Discussion On Masks, Critical Race Theory And Ways Forward Post-Pandemic By The National School Boards Association
K-12 education across the country has been through a lot this past year-and-a-half. While this fall looks different from fall 2020, there are still many uncertainties surrounding the coronavirus pandemic and schools. In this week’s special, two-part installment of our summer education series, “Closing the COVID Gap,” Education reporter Liz McCormick sat down over Skype with Grafton, West Virginia native and new head of the National School Boards Association (NSBA), Chip Slaven. LEARN MORE.
The West Virginia Dance Company Professional Dance And Learning Experiences Throughout The Region
Founded in 1977 by Toneta Akers-Toler as Appalachian Dance and Music Ensemble, its dance component joined Theatre West Virginia and became Theatre West Virginia Dance Company in 1986. The West Virginia Dance Company (WVDC) was selected by the West Virginia Department of Culture and History and the National Endowment for the Arts to participate in “Arts in the Classroom." This began the WVDC’s long-term commitment to developing arts-based learning programs and educational touring. The WVDC maintains a dual focus on educating students through arts-based learning as well as presenting public and collegiate/university audiences with engaging and thought-provoking modern works. Students of all ages are natural movers.
This series of video programs from the WVDC (available on PBS) integrates an understanding of movement with STEAM concepts: Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Using the BEST (body, energy, space, time) model as a foundation, educators can learn creative ways to include movement in their classroom. The WVDC
produces touring programs that make the arts more accessible to residents of Appalachia and improve the quality of arts education in schools. The WVDC is comprised of highly trained professional dancers and has received recognition for both its artistic and educational achievements.READ MORE.
Create A Habit of Super Morning And Bedtime Routines
Morning and bedtime transitions can be tough, especially for little ones! Distractions can keep them from accomplishing their morning tasks as they try to get ready for the day. At the end of the day, it can be difficult to wind down and prepare for bed. These simple morning and bedtime routines will help you navigate those
transitions and set some systems in place that help your child accomplish their morning or evening tasks with ease. READ MORE.
Dragon TV | Hip Hop Mix Grades 3 - 8 | Video | Music, Dance, Science, Math
Explore how beats per minute (bpm) affects the ability of hip-hop dancers to bust a move. The kids work with a DJ to mix the hip-hop tracks and find that dancers prefer "X" number of beats per minute. They learn that accommodating their moves to tracks makes for better performances. LEARN MORE.
Sampling Is The Foundation Of Hip Hop | Soundbreaking
Grades 9 - 12 | Lesson Plan| Music, Careers
Students learn about creative concepts and technological practices on which Hip Hop music was constructed, investigating what it means to “sample" from another style, and who has used/applied this method. Students will follow patterns of Caribbean immigration and the musical practices that came to New York City as a result. This lesson also explores how
sampling might demonstrate a powerful creative expression of influence or even a social or political statement and encourages students to think about the conceptual hurdle Hip Hop asks listeners to make —presenting new music made from old sounds.READ MORE.
Changes To WVPB Weekend Programming
As summer comes to a close, Camp TV will do the same on Saturday mornings. In its place are two new shows: DIY Science Time (9 a.m.) and Curious Crew (9 a.m.). This change will go into effect beginning Sept. 4!
West Virginia History
Explore resources at the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum, including primary sources and lesson plans for elementary, middle, and high school students. Activities in the lesson plans include opportunities to integrate social studies with language and visual arts. Students may participate in a role-playing activity to better understand relationships between miners and the "company," and are asked to create a brochure using visual arts. LEARN MORE.
You Have an Anti-Racist Book List – Now What?
Dr. Aisha White is a mother, grandmother, librarian, and consultant to the Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood animated children’s television show. In her post on PBS TeacherLine, she offers insight into best practices for helping students discuss racism using age-appropriate literature. She provides practical tips for getting started and suggestions for going “beyond the reading.” LEARN MORE.
Do you have ideas for what you’d like to see in our newsletter? Maybe you just want to give us feedback on the WVPB, PBS and NPR classroom resources you like best. Email us at education@wvpublic.org.
