National experts in arts integration seek to inspire local teachers
AXIS workshop series introduces New Orleans educators to innovative teaching methods
NEW ORLEANS – KID smART’s Arts Experiences In Schools (AXIS) program is hosting two nationally recognized arts integration experts to present to their AXIS teacher program participants Jan. 17 and Feb. 21 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the George and Joyce Wein Jazz & Heritage Center. This annual workshop series allows local New Orleans teachers the ability to gain insight into the teaching strategies from some of the best arts integration and education experts in the country.
KID smART’s AXIS program allows New Orleans public school teachers to deepen their arts integration knowledge through participation in monthly workshops throughout the year and build a portfolio of resources to increase their students' academic growth, emotional intelligence and critical thinking skills while also gaining confidence as an artist.
“We are delighted to be able to offer our AXIS teachers the experience of hearing from world renowned experts in the arts integration and education sphere,” said Elise Gallinot Goldman, executive director of KID smART. “Our hope is that our AXIS teachers will take what they learn from these presenters and help to deepen the learning abilities of their students in our community. Our future depends on the success of the next generation, and that success starts in the classroom.”
Sarah Sheya, the founder of JusticexDesign (JxD) - a research initiative that investigates how young people engage critically with and understand the relationships between design, representation, power and participation - will present Jan. 17.
A second workshop in partnership with the New Orleans Jazz Museum and the Library of Congress will be held Feb. 21 to create a series of lesson plans illuminating the culture and history of New Orleans tells the history and development of jazz in the city. AXIS teachers will have the opportunity to learn how they can use the sounds and stories of jazz history to connect to New Orleans and US history through arts-integrated strategies.
Founded in 1999, KID smART provides public school students with greater access to arts-rich education. In its 24-year history, KID smART has served more than 63,000 students and 11,000 teachers in schools throughout New Orleans. With the belief that the power of the arts should be available to all New Orleans children, KID smART works within public schools to reach underserved children with the most to gain from an arts-rich, social-emotional education.
Goldman added, “The integration of arts does more than infuse creativity; it triggers a shift in the culture of education. By instilling values of creativity, autonomy and growth, arts integration reshapes the very essence of learning.”
To learn more about KID smART and to find out more about their AXIS program, visit kidsmart.org.
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About KID smART
Over the last two decades, KID smART has collaborated with more than 40 New Orleans public schools to blend the arts into academic lessons to make classrooms more effective and joyful places to learn. Through full-year artist residencies, students in KID smART Creative Schools prove to grow academically, artistically and emotionally. KID smART also partners with national thought leaders, including Harvard's Project Zero Classroom, to incorporate best practices in arts and education into its program model.