Blogs & Online Sources

Cathy DePentu Leave a Comment 21st century skills, arts education, Cathy DePentu, MAEIA Leadership Fellows, Pixar, programmers, STEAM, value of the arts

Simon Sinek’s “Golden Circle” resonates with many arts educators. The concept “Start with...

Holly Olszewski Leave a Comment arts education, how to teach, lesson planning, music, music education, sequential learning

When I present at workshops the question I am asked most often is, “But how do I teach this?”. As I reflect on my 20 years of teaching, in year one I probably would have had...

Cheryl Poole Leave a Comment agency, arts education, arts instruction, Demonstrating Educator Effectiveness, early career, educator evaluation, MAEIA assessments, storytelling, teacher observation

Eavesdropping on a Teacher’s Conversation Recently, I had the opportunity to be present with a small group of art and music teachers. They were young and relatively new to their career. Their...

Barb Whitney Leave a Comment Americans for the Arts, Arts Advocacy, arts education, Barb Whitney, Kalamazoo College, Lansing Art Gallery, portfolio career, The All-American Singers

I haven’t always thought of myself as an artist or an arts advocate. I currently serve as the executive director for Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center. I am proud to lead the work...

Michael Letts Leave a Comment arts assessment, arts education, creative process, creativity, energy, Harvard Project Zero, MAEIA, Michael Letts, Oliver Herring, performance events, performance tasks, process-based learning, Thomas Hirschhorn, time-based

One integral aspect of many MAEIA assessment items is time limits. Sometimes this may seem unnatural, high pressure, or “test-oriented.” But in the arts, limiting time can often...

Heather Vaughan-Southard Leave a Comment accolades, achievements, AFTA, Americans for the Arts, Arts Advocacy, arts education, Barb Whitney, dance education, MAEIA contributors, MAEIA Leadership Associates, Nicole Flinn, research, SP3, State Policy Pilot Program

We offer hearty congratulations to two MAEIA contributors who have received prominent attention this month. The National Dance Educators Organization convened in San Antonio, TX this November. Executive Director, Susan McGreevy-Nichols, annually awards a dance...

Elizabeth Andrews Leave a Comment arts classrooms, arts education, compassion, dance education, empathy, kindness, leadership, teaching, teaching arts

It is 8:00 in the morning. I left my house at 6:30 to drive over an hour in order to be ready when my less-than-exuberant high school students enter the dance studio. They are here for Dance...

Cathy DePentu Leave a Comment Adolph Brown, arts education, Leadership Fellow, MASTA, Michigan American String Teachers Association, music education, professional development, professional learning

I believe in the importance of MAEIA and its resources. I always try to set aside my ego and throw myself into difficult challenges or situations in order to improve, from an advanced violin class (...