorous experience in your own artistic discipline with the rigor and demands of the subject you're integrating with – e.g. math, science, language arts, etc. Often, we see where learning in the art form is superficial because it is used merely as a vehicle to achieve outcomes in the other academic subject.

Autism and the Arts: Stories of Challenge, Accomplishment and Healing

Weaving personal story with practical hints, Jerry Stropnicky shares insights gleaned from 28 years living alongside Autism Spectrum Disorder. A parent and a professional artist, he has worked with hundreds of individuals across the spectrum. Through trial and a fair share of error, he's frequently able to help families and educators approach ASD creatively. Stories from the theatre, the studio, and from CampEmerge, a camp for families touched by autism, inspire and offer strategies for success. Participants will also gather in Story Circle, for an opportunity to share their own experiences working with the world of ASD.

WE ALL HAVE CHEMISTRY BUT WHY LIMIT IT TO THAT? FULL STEAM AHEAD!

Bring your laptop and imagination as we explore the design process through digital and analog means. Guest educators Courtney Bryant (engineering) and Jeff Mather (teaching artist) from Drew Charter School in Atlanta, Georgia will mentor participants through an arts- infused STEAM project using the web-based design tool Tinkercad.