Teaching through the Arts: Positive Change

I was invited by Jeffrey Billard of Northeastern University to participate in their Teaching Through the Arts online community. I like what he recently posted in their blog regarding positive change in the classroom, especially his comment about teaching kids and not content. It's the way we interact with children and respond to them and their needs and interests that teaches them the most, about content, relationships, and life in general. Click here to read his full post.

CLC Mock Election

Thanks to those who participated in the National Student Parent Mock Election, and sponsored by School Perceptions!
Here are our results.
Question: Make your choice for President of the United States. (Vote for one)
countpercentage
a) Barack Obama (D)

7 63.63
b) John McCain (R)

3 27.27
c) Alan Keyes (America's Independent Party)
0 0.0
d) Bob Barr (L)

1 9.09
e) Cynthia McKinney (G)

0 0.0
f) Ralph Nader (Peace and Freedom Party)

0 0.0
g) Write in 0 0.0


Question: If you are a student, what grade are you in?
countpercentage
1st 1 9.09
2nd 3 27.27
3rd 0 0.0
4th 2 18.18
5th 2 18.18
6th 0 0.0
7th 0 0.0
8th 2 18.18
9th 0 0.0
10th 0 0.0
11th 0 0.0
12th 0 0.0
No response 1 9.09


Question: In your opinion, how important is it for the government to focus on the following issues in the next four years?
(items are sorted by average highest to lowest)
ItemResponseCount%
The cost and quality of health care Absolutely Critical 1 10.0
Very Important 5 50.0
Somewhat Important 2 20.0
Not Important 0 0.0
Not Sure 2 20.0

The economy Absolutely Critical 2 22.22
Very Important 2 22.22
Somewhat Important 3 33.33
Not Important 0 0.0
Not Sure 2 22.22

The educational system Absolutely Critical 1 12.5
Very Important 3 37.5
Somewhat Important 1 12.5
Not Important 2 25.0
Not Sure 1 12.5

Global climate change and the environment Absolutely Critical 3 37.5
Very Important 4 50.0
Somewhat Important 0 0.0
Not Important 0 0.0
Not Sure 1 12.5

The high cost of energy Absolutely Critical 1 11.11
Very Important 4 44.44
Somewhat Important 3 33.33
Not Important 0 0.0
Not Sure 1 11.11

National security Absolutely Critical 2 22.22
Very Important 4 44.44
Somewhat Important 3 33.33
Not Important 0 0.0
Not Sure 0 0.0

The war in Afghanistan Absolutely Critical 2 22.22
Very Important 3 33.33
Somewhat Important 2 22.22
Not Important 0 0.0
Not Sure 2 22.22

The war in Iraq Absolutely Critical 3 33.33
Very Important 2 22.22
Somewhat Important 2 22.22
Not Important 0 0.0
Not Sure 2 22.22

Question: The government is limited to how much money it can raise through taxes. In your opinion, which one of these issues would government spending help the most?
countpercentage
The cost and quality of health care 4 40.0
The economy 2 20.0
The educational system 0 0.0
Global climate change and the environment 4 40.0
The high cost of energy 0 0.0
National security 0 0.0
The war in Afghanistan 0 0.0
The war in Iraq 0 0.0

Question: If miracles could happen, which one of the following Presidents would you want to lead the nation?
countpercentage
a) George Washington

4 40.0
b) Thomas Jefferson

1 10.0
c) Abraham Lincoln

2 20.0
d) Teddy Roosevelt

0 0.0
e) Franklin Roosevelt

1 10.0
f) Harry S. Truman

0 0.0
g) Dwight D. Eisenhower

0 0.0
h) John F. Kennedy

1 10.0
i) Ronald Reagan

0 0.0
j) Bill Clinton

1 10.0

Science and the Arts Course

We've had three illuminating sessions of our newest integrated arts course, Science and the Arts with Kirk Fisher. Weeks 1 and 2 we delved into the principles of light with a visually informative Powerpoint presentation, several hands-on experiences and art projects. Week 1 we learned that light is made of wavelengths that our brain perceives as color, and that each color has its own frequency. We experimented with mixing colors and learned that the primary colors of light [red, green, blue] differ from what artists typify as primary colors [red, yellow, blue]. We saw how mixing colored light also differs from mixing colored paints.

Week 2 we continued our look at light and the concepts of reflection, refraction, and diffraction. We learned that reflections form when the bounces off a surface, and refraction occurs when light bends as it travels through different materials (a pen placed in a cup of water appears to bend). The kids most enjoyed looking at diffraction, or interference in rays of light that causes the rays to separate into the spectrum of colors, through diffraction glasses, a prism, and by shining a flashlight through the fine barbs of a feather. The kids then each made their own "whirl stick," an art-toy that mixes light by spinning the rainbow colors so fast they appear to glow a greyish white.

With Earth Day in mind, for week 3 we focused on scientific and artistic properties of molecules and water. We learned that molecules are made of combinations of atoms and that the water molecule is made of 2 hydrogen and one oxygen atoms. We compared molecules to magnets and learned that molecules have positive, negative, or neutral charges that attract or repel other molecules. We learned why lipids (fats or oils) and water repel, and then we saw this first hand with jars of water, vegetable oil, and food coloring. We added soap to see how these repellent properties can mix when their charges are balanced. Then the kids painted posters for our upcoming Earth Fair with themes of water conservation, observing first hand the repelling of water and oil as they drew first with crayons and then water-colored over their designs.

Literary Musical Theater in Full Swing

We're in the midst of our newest offering, in which kids "play" with folk tales and music to create their own dramatic musical renditions of classic children's literature. Each Friday, eight kids gather to sing and play for two hours. We start each class with a singing game and then either a music or drama game. After a storytelling, the kids are then invited to dramatize the story. We then develop some musical accompaniments [such as an adaptation of a folk song to fit the story or a percussion medley] and incorporate these into our enactment of the story.

During the first several weeks, we played with a different folk tale each day. These included Hare and Tortoise, The Awongalema Tree (a traditional Zambian tale), Tiddalik [or The Greedy Frog] from Australia, and the well-known Little Red Hen story [our retelling of this one included a "rap"].

For the last four weeks, we are creating a performance piece with our own unique rendition of the classic tale, Stone Soup. After writing our own script, adapting folk songs, creating a medley with xylophones and glockenspiel, painting our own sets, and making up a celebration dance, we'll invite family members to watch our first full-blown production!

New Science and the Arts Course this Spring!

We're offering an exciting new Integrated Arts & Academics course this Spring:
"Science and the Arts"
Here's the description:
Scientists, artists, and musicians share a very important trait: imagination. Exercise your innate scientist and artist in this unique class as you learn new ways to think about the world and develop creative problem-solving skills by applying your imagination and curiosity to scientific concepts and processes.

Kids ages 6 - 12 will have a great time as they:
*explore the science of chromatography
*perform experiments in capillary action and testing surface tension
*investigate kinetics, equlibrium, vibrations and waves
*create their own musical instruments and visual art projects
*develop creative problem-solving skills
*collaborate with other scientists in a small-group environment

Fridays 1:30 - 3:00
April 4, 11, 18, 25; May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Location: Creative Learning Circle's Home-school in Wildomar
Cost: $22/class includes all materials [session total: $200 or $180 with prepayment discount]

Taught by Enicia Fisher and her "Little" brother Kirk Fisher, recent honors graduate with a Bachelor in Science [focusing on neuroscience] from UCR who is also an incredible artist and super nice guy.

Two teachers + maximum 12 kids = maximum fun and learning potential!!!

Creative Learning Circle is a vendor for Dehesa, Julian, River Springs, and Sky Mountain Charter Schools. 10% Prepayment discount given to those who pay in full before the start of class.

Reserve your child's space today by emailing "eniciafisher" at "gmail.com"

Possible Offerings for the New Year

I am thinking about next year (January - June) and what I might offer through Creative Learning Circle. For the past few months I've been seeking a site outside the home where I could offer all the wonderful classes that I want to teach, including a two-day integrated arts program. I have not found anything yet, so I will continue teaching out of the home and therefore teach only one day per week (most likely Fridays). Before I set my schedule, I'd like to hear which programs most interest prospective families. Here are the options I'm considering [keep in mind I'll have to choose just one of these per 10-week session, so let me know your top one or two interests]:

Creative Music Circle [ages 6 & up; one hour per week; $15/week] -- Children will explore musical elements through singing, movement, chant, percussion and melodic instruments, along with improvisation and composition. [We now have some wonderful performance quality xylophones!!!]

Recorders, Rhythm & Rhyme [ages 7 -12; one hour per week; $15/week] -- Kids will learn musical improvisation, composition, theory, and more through poetry, recorders and a variety of percussion & melodic instruments. Some musical experience or proficiency needed for this faster-moving class.

Literary Musical Theater [ages 6 -12; three hours, one morning per week; $30/week] -- We'll take folk tales or other children's literature and write our own scripts, songs, musical accompaniments, and more! Kids will create their own costumes, sets, etc. A wonderful integration of literature, art, music, drama, multicultural appreciation, and collaborative learning. Includes a lunch break so kids can socialize.

Integrated Arts "Circle Day" [ages 6-12; five hours, one day per week; $40/week] -- We'll study thematic units and integrate all academic areas with art, music, literature, and small-group or independent projects. Includes lunch break & social time as well as time for kids to choose self-directed learning activities.

As always, Creative Learning Circle maintains small class sizes (10-12 students maximum), so each child reaps the benefits of individualized, small-group instruction.

Creative Learning Circle is a vendor for Dehesa, Julian, River Springs, and Sky Mountain Charter Schools.

Email eniciafisher@gmail.com if you'd like to save a spot for your child in one of these programs! Visit our website for more information about Creative Learning Circle.

Kids Embark on International Studies Theme

This week we embarked on a new learning theme for the month, “Children Like me Around the World.” Since several kids in our Learning Circle have loose teeth, we enjoyed an interesting slant as we introduced this theme with the picture book, “Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions from Around the World.” The kids delighted in learning the similarities and vast differences in the traditions surrounding this central rite of childhood. [In Costa Rica, baby teeth get plated with gold and are made into earrings; in the Phillipines kids hide their teeth in a special place and make a wish—if they can find it a year later, they get to make another wish!] We also talked about how amazing it is, really, that kids all over the world, in every land and culture, experience the same sensations and emotions as they wiggle their loose tooth and their adult teeth begin to emerge.

With a nod to the Mexican Cinco de Mayo holiday, this Friday our Music Circle explored elements of melody through a Spanish folk song and dance. We began with the universal basic melody found in children’s folk songs around the world [sol-mi] which children recognized as the “teasing” melody, learned the handsigns for these notes, and sung the interval in various patterns. We extended our practice in matching pitch and recognizing this foundational melodic interval by then “singing” our names using just these two pitches with various patterns. The kids stayed completely engaged through this process which might sound rote but actually gave them room for individual creative expression. And even if they didn’t realize it, they began solo singing as they each composed their own name melody and sang it to the group. We then learned “El juego chirimbolo,” a rather complex Spanish folk song & dance. Because of our mixed-age group, we were able to have fun with a dance that would probably not be attempted by any typical class under grade 3, but the older kids in our little group enjoyed leading the younger kids through the movement and we all enjoyed the community learning experience of this game. I was able to work with the kids’ voices, striving for more attention to vocal quality, pitch and melody, as the kids learned the singing game and repeated the same song countless times without even realizing they were practicing a song over and over again. ; )

Later in our Circle Day we read the book “Frida” by Johan Winter, a beautifully illustrated biography of Mexico’s famous artist, Frida Kahlo. This book explores how imagination and art lift the spirit and restore life even during the most difficult conditions, as was demonstrated in the life-work of Kahlo. We also pored over Unicef’s great book “Children Just Like Me,” along with an oversized atlas, as the children discussed and decided upon the countries that interest each of them for their next learning project. We had some negotiation as we tried to get one country from each continent; between the five kids we’ll have projects on these countries: Iceland, Spain, Congo, India, and New Zealand, and I’ll cover Argentina since I love tango music and dance.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll continue our world travels and each child in the Learning Circle will gain in-depth cultural knowledge of one country through project-based research, and then the children will share what they’ve learned through an International Festival on June 1st. I look forward to seeing where this journey takes us over the next few weeks!