December, 2010
It was Mark's pleasure to close out 2010 Teaching Artist efforts by working with HOT School Jack Jackter Intermediate School (JJIS), Colchester, CT on a Teacher Artist Collaboration (TAC). With emphasis on primary & secondary color structure and contrast, JJIS 3rd Grade Young Artists created a six panel mural depicting thier understanding of Simple Machines!

Titled Our World In Motion, this arts-centric project revealed how important Simple Machines are to everyday life. Students focused on visual arts, science, math, and literacy grade level expectations (GLEs) to develop a comprehensive understanding of Simple Machines through using a multiple intelligences approach.





December, 2010
It was Mark’s pleasure to join with bilingual students from HOT School Lincoln Middle School, Meriden, to create ornaments for the Pathway of Peace at the White House. The Press Release can be viewed here (thanks to Senator Lieberman for posting): http://lieberman.senate.gov/assets/pdf/Meriden_Ornaments.pdf
NBC coverage can be seen here:
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local-beat/Meriden_Christmas_Ornaments_Hartford-105908858.html



October 15, 2010
Mark worked with Young Learners at Salvation Army North End, Hartford, on a Charter Oak mural installation funded by Target Corporation.



Mark's work with Salvation Army Educators in Hartford, Connecticut, is at the invitation of Maureen Hogan, Director of Early Learning and School Age Care programs for The Salvation Army, Southern New England Division. The effort developed a pilot program for a new arts-centric education center. An arts-centric experience for Students is key to assimilation, retention, and demonstration of abilities.

Spring 2009, Third Grade Students at Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism Arts in Education HOT School Alcott Elementary School, Wolcott, Connecticut, created corn, moccasins, deer hides, wampum designs, bowls, origami fruit and containers, and numerous other projects to populate their Native American Longhouse. Through an arts-centric project, Students learned multiple disciplines and their achievements are aligned with state and local frameworks. The following images help explain the project and the process. Through videos, each narrative reflects content understanding to peers and educators as well as exercising oratorial abilities and self-expression.

Pencil 'lead' is a misnomer. Students are using a large graphite stick to draw deer shapes. Through the use of the graphite stick they were better able to understand the importance of using minerals in a creative process. This helped fulfill a sceince component to meet state and district requirements.