Photo credit: The Lab School of Washington, DC

Calling all Art Educators! Check out this all-expenses-paid workshop opportunity for art teachers (deadline to apply is THIS Friday, March 15):

Celebrating its 20th year, The Power of Art is a three-day workshop in Washington, D.C. that explores strategies for using art to engage and teach academic skills to students with different learning profiles of strengths and weaknesses. The Power of Art will include direct experience with a variety of learning strategies, tours and workshops at The Lab School, activity-oriented tours of the Smithsonian Institution, and discussions with leaders from the fields of art, art education, special education, and museums. Read More

Florence Ma. The Writer's Cage. Grade 12, Age 17. 2012 Gold Medal, Drawing.

What makes a great writer? Great writing evokes emotion, sparks an idea, and provides new perspective.

In Looking to Write, Writing to Look, art educators Barbara Bassett and Rebecca Mitchell of the Philadelphia Museum of Art believe that:

“Great writers are great observers. They consider the world around them, notice overlooked details, and make connections. Looking carefully at art helps us to develop these observation skills. Art encourages us to slow down, look closely, and reflect on what we see. When we accept this invitation, we are rewarded with new thoughts and perspectives. These ideas and insights provide rich material for writing.”  Read More

Photo Credit: John Sigmund

We had the absolute pleasure of meeting Janet Tan, a teacher at the Hong Kong International School (HKIS), in our office two weeks ago. Janet joined the High School Humanities team at HKIS in 2000, and our TAG (Teacher Advisory Group) Team this year. She conducts workshops for schools and at conferences, and consults in schools in Southeast Asia. For the past 25 years, Janet has co-directed the East Asia Writing Project with her colleague and friend Judith Pearce.

In the following interview, Janet talks about the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, and shares her experience and advice.

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The Alliance and Science Buddies are long-time friends! We applaud their incredible work connecting students and teachers with innovative projects and wanted to hand over the spotlight for them to tell you about some exciting new opportunities!

Science Buddies:

Trying to inspire and excite students about science with little or no money? Curious about ways to turn a student’s love for video games or programming into a legitimate science project? Struggling to fit student “invention” into the steps of the Scientific Method? Wondering about meeting student curiosity about forensics and biotechnology with limited lab resources?
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Teacher Diane Heath with award-winning daughter and students Rebecca Heath, Amber Dietz, Katie Doyle, Audrey Benjaminsen, Sara Harbin and Mandy Hess.

Diane Heath of Rochester Hills, Michigan, has had a great year. Diane works at Stoney Creek High School where she’s an art teacher. This year her students include Portfolio Gold and Gold Medal winners, and her own children are Scholastic Award winners as well!

In the following interview by Alliance Staffer Lisa Feder-Feitel, Diane shares her experience and advice.
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Pittsburgh Region Art Coordinator Frances Hawbaker painting a mural.

After ten years, the Scholastic Art Awards have returned to Pittsburgh, PA

The Scholastic Awards program has its roots in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh was Scholastic Inc.’s headquarters for many years and where the program got its start back in the 1920s. In fact, numerous famous artists like Andy Warhol, Philip Pearlstein and Mel Bochner were enrolled in Pittsburgh high schools when they won their Scholastic Art Awards. Read More