Mark was honored to have his coordinated efforts appear on the cover of the CCT Teaching Artists brochure.

Teacher-Artist Collaborations (TACs) take residencies to the next level and are characterized by the depth and breadth of training provided for teacher-artist teams. TACs promote a collaborative process in which artists and teachers jointly design arts-integrated experiences aligned with state and district standards. TACs provide rich opportunities for children to make connections between and among subject disciplines and ideas.

Although Mark works with all age groups he has much experience in Teaching Artist Residencies that involve Young Learners. The dedication of Faculty and Artist efforts is designed to meet district and state framework multidisciplinary curricular performance goals and standards. The following School Residency efforts reflect the ability of Students to design and produce through self-direction and democratic practices.

Residencies & News



Mark was a "Documenting through Technology" Workshop Presenter at "Roots for Innovation" - 2011 HOT Schools Summer Institute.
http://www.cultureandtourism.org/cct/cwp/view.asp?a=2212&Q=480426&PM=1
The HOT Schools Summer Institute is a week-long residential conference for teams of teachers, artists, administrators, parents and arts organization personnel interested in teaching and learning in, about, and through the arts. The Summer Institute features presenters and workshops leaders who are national experts in arts in education. The Summer Institute is open to participants from Connecticut and the nation.


Jack Jackter Intermediate HOT School - "Our World In Motion" - 3rd Grade 2010-11 Teacher Artist Collaboration

In 2010-11, Mark worked in a Higher Order Thinking Schools residency at Jack Jackter Intermediate School, Colchester, Connecticut - Deborah Sandberg, Principal.
The overall effort, entitled “Our World In Motion” involved Third Grade Teachers Tammie Bakaj, Linda Eakin, Judith Sullivan working with Mark and Students in a Teacher Artist Collaboration involving Visual Arts to achieve Student understanding of the 6 Simple Machines (Lever / Wheel and axle / Pulley / Inclined plane / Wedge / Screw).
Curriculum standards addressed:
Science - 4.1 The position and motion of objects can be changed by pushing and pulling.
Reading – Forming a General Understanding, Developing Interpretation, Making Reader/Text Connections.
Visual Arts - Media, Analysis, Interpretation and Evaluation, Connections.
Demonstrated Understanding:
Students created SMART Cards demonstrating their knowledge of key concepts (With a scoring rubric). Multiple Intelligence - Choice Project Group Rubric-with individual reflections (with a scoring rubric). Exit slips for each Simple Machine and various artist lessons – independent (with a simple scoring rubric). Six-panel (Demonstrating the six Simple Machines) mural – demonstrates collective understanding of TAC “big idea” and usage of primary and secondary colors.


Martin Elementary HOT School - "Kinesthetic Connections Through Literature" - 5th Grade 2010 Co-residency Teacher Artist Collaboration

In 2010, as part of Phase One of the CTT Mentor Teaching Artists Program, L’Ana Burton & Mark Patnode cooperated in a Higher Order Thinking Schools co-residency at, Martin Elementary School, Manchester, Connecticut - Donna Fitzgerald, Principal.
The overall effort, entitled “Kinesthetic Connections Through Literature” involved Fifth Grade Teachers Christina Prindle, Trisha Bagley working with L’Ana & Mark and Students in a Teacher Artist Collaboration involving Dance & Visual Arts disciplines to achieve literacy comprehension through an arts-centric program.

2009 - As Connecticut continues its national Arts in Education lead, Mark is pleased to announce his participation as one of six CCT Mentor Teaching Artists. CCT is currently working with Barbara Cox (Teaching Artist Journal – a monthly newsletter for teaching artists that renowned Teaching Artist Eric Booth began).


Alcott Elementary School - "A Longhouse Experience" - 3rd Grade 2009 Teacher Artist Collaboration


Columbus Magnet School - "Landscape of Learning" - K-5 Grades 2009 Teacher Artist Collaboration



West Hill Elementary School - "Observing Living Organisms" - 1st Grade 2007 Teacher Artist Collaboration


West Hill Elementary School - Self Portraits - 1st Grade - 2007 Teacher Artist Collaboration


John Lyman School - "Botanical Mural"  (16 ft) - 1st Grade - 2007 Teacher Artist Collaboration


Columbus Magnet School - "Graffiti Mural" – 2006 - 3rd Grade (five day) - 2006 Teacher Artist Collaboration


Columbus Magnet School - "Looking Through The Longhouse" - 3rd Grade - 2006 Teacher Artist Collaboration


University of Hartford Magnet School - "All Living Things Depend on Each Other" Mural - 1st Grade - 2006 Teacher Artist Collaboration


Pleasant Valley School - "The Art of Family" Mural - 1st, 3rd & 5th Grade - 2005 Teacher Artist Collaboration


Lincoln Middle School - “Reflections of Our Ancestral Footprints” Electronic Presentation - 2005 Teacher Artist Collaboration


ISAAC (Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication) - “Enlightenment” Fiber Optics Whale Installation Sponsored by ISAAC and New London Main Street - 2005 Teacher Artist Collaboration

  Juried into the Connecticut Commission on Culture & Tourism (CCT) Teaching Artist Directory, a reflection of excellence in both teaching and artistry, Mark has had the pleasure of conducting numerous residencies at CCT Arts in Education Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools and Magnet Schools. The hallmark of HOT Schools is its comprehensive approach to training and professional development. Classroom teachers, arts specialists, artists, principals, and parents all assist with the planning and design of professional development which is offered year-round.

In addition to his school classroom programs Mark has participated in numerous pedagogical outreaches at the State & National level. Following are some examples.

Welcome to HOT Schools - 2010 Conference Opening Informance - Digital Video "HOTs in Review" Developed by Mark Patnode, CCT Teaching Artist

Mark was a Workshop Facilitator at the 2010 HOT Schools Summer Institute, "Leading the Way: Higher Order Thinking In the New Decade."

Documenting Through Technology - Mark Patnode
As society worldwide moves towards electronic media and cyber solutions, it falls to a greater degree on educators to be knowledgeable about technology. The regular curriculum of a HOT School increasingly requires knowledge of computer programs within the scope of projects. This workshop presents assessment and documentation solutions and invites dialogue on the continuing technological needs of educational professionals.  Participants are encouraged to bring laptops with Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop, as well as personal or professional digital images (videos, photos, logos, etc.) to work with during the workshop..

Mark is a member of the 2007 & 2008 USA Professional Artist Faculty for the Center for Creative Youth CulturArte, Cape Verde, Capital Region Education Council (CREC), Hartford, Connecticut. Details on the program can be found at the CREC website: www.crec.org

2007 Mural


2008 Mural




Dudu Rodrigues (center - in red), a Student from the 2007 program, returned in a new capacity to the 2008 program as a Published Artist

The 2008 session involved creating a mural on a glass block wall of the Residencia Estudantil Madre Teresa De Calcutá, Praia, Cape Verde








Mark was the Visual Arts Drawing Instructor for the 2007 Center for Creative Youth program at Wesleyan University, Connecticut.

Mark worked with the Recreation Supervisors at Radgowski Correctional Institution, Montville, CT on a Visual Arts Project Workshop on Self-esteem, Working Towards Community, Tolerance, Resolution of Differences. The project culminated in a group entry to the Prison Arts Program show at City Lights Gallery, Bridgeport, CT in 2006. Mark is a trained volunteer with Connecticut Department of Corrections.