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And the Winners Are…

July 17, 2020 By Cindy Sherwood

We’re thrilled to announce the winners of our Artful Thanks contest. Arts for Learning is a statewide nonprofit organization, and our entries showed it–Midlothian, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Charlottesville, Manassas, Poquoson, Richmond, and many other cities and towns were represented, as creative kids from throughout the Commonwealth used their talents to say “thank you” to our essential workers.

Artwork by Braelyn Ruby Male of King GeorgeCongratulations to Braeley Ruby Male, a rising fourth-grader from King George,

Artwork by Charlise Brown of Chesapeakeand Charlise Brown, a rising sixth-grader from Chesapeake, the winners in the older elementary group.

Artwork by Anika Awar of HerndonCongratulations to Anika Awar, a rising second-grader from Herndon,

Artwork by Windsor Gordon of Virginia Beachand Windsor Gordon, a rising second-grader from Virginia Beach, who won in the younger elementary school category. Each student will receive a $25 Amazon gift card.

Thank you to all who entered. Our judges were astounded by the creativity and talent of the young artists of Virginia. We’ve compiled all the entries for you to watch on our Arts for Learning Virginia YouTube Channel.

Filed Under: News Tagged With: 757 arts, art contest, Artful Thanks, arts-in-education, Chesapeake, Covid-19, essential workers, Floris Elementary School, King George Elementary School, Old Donation School

A Contest to Say ‘Thank You’

June 4, 2020 By Cindy Sherwood

Isn’t this great? It’s one of the entries we’ve received for our “Artful Thanks” contest. Lucy, a first-grader from King George County, shared this wonderful artwork with us.

We love drawings and would like to see many more pictures, but that’s not all! Kids may choose the art form of their choice to express their thanks to Virginia’s essential workers. A story or poem… a collage or sculpture… a video or photo… there are so many ways kids can show their gratitude.

Entries aren’t due until June 30, so kids have lots of time to work on their creations. We’ll continue sharing entries, and later in the summer our judges will award two $25 Amazon gift cards in each of two categories: kindergarten through second grade and third through fifth grade.

Please share with anyone you know who has creative (and grateful) children.  Click here for more details on how to submit.

Make sure you keep up with all our the Arts for Learning news by signing up for our mailing list.

Filed Under: ArtsEd, News Tagged With: art contest, Artful Thanks, arts education, children's art contest, creative kids, creative learning, essential workers, prizes

A Salute to Teachers

May 27, 2020 By Cindy Sherwood

Anna Frassmann-Swadinsky works with studentsAs the end of this most unusual of school years comes to a close, we want to recognize the educators who are vital partners in our mission of arts-integrated education. Teachers have experienced challenges they never could have dreamed of, as they were forced to leave their classrooms and teach students via video technology.

Special education teachers have had extra challenges in connecting with their students when they can’t see them in person. Anna Frassmann-Swadinsky is a program specialist for Norfolk schools, but she also works as a teacher of deaf and hard-of-hearing students at Mary Calcott Elementary School. Her caseload includes a first-grader who is profoundly deaf and two third-graders—one is profoundly deaf but has a cochlear implant that allows access to sound and another who is hard of hearing. Frassmann-Swadinsky offers her students a weekly Zoom check-in, where they may read stories or do math problems together. But the normal techniques she uses when she teaches her students face-to-face, such as tapping on a desk to get their attention, don’t work on video.

“For my students who are deaf and hard of hearing, the biggest challenge is being able to engage them through video chat technology when you don’t have the ability to physically redirect their attention.”

Like many other teachers, Frassmann-Swadinsky is concerned about her students in this distance-learning environment.

I miss knowing that they’re okay. I worry about their mental health and being isolated.”

“I have one student who doesn’t have any siblings so she’s the only little girl in her house and doesn’t have anyone else to play with. I really worry about her,” Frassmann-Swadinsky says. “I miss being able to actually teach. I’m so terrified of how much we will have lost and where we’re going to start when we finally return to in-person class.”

Despite the challenges, Frassmann-Swadinsky has praise for families who are trying to educate under difficult circumstances, mentioning one family whose home-schooling includes fun science experiments and trips to places like the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Still, just about every parent now has a greater appreciation for their children’s classroom teachers. Teachers may not be risking their lives during this pandemic, but they’re showing up every day for their students and facing unique challenges.Anna Frassman-Swadinsky

Every teacher is trying to find a creative way to keep their students engaged and learning and to remind them that we’re still there for them.”

“The idea of calling ourselves essential workers almost sounds arrogant, even though when you look at it from an abstract perspective, we are essential,” Frassmann-Swadinsky says. “You almost feel bad about saying it—‘Oh I’m not a doctor, I’m not a nurse, I’m not on the front line.’ But I am essential, because there are millions of kids in the United States that need to learn.”

Arts for Learning wants to salute hardworking essential workers in our state in the way we know best—through art. Children can draw, write a story or poem, play music, dance, or use any other art form they choose as a way to say “thank you” to our essential workers. Click here for full details of how to enter our Artful Thanks contest!

 

Filed Under: ArtsEd, ArtsED for Exceptional Students Tagged With: 757 nonprofit, art contest, Arts Ed, Arts for Learning, Arts for Learning Virginia, arts-in-education, deaf students, essential workers, Mary Calcott Elementary School Virginia Beach City Public Schools, Norfolk Public Schools, Special Education, Teachers, Zoom teaching

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