Arts, Care & Connection: Seeking Feedback From the Field

Teacher Focus Groups

We are interested in hearing about your experiences teaching art to elementary students in Oregon. Provide your voice and experience while earning a stipend as you contribute to a statewide STEAM education initiative called the Well-Rounded Access Program! The Oregon Department of Education is partnering with the STEM Research Center at Oregon State University to better understand how STEM/STEAM and Arts education in Oregon is accessible and available to students. We are seeking elementary school teachers who teach any kind of art in the classroom (e.g., visual, music, dance, theater) and who are interested in being part of a focus group to discuss their experiences with art teaching. The focus groups will convene virtually 2-3 times for one hour over the 2024/25 academic year based on your availability; your time would be compensated at $75/hour.  

If you are interested in participating in a focus group, please respond to this short survey. The purpose of the survey is to learn more about where and what you teach so we can include diverse perspectives in the focus groups. The survey will take fewer than 5 minutes to complete.

If you would like more information before deciding, please send your questions to Nancy Staus at stausn@oregonstate.edu.

Arts, Care & Connection Site Visit Opportunities

Are you currently implementing or interested in the Arts, Care & Connection lessons? The Well-Rounded Access Program team is enthusiastic about the opportunity to observe how these lessons are being implemented at your school. As a token of our appreciation for your time and hospitality, we would be delighted to provide a class set of oil pastels and paper for use with one of the Arts, Care & Connection lessons to the class.

If you are interested in scheduling a site visit, or have any questions about this opportunity,  Access Program team at ODE.WRCoursesGrant@ode.oregon.gov. 

Arts Care & Connection Update: New Lessons Posted!

Arts for Learning Northwest is collaborating with Oregon teaching artists on the development of a series of four arts courses designed for K-5 students called Arts, Care & Connection, with integrated social emotional learning content in the areas of dance, visual arts, theater, and music. These lessons are part of a pilot project, and will be shared in their final version in an Oregon Open Learning Lesson Collection. Oregon teachers are encouraged to provide feedback on the form included in the lesson resources, to inform the development of this project.

Check out this new featured resource for an example of the Arts, Care & Connection content included in the Oregon Arts Group!

Master of Ceremonies (MC) with Mic Crenshaw | 5th Grade

The Oregon Open Learning Hub is a digital resource repository and collaboration space for educators, administrators, and other educational partners to curate, create, and remix open educational resources (OER). The Hub is a portal to over 50,000 openly licensed resources available on OER Commons, searchable by grade level, subject, and standard. 

Want to learn more about OER and the Oregon Open Learning Hub? Asynchronous learning options include the OER Professional Learning Group on the Hub and the User Guide for Oregon Open Learning.

Call for Oregon Thespians State Festival Guest Artists 

Oregon Thespians is looking for Regional and Local theatre professionals to teach workshops at the Oregon Thespians State Festival 2025!

Educational theatre workshops are the heart of the Oregon Thespians State Festival, held April 3-5 in Salem, OR at the Salem Convention Center and other downtown venues. 

Oregon Thespians is interested in all categories of workshops connected to performance and technical theatre. They would like to offer more workshops aligned with design (small and large group), hands-on technical theatre, musical theatre singing techniques, and particularly providing workshops that diversify offerings in reflecting more global theatre work. They also seek presenters for stage combat and dance.

Participation is confirmed on a rolling basis. See form for details and to apply.

Northwest Watercolor Foundation (NWWF) “Art for Kids” Scholarship

“Art For Kids” is a NWWF program that provides grants to teachers in K-12 schools and to nonprofit art programs for the purchase of art materials and supplies. The grant money totals $2,600.00 per school year and can increase with donations.

Applicants may apply once per calendar year and may be from any U.S. state.

Learn more and apply here.

Free PD Opportunity: 2025 PSU Music Tech Ed Workshop

Have you been considering teaching Music Technology in your school?  Have you been asked to teach Music Technology, but don't know where to start?  Attend this FREE workshop to learn about Digital Audio Workstations (Soundtrap for Education and Ableton Live), basic recording skills, and get ideas for curriculum.  

Presenters include: 

• Caroline Miller, Sonic Arts, PSU
• Mari Schay, Music Education, PSU
• Jake Kelly, Recording Technologies, PCC Cascade
• Jason Rodgers, Digital Audio Production, Woodburn High School

Saturday, February 1, 2025 | 9:00am-3:00pm | Portland State University Lincoln Hall

Sign up at this link!

Crayola Creativity Week Opportunities

Join the free celebration, Jan 27-Feb 02, 2025!

Free Creative Learning Resources
Everyone who signs up will get free video activities and downloadable Thinking Sheets. Every educator will have free access to digital resources for cross-curricular creative learning fun all year long!

Giveaways
With giveaways, challenges from celebrity creators, and virtual classroom visits, it's a celebration the whole school will want to be a part of!

Create Connections
Share students’ ideas, projects, and work in a secure online gallery, and connect with creative classrooms around the country during the live Celebration Assembly event.

See site for details and sign up!