Arts Ignite! Residencies (AIR) provide 6th - 8th grade students at Title I middle schools with rich, arts integrated units of study in ELA and HSS. In this centrally funded program, standards-based lessons developed in collaboration with VAPA Resource Teachers are taught by professional teaching artists, 45-60 minutes per week throughout an 8 week residency.
What are classroom teacher responsibilities?
The classroom teacher is required to be present during the lessons, participate with the class and help manage the classroom. The classroom teacher is also required to meet with the teaching artist for 2 hours over the course of the residency to collaboratively develop and calibrate objectives and student specific instructional strategies for the residency. This collaboration time can be scheduled during PLC or prep time during the day or after school hours. If meeting outside of the contract day, teachers may be paid for this time with the teaching artist at the current non-classroom hourly rate.
Who leads the instruction during the arts integration lesson?
The teaching artist, in collaboration with VAPA, is responsible for the planning and instruction of these 45-60 minute lessons.
How often and how long is the residency?
Lessons are 45-60 minutes a week for 8 weeks.
When and where will instruction take place?
Instruction will take place during regularly scheduled class time in the spring of 2022.
Why theatre and ELA?
Theatre and ELA go hand in hand. Theatre brings literature to life, allowing students to personalize their learning through interpretation and self-exploration. Shared skills in ELA and theatre include analyzing text, themes, ideas, and language. There is also work to be done together in understanding audience and POV, as well as exploring written organization and structure. In the AIR project, students will analyze poetry, utilize their speaking and listening skills, and work as an ensemble to create a spoken word performance piece to be shared with an audience.
Why dance and HSS?
Dance is an excellent vehicle to examine the cultural values and beliefs of a people during a period of time. It also provides new access points for students to engage with and express learning. The integration of social studies and dance can create opportunities for the exploration of early American cultures, including the often ignored African and Native American communities. Studying and learning dances of a time period or culture can help students to read like a historian, researching and diving deep into varying forms of texts including the arts and dance.
What does AIR cost?
This program is paid for by district Title I funds and there is no cost to schools.