This summer in Soldotna, Fairbanks, Mat-Su, and Ketchikan the Alaska Arts Education Consortium is giving teachers from around the state an opportunity to breathe new life into their classrooms by learning how to use visual and performing arts strategies to help engage and motivate their students.
Taking place at KPC in Soldotna, Celebrating All Abilities through the Arts 2014 wrapped up on June 6th. The overall focus was the power of the arts to bring all abilities together and stretch individual students to meet their full potential.
The take away from the institute included not only a collection of lesson plans and ideas, but also new skill sets for teachers that will help them engage and inspire all ages and ability levels. For one week teachers took part in hands-on sessions involving movement, dance, technology, music, and visual arts all taught by experts in the field.
This opportunity would not have been possible without the support of the following individuals and organizations: Clayton Holland and staff at the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District; Tammie Willis, Gary Turner and staff at Kenai Peninsula College and KPC residence hall; MK MacNaughton, director, Alaska Arts Education Consortium; ATLA Assistive Technology of Alaska; Dick Blick Art Supplies.
We would like to thank them greatly for providing the resources necessary to organize an event of this magnitude.