2015-639-E Arts - The Expedition School Arts Grant

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DocuSign Envelope ID: DFE48D81-9420-4D95-8D95-610AC101030F 2014 Orange County Arts Commision Arts in Education Grant Recipient for Writer-in-Residence Program with Susie Wilde Review Exploration at The Expedition School Serendipity seemed in full force when Jena Kaizen and I met to arrange scheduling for a review writing residency at Expedition School in Hillsborough, NC (http://www.theexpeditionschooicorn). I had wanted to work at Expedition ever since I heard of their emphasis on project-based learning. It seemed a perfect place to find partnership for my teaching style-writing that is driven by exploration to find understanding rather than curriculum mandates. If } I'd been craving another opportunity to work with Jena. We worked together for a brief afternoon two years ago. It didn't take me long to see how she emphasized and promoted deep thought. I read aloud Jaqueline Woodson's Each Kindness (Dial, ages 8 and up)and her students, obviously encouraged by Jena's teaching style, responded with considered, candid responses that thrilled both of us. Thanks to the dedication of talented grant-writing parents, the parents of the 5th and 6th grade Expedition parents and the generous supportive of the Orange County Arts Commission, this dream became a reality. And as plans proceeded the residency seemed supported in other ways—a like-minded school environment, the matched teaching styles Jena and I used and the fact that both our schedules were clear for the next five weeks. But Mother Nature had another plan. The first Tuesday I showed up, so did snowfall. We were only half-way into a lesson when school cancelled. Cancellations and spring break interceded, but finally yesterday we finished five weeks of fun writing with delightful, engaged students.