NCCAT Seminar/Vacation

I'm going on a vacation this week. Right in the middle of the school week.

Well, not really, but it will feel like one.

It's a five day professional development seminar for teachers, compliments of NCCAT, that is North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teachers. I had heard about it back in early July, and had applied to it right away. They sent me a letter in early August welcoming me to the Culowhee center. It is a privilege to go, and teachers can go once every three years (unless they are National Board Certified, in which case they can go every year, but I'm not NBC).

Not only is this a highly professional teacher seminar, which is at no charge to myself, but they also pay for my substitute teacher, mileage, and take care of room and board during those days. Most seminars are not free to teachers, and they don't offer to pay for the substitutes we need to cover our classes while we are away. This is truly a wonderful opportunity for any teacher grades K-12 (or school psychologist, school social worker, school nurse, school counselor, or media specialist).

Best of all, the topic of the seminar is perfectly related to the nature of my position as art teacher. It's called "Celebrating Diversity through Art." There will be an Indonesian Shadow puppet making session one day, and we'll be learning how to script an Indonesian folktale into a play... something we can do with our students in the classroom.

Then, we'll look at the textile traditions and weavings of Central and South America, as well as learn how to weave on a simple loom... I'll be making a Bolivian chuspa (that's a small bag to carry cocoa leaves if I lived in Bolivia, but I can use it to carry money here in the States!).

I think the highlight for me will be when we learn about Cherokee history, and make a Cherokee Gourd Mask. I'll be able to bring it back to my classroom, show the kids, and who knows what inspiration may spring off from there? I can imagine.

Another favorite workshop for me will be the one that features Aboriginal art... I'll learn about Aboriginal Bark painting and boomerangs. I'm going 'Down Under' without leaving North Carolina!!

One morning will be used exploring the Mountain Heritage Day Festival, featuring authentic Southern Appalachian folk arts.  And then an afternoon viewing a selection of visual arts from Africa.... I'll be crafting my own sculpture using my own cultural heritage as a starting point.

All of these things and more are on my itinerary. It just about takes my breath away, that I am being given this time away from the classroom... so I can be a student again. All the teachers I've known who have already gone to an NCCAT seminar have come back completely rejuvenated and inspired to do more in their classroom, to be a more improved teacher. It has renewed their vision of teaching. I'm sure it will do the same for me.

Don't worry, my kids are in good hands. I've got a great sub and she came highly recommended. I'm writing my plans for her tonight. She will have fun being the art teacher while I am away, and the kids already know her.

So I'll likely come back with lots of pictures and a few stories to tell. And certainly I'll have a plethora of ideas to bring into the classroom... our students will benefit.

I don't have a laptop, so I won't be blogging, but then I don't think there will be much time left over at the end of the day for anything except retiring and sleeping. I'll check in here when I get back. Love to all!  Bea

Tags: NCCAT, integrating the arts with curriculum