Since 1999, The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, in Washington DC, has provided an intensive, forward thinking program, known as Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA), through their partnership with schools in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The program uses a comprehensive definition of arts integration as its foundation. This definition is critical to an understanding that arts integration is larger than an activity. It differs from teaching the arts, or just using the arts in the classroom. Rather, arts integration is an approach to teaching that is embedded in one’s daily practice. I recently applied for, and was chosen to travel to Washington, DC to attend this year’s conference. I was sponsored by 2010 Legacies Now and was the only Canadian teacher in attendance. Navida Nuraney, Executive Director of Vancouver’s ArtStarts in Schools, travelled with me to attend the administrator’s conference. We met for the first time at the Air Canada gate, and discovered shared interests through our work, and in walking as many kilometres in one day, as humanly possible! We had a blast!
CETA’s approach to teaching is grounded in the belief that learning is actively built, experiential, evolving, collaborative, problem-solving, and reflective. In keeping with these beliefs, workshops I attended encompassed these elements in the most respectful and creative ways. This conference was so well organized and focused on arts integration, that the experience from start to finish, affirmed the definition in all its parts. Pulling it all together into an exciting, playful evening with a gourmet dinner, and Opera House performance, we were treated to. . . . .
Washington, DC is an easy city to explore on foot. Navida and I met after school each day and used every waking minute that we had free, and explored all that was accessible in the time we had. Much of the city looms large. . . .
Below ground level is equally awe inspiring. . . we rode the metro from the Ronald Reagan airport and all around the city. The number one favourite name of a Metro Station is Foggy Bottom!
We, as in Navida reading the maps, found treasures hidden away in all areas of town. . .
the textiles museum. . .
Looped Yarn Works. . . .for unusual yarn from here for a beautiful shawl written as a mystery knit along project for ravelry.
Here is how it is looking so far. . . .find the pattern here
We found Kramerbooks & afterwords cafe combo, open until 12:30 a.m. during the week, and 24 hours on the weekends. . . ‘bought a book. . .
Busboys and Poets features performance poetry, great food, and the Teaching for Change Bookstore. . . ‘bought more books. .
We shoppped at Trader Joe’s and ate at a communal table at Le Pain Quotidien.
We travelled on the metro to Dukem for Ethiopian food. . . . .
DC is hot, humid, and tropical at this time of year. . . in the 90’s most days. . . .birds are happy. . .flowers are huge!
During the five hours of travel each way, I knit most of Lisa Chemery’s Tiered Baby Coat with Cascade Eco, purchased at three bags full in Vancouver, using approved needles for international travel, like these. This knit is interesting enough for the quiet moments, but still allows for conversation with compelling plane companions. The Biotechnology Conference participants travelled to and from Toronto with us, and on both flights I sat beside fascinating folks doing incredible science.
For more information about the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and The Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA) program, visit www.kennedy-center.org/seminars. For information on getting artists into BC classrooms, visit ArtStarts in Schools. Do it!