With Christmas holidays fast approaching you may finally have some time to catch up on some reading. We wouldn’t want you to miss out on all our lovely blog posts, so we’ve put together a list of the most popular this year – plus a few of our personal favourites. Happy holiday reading!
Interdisciplinary learning for the Expressive Arts: is it all it’s cracked up to be?
Kathryn Lewis, then Head of Faculty for Expressive Arts at Ysgol Nantgwyn (a new ‘through-school’) gives her views. Kath is now Strategic Advisor for Curriculum Reform at Central South Education Consortium.
https://a2connect.org/interdisciplinary-learning-for-the-expressive-arts-is-it-all-its-cracked-up-to-be/
Creative Learning Through The Arts – a short report from the event
Get some quick insights about the new curriculum for Wales from our twitter collection and links from the four-day celebration of creative learning through the arts organised by Welsh Government in partnership with Arts Council Wales.
https://a2connect.org/lets-celebrate-creative-learning-through-the-arts-a-short-report-from-the-event/
Julia’s expressive arts room: a ‘test lab’ for cross-curricular, creative and collaborative learning
Julia Walker, a teacher at Jenner Park Primary School in Barry, and one of our Arts Champions talks about her using a new expressive arts room as a ‘laboratory’ to test ideas and approaches to help embed creativity throughout the school.
https://a2connect.org/julias-expressive-arts-room-a-test-lab-for-cross-curricular-creative-and-collaborative-learning/
Help and advice for leading a school choir or vocal group
Tips, links to resources, as well as some thoughts on the benefits of having a school choir/vocal group, in case your leadership team needs some persuasion!
https://a2connect.org/help-and-advice-for-leading-a-school-choir-or-vocal-group-plus-a-choral-conducting-masterclass-17-7-19-cardiff/
Pupils at Tonyrefail Community School defend the earth!
Rebecca Owens, Head of Expressive Arts at Tonyrefail Community School gives us the lowdown on how an inter-planetary creative immersion day helped the school to apply and test the new curriculum for Wales approaches to learning.
https://a2connect.org/pupils-at-tonyrefail-community-school-defend-earth-to-an-inter-planetary-council-in-their-expressive-arts-immersion-day/
My expressive arts journey and radiator teaching
Kay Smith, Head of Drama at Pencoed Comprehensive School discusses how teachers at Pencoed Comprehensive have been taking a blended, integrated approach to teaching and and how pupils and teachers have become “critical thinkers, with creative and curious minds”.
https://a2connect.org/my-expressive-arts-journey-and-radiator-teaching-by-kay-smith-head-of-drama-at-pencoed-comprehensive-school/
Why bring and artist, creative or cultural organisation into your school?
Have you toyed with the idea of bringing an artist/creative/cultural organisation into your school? Are you unsure of the benefits, or how to convince your head? Here are seven reasons to help you decide:
https://a2connect.org/why-bring-an-artist-creative-or-cultural-organisation-into-your-school/
Working with artists, creatives and cultural organisations in your school – a checklist for successful collaboration
With the new curriculum launching in January, you may be considering bringing an artist, creative or cultural organisation into your school to stimulate fresh thinking in Expressive Arts or creative learning. This handy checklist will guide you through everything you need to think about, including initial discussions, planning, and delivery.
https://a2connect.org/working-with-artists-creatives-and-cultural-organisations-in-your-school-a-checklist-for-successful-collaboration/
*Create and discover opportunities for your school and pupils, or your creative business*
Whether you’re a teacher looking for a creative person to share skills and inspiration with your pupils … or a creative person looking for teachers and pupils who can benefit from your input: make sure to CREATE as well as SEARCH for opportunities on the Opportunities section of the A2:Connect website.
