Visual and Performing Arts

William L. Valentine

Elementary School

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Teachers and Students

...Learning Together About the Arts

It was curtains up this year for our teachers as they began the second-year of a five-year professional development effort to learn how to instruct the arts. This "Spring into the Arts" program, sponsored by the San Marino Schools Foundation, makes it possible for a professional artist to teach a series of lessons to the children, while their teachers observed, learning how and what to do.

Once the sequence of lessons is completed, the teachers translate what they have observed into doable lesson plans that will be adopted and then used in classrooms annually. The artist returns the following year to observe, coach, and provide suggestions to the teachers.

Each year a specific arts discipline is the focus. The first year of the program was a planning year to train teacher leadership and formulate the program based on an extensive district-wide needs assessment. In 2005-2006 the theatre-arts are at center-stage. In 2006-2007 dance will be in the spotlight. In 2007-2008 music will come into play. Finally in 2008-2009 visual arts will be in focus. In the end, the teachers will have training and lessons in all disciplines of the visual and performing arts.

How is this different from the programs that the PTA has been funding? In an effort to provide the children with resources in a well-rounded arts program, the PTA has been supporting artists in the disciplines not addressed by the "Spring into the Arts" program. These consultants provide performances and work with children in ways that teachers are not equipped to perform.

The long-range goal of the SMSF sponsored program is to equip our teachers with the skills and lessons to provide a basic arts program that is integrated into classroom instruction. This promises to make learning especially fun and promote a well-rounded, educated child. The PTA sponsors consultants that have specialized skills to enhance this goal. The two programs work in tandem, each addressing a critical need.

The SMSF "Spring into the Arts" flyer will be sent home in the first week of March. You are strongly encouraged to support this important effort to empower our teachers in the visual and performing arts.

Together we make a difference.