March is Women’s History Month

Despite efforts to make things more equitable, a 2019 study found that artists represented in the collections of 18 major United States’ museums are 85% White and 87% male. Mona Chalabi, a New York-based artist and data journalist notes that, “The worst represented group in the US art world are women of color. We make up just 1% of all of the artists in major collections despite the fact that we account for 20% of the US population.” (See this article by Hakim Bishara.) March is Women’s History month. Representation matters. As educators, we have the opportunity to make students aware of the good and important work of women artists. Here are some links to information and resources: National Museum of Women in the Arts; National Women’s History Alliance; Women’s History Month; National Art Education Association Women’s Caucus, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Thank you for all that you do in service of the arts in education,

Janet Hayakawa, Program Supervisor
The Arts - Dance, Media Arts, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Janet.Hayakawa@k12.wa.us
Cell/Text: 360-764-6157

_{Art – “Neon” Acrylic on Gesso Board by Connie Lechelt, 2020 Superintendent’s Art Show}

Tips and Tools to Increase Student Engagement 

The Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability and Reform (CEEDAR Center) and the National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI) outline how high-leverage practices (HLPs) can be applied to lesson design and delivery, both in-person and virtually to strengthen instruction for a diverse range of students. Click here to access this special issues brief.

Self-Compassion Increases Resilience

Kristin Neff, associate professor of educational psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, has found that practicing forgiveness of our mistakes and a deliberate effort to care for ourselves through times of disappointment or embarrassment has a more positive impact than self-criticism. There has been an increased interest in Ness’ study of self-compassion during the pandemic. Read this article to learn more.

_{Art – “Pondering” Ceramic by Maggie Lou Martin, 2020 Superintendent’s Art Show}

The Largest Drawing in the World Made by One Person 

Dyymond Whipper-Young, a Philadelphia artist and educator, has completed the world's largest drawing by an individual, as measured by an independent surveyor. The artwork made with black marker, spans 6,507 square feet and took over five days to complete. For more information, click here.

Celebrate Women’s Creativity

This collection of 49 stories features women from a spectrum of disciplines that share how they’re using creativity to feel empowered, and to make an impact in the world. Through their stories, they hope to inspire creativity in other women.

Women with Character Who Inspire Lesson Plan

Students in grades 6 – 12 will learn about women with great character, identify and write a brief description about an inspiring woman of character in their lives. Musician Angelique Kidjo and human rights activist Kerry Kenndy are featured as examples. For the lesson plan and resource materials, click here.

Art School Video Series from KQED

This video series for grades 6 – 12 introduces contemporary artists who discuss their careers and intentions, then demonstrate hands-on techniques or concepts. Art School provides resources for learning how to break dance, draw comic strips, create animations, and much more.

Expressing Democratic Principles Through Jazz

Trumpet player, composer and jazz ambassador Wynton Marsalis is one of the country’s leading cultural figures. He is again meeting the moment with music, writing and recording his new composition "The Democracy! Suite" amid the pandemic. Jeffrey Brown has the story as part of the PBS arts and culture series, "CANVAS."

J-Setting is an Emerging Dance Form  

This underground LGBTQ+ dance form requires militaristic precision, but it’s also about joy—about knowing oneself and expressing that self-knowledge through dance. It combines aspects from many different dance styles. This is part of KQED’s If Cities Could Dance series.

Click here to learn more about J-Setting in Atlanta.

“For Every One” by Jason Reynolds 

In this film, Reynolds performs his poem with every one in mind, and for every one who has a dream. For Every One was originally performed at the Kennedy Center for the unveiling of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. Jason Reynolds is a New York Times best-selling author and National Book Award finalist. He writes novels and poetry for young adult and middle-grade audiences.

A Butterfly’s Life Cycle Dance

In this K-2, standards-aligned lesson, students will choreograph an original dance that communicates the life cycle stages of the monarch butterfly. They will read Eric Carle’s book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, and explore the monarch butterfly migration process. Click here to print the lesson plan.

Tips to Capture Amazing Nature Photos    

Photographer Rebecca Latson shares her 10 favorite National Park photos from 2020. Along with the photos, she explains how she captured each image. Eight of the photos are from the Pacific Northwest.

_{Photo – “Late Afternoon in The Painted Hills Unit, John Day Fossil Beds National Monument” by Rebecca Latson}

Retell History through Dance or Drama  

In this standards-aligned, grades 3-5 lesson, students will observe a dance performance to understand the emotional struggles Harriet Tubman faced as she helped enslaved people escape and travel north along the Underground Railroad. Students will share what they learn about this secret migration through the creation of an original dance or drama production to the song, “Harriet Tubman.” Click here for the lesson plan.

Give Yourself Permission to Be Creative – Ethan Hawke

In this TED Talk, Ethan Hawke reflects on moments that shaped his life and how courageous expression promotes healing and connection. He shares that his acting career began at age 12 and that the profession continues to give back to him through the characters that he plays. He makes the point that creativity is vital and says, “There is no path till you walk it.”

Self-Care for Educators: Thursdays at 2:00 pm     

Presented by the Children’s Art Guild, this unique professional development workshop is free and designed to help teachers tap into the passion for their craft to address stress in their professional lives. The workshop offers participants the opportunity to explore a variety of self-care techniques, to create a self-care plan, and to build a community of support. For more information and to register, click here.

Successful Accessibility & Inclusive Design Integration Workshop: Deadline March 8

As 2020 forced art into a virtual space, organizations already versed on the universal design principles of accessibility were poised to thrive. In this free workshop presented by the Seattle Cultural Accessibility Consortium, several arts organization representatives will discuss their successes, share their strategies and reveal what they see as exciting opportunities for expanded accessible growth well beyond 2021. Space is limited. Register here.

Bring opera into your classroom this spring!

Until schools can safely attend a performance at McCaw Hall, the Seattle Opera is offering interactive online programming and on-demand content available at no cost to all Title I schools. Financial assistance is available to all. Click here for more information.

Donated Masks and Bell Covers for Wind Instruments

The Give a Note Foundation is offering K-12 public school music programs assistance for mask and bell covers from their Let’s Play Music Fund. Requests will be fulfilled from the Let’s Play Music Fund’s budget determined by a needs-based assessment that includes the school’s Title 1 status, % of students on free/reduced lunch, % of minority and verified music program budget restrictions. For more information or to make a request, click here.

Superintendent’s High School Student Art Show – Ekphrastic Poetry

Plan ahead to engage your students in creating poetry inspired by art. The 2021 High School Art Show will be posted online in April. Find supporting curriculum materials here. Selected poems will be presented as part of this year’s awards ceremony.

_{Art – “Eyes of Art” digital photography by Zoe Stinebaugh, 2020 Superintendent’s Art Show}

“The Invisible Tax: Educators of Color and the Water They Carry”: March 16

Presented by the Hunt Institute, this professional learning webinar presents a range of lifelong educators with a variety of vantage points – from the classroom to the superintendent’s cabinet – as they speak on the obstacles faced by Black and brown educators while trying to navigate their careers. Free registration here.

Learn & Plan with PBS - March 22, 4:00–5:00 pm

Join with other educators in a virtual session to learn how to access a wealth of free resources for learning and teaching provided by public television. Work with materials and spend time planning for your classes with education staff from Washington’s PBS stations. Up to three clock hours are available. To register, click here

Arts in Education Partnership Grant:

Deadline April 1, 2021

The Washington State Arts Commission is seeking proposals for this one-year grant to support Arts in Education partnerships between a non-profit organization, a K-12 school, school district or tribal agency that works to increase K-12 student access to arts learning through pandemic recovery efforts and beyond. The Partnership grant is open to new and continuing arts education partnerships and both in school and out of school K-12 arts in education programming. Funding amount is between $8,000- $15,000. Application opens February 25, 2021.

Early Learning Grant: Deadline April 8, 2021

The Creative Start grant seeks to close the opportunity gap for early learners, PreK to grade 3, by supporting site-based and regional (multi-site) innovation in arts integration methods. Creative Start funds will expand professional growth opportunities for early learning educators across the state. This grant supports teacher growth and leadership as well as collaboration with families, arts organizations, and teaching artists. Program outcomes include creative, academic, and social growth for young learners as well as creative and professional growth for early learning educators.  Sponsored by the Washington State Arts Commission, funding for a Single Site: $5,000-$10,000 or Regional (multi-site): $10,000- $25,000. Application opens March 4, 2021.

Nominations Open for the Whole Child Award: Deadline April 9

The State Whole Child Award  is designed to acknowledge and honor a school that has made significant contributions to student learning by creating a school culture with programs that exemplify two or more of the five tenets of The Whole Child Initiative: Healthy, Safe, Engaged, Supported, and Challenged.  Any school that meets the criteria may be nominated.

Music Scholarships Accepting Applications: Deadline April 15

The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation is now accepting applications for a variety of music scholarships. These scholarships include the four-year Juanes Scholarship, which provides $200,000 for one student’s bachelor of music study at the Berklee School of Music, as well as three Gifted Tuition and 40 Tuition Assistance Scholarships for music students admitted to universities of their choice.

"Celebrate the West" Art Competition:

Deadline April 30

The Western Governors’ Foundation announces the 2021 regional art competition for high school students to create works inspired by their state. Selected artworks will receive cash prizes. Click here for more information and to learn how to enter.

2021 Year of the Apple Art Contest:
Deadline May 1 

The Washington Apple Education Foundation invites students in grades 9-12 residing in the Washington state counties of Adams, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Franklin, Kittitas, Okanogan, Walla Walla and Yakima  to participate in this year’s contest.  Selected art will be published and students will be given cash awards. Full contest details are available on the entry form.