Community building

Every year when teachers and staff return to ArtSpace, Lori Cozzi our Director engages us in a community building project. This year we were given the task of creating a piece of art to which all of us would have to contribute, and also to create a school song. She gave us about 90 minutes and let us go, with no other rules or specifications. After a few minutes of soaking this in, some staff members began taking the lead. Josh, our drama specialist, announced that the songwriting would take place in the music room, and Gwen, one of our art specialists let us know that the work on the art piece would begin in the art room. People began moving to one or the other project and work began. I joined the songwriting group, and we began brainstorming immediately. Sugguestions were made regarding the rhythm, and one was chosen. Suggestions regarding the themes to be covered were given, and after bandying ideas about, three or four were settled on. Very soon lyrics were created, deleted, altered, etc. Much give-and-take was involved, and I was pleased to see that every person in the group participated in some way or another. The art project quickly took shape as well, in an equally collaborative manner. At the end of the 90 minutes, the song was performed, though the paint was still drying on the mixed media piece.

This project succeeded in bringing the staff together after a two month separation with very little chin-wagging or lecture from administration. Isn't that preferable? Isn't that what our classrooms are supposed to emulate? It's so tempting for teachers, when returning after the summer, to hunker down in their classrooms and start planning, shutting out everything else. Though it's crucial to be given time for that oh-so-vital planning, it's also important to remind ourselves that we are a community working together, with a common goal and vision.

My favorite project that Lori assigned us took place about three years ago. We had to write, costume and stage an opera about ArtSpace - in 90 minutes. You've never seen such frantic and free-wheeling creativity! By the time the curtain fell on that production, one could see the incredible amount of teamwork and cooperation that had taken place. We were a community, ready to face a new year.

What are some ways your school creates community within the staff? Are there specific community-building activities you've experienced that can be replicated elsewhere in the charter school family? Please share!

Integration and the collaborative process

Many NC charter schools have specific approaches to learning. Evergreen Charter School in Buncombe County uses an "Outward Bound" approach to the NCSCOS (North Carolina Standard Course of Study), emphasizing experiential learning. At ArtSpace we utilize the arts and technology in an integrated approach to the NCSCOS. Integration is our byword. By integrating drama, music, dance/movement, art (visual and other) and tech together, we strive to engage kids with the curriculum, unlocking their creativity and giving them as many opportunities to succeed as possible. This whole-arts, whole-child integration takes work, but a way our school tackles that challenge is through our arts integration team. Each month the AI team (drama, dance, music, art and tech specialists) meets with classroom teachers to coordinate integration of the different arts into what each grade is covering. When I'm on top of my game (and planning) I find these meetings very helpful and even exciting at times. (Meetings, exciting?) I may bring an idea for a project I am planning and by the time the meeting is over, we have developed that project idea into a unit that has connections all across the arts. Since my sixth grade teaching partner (the fabulous Amy Strickland - math/science) is also in the meeting, we often find ways to collaborate on projects as well.

This is how we do it. I know the arts are a great tool for teaching, but I also know there are other successful approaches as well. What approach does your school embrace? Share it please!

List of NC Charter Schools

Schools:

Click on above link to see the list of charter schools in North Carolina.

Poetry Week - a wonderful occasion at ArtSpace

Seeing as how I wish to celebrate the creative things NC charter schools are doing, I suppose I'll start with my own. One event at ArtSpace that is very popular and successful is our annual Poetry Week. Usually held in the spring, Poetry Week is full of activities about - you guessed it - poetry! The walls of the school are covered with poems by a wide variety of well-known writers. One afternoon during the week we have a school-wide assembly called "Fools for Poetry" when staff members take to the microphone and share their own poetry or poems by others that they love. The elementary and middle schools both hold their own poetry slams. The winners of the middle school slam go on to compete at the Lake Eden Arts Festival a few weeks later. Also during poetry week we have moments of "Random Acts of Poetry" when students or staff may interrupt another class with a poem or two. Student poets also read their poems during morning and afternoon announcements on the intercom. Parent volunteers sign up to read poetry to classes. We also always try to have professional poets perform. This year we were excited to have Glenis Redmond in residency all week. She was terrific!

Obviously all these activities take organization and thought. We have a poetry committee that meets throughout the year to plan the event. I doubt it could succeed otherwise. (Big hurrah to Juliana Caldwell for her excellent leadership this past year!) So, planning, creativity and school/community-wide involvement is crucial for a successful Poetry Week. Does your school have a similar event? Share it please!

Humble beginnings...

So begins a blog dedicated to celebrating the many and diverse charter schools of North Carolina. During my tenure as NC Charter School teacher of the year, my goal is to use this blog to promote and encourage the best practices of charter teachers and schools. I want to hear from all of our charter schools. What are you doing in the classroom that is working well? What are your struggles? Why does your school MATTER!

Before DPI cut travel funds, I had a grand idea to visit all of the NC charter schools this year. Financially now that seems impossible. Still, I'd love to visit, listen and share with you at your schools if I can make it. I invite anyone to come and visit the school where I teach 6th grade, ArtSpace Charter School in the community of Swannanoa, just east of Asheville. We have strong leadership, which includes our director, Lori Cozzi, and assistant director, Cande Honeycutt. (They don't know about this blog yet.)

So let me hear from you!

John