Tag Archives: The Arts
Devin Martin: Giving TNCS the Whole Picture!
Part of The New Century School's mission is to nurture the whole child. This means faculty and staff focus not just on academics but also on, among other things, social and emotional learning, physical education, and The Arts.
For the 2021–2021 school year, art class has a brand-new teacher: Meet Devin Martin. She even has "art"in her name!
But that's not the whole picture. Ms. Devin is a natural fit at TNCS in several ways, as you'll quickly see. She originally came to Baltimore from Ithaca, New York, where she grew up, to attend Maryland Institute College of Art—which we all know as MICA, of course! She graduated in 2013 with a bachelor's degree in Fine Art and also did some course work in Art Education.
She found that Baltimore felt like home to her and has been here ever since. "I've made great friends here, and I'm never bored in this city. The art community here is so collaborative, and every time I spend time with my friends we come up with something artistic to do together. People are always performing at each other shows and collaborating, and it's just a really great place to make interesting art," she explained.
As for what her medium as an artist is, she says that the general Fine Arts degree allowed her to pursue multiple ways to create. "Fine Arts is a little bit of everything, which works well for me because I used to get bored with just one medium. I bounced around from photography to miniature painting to book arts . . . but what all of that ended up coalescing into was shadow puppetry, which became my main thing. It's cut paper, it's more theatrical, and I really got into theater arts after graduating."
Ms. Devin uses transparencies, water, and ink to illustrate scenes in a stage adaptation of "A Wrinkle in Time."
Art Meets Montessori
Alongside this passion for art, Ms. Devin also has known that she wanted to teach since she was 16 years old and has worked with children in various capacities since then. After college, she began leading after-school community art programs. Shortly thereafter, she got a job at the Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School, and as you've probably guessed, became intrigued with Montessori education. "I was doing after-school things with them and realized that I wanted to be around there all the time! That was also one of the first times I worked with early childhood in the primary classroom. It was a good fit for my personality. Young kids and I have a lot in common in terms of enjoying tactile experiences in nature and art and animals . . . so I feel like I can engage them really easily." She went on to tie that fascination with small objects to the Montessori tenet of the characteristics of the primary-age child.
So, she started working as a primary assistant (eventually going on to lead a classroom) and decided to pursue Montessori training. She did her assistant Montessori training at Loyola University Maryland's Center for Montessori Education and her Lead training at the Barrie Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies, where she also worked for a while.
Here at TNCS
And then the pandemic hit, so Ms. Devin had to shift gears. She answered a job listing put up by a group of TNCS families who were interested in finding a Montessori-trained teacher to teach their young children in a home/pod setting. Says Ms. Devin:
It was a wonderful group of seven kids age 2 1/2 through 6 years, and met every day in the guest room one of the families had turned into a primary classroom. We also spent most of the afternoon in Patterson Park learning about nature. We learned all about what kinds of trees grow there, and we extensively studied the cicadas. We learned all about their life cycle, their body parts, and what they do and why they sing. It was a fun way to be able to bring my passion for early childhood science into this wonderful, wonderful park. It was a really great experience, and I think I learned a lot about myself as a teacher during that time.
As will now seem predestined, this is how she ultimately found out about TNCS. She first began long-term substituting in the primary classroom while Señora Salas is out on maternity leave but then saw the art education opening. "A lot of my background is in art education, and it's definitely a major passion of mine, so I asked if I can do both. In the morning I'm teaching in the primary classroom, and then in the afternoon I'm teaching K through 8 art," she said.
Although this schedule might sound daunting, it's easy to see how she blends her various talents and makes it all work. (Puppets in the primary classroom? Match made in heaven! She also makes great use of her skill with miniatures.)
So how is she faring so far this year? Short answer: beautifully in both spheres. In the primary world, she says, "All the primary teachers are kind of new this year, so we were able to figure out how we wanted to run things ourselves. Although I have a lot of experience in primary classrooms, this year is totally different because of COVID. There are all sorts of different considerations for how to stay COVID-safe, from the way we do lunch to the way we do play time. So, there's a lot of trying new things, but the kids are really adaptable, and I think we've fallen into a nice little rhythm and routine."
As for art . . .
In the afternoon, I'm running around doing art in all the classrooms, and I've just been loving it. I think art teaching is really what I'm best at in the world. I'm always smiling so big when I'm walking around the classroom, looking at everyone's art. They're all elementary and middle school age and at that point where they haven't quite decided whether they're an artist or not. They might say they can't draw, but they they can and with a bit of encouragement, they're able to do things that really impress them. For example, we did a geometric tile project looking at Islamic, Moroccan, and Mexican tile-work, and we made simple designs using a straight edge and a circle. At the end of one of the classes, one of the students said, 'how did you do that?' and, I replied, 'you did that.' They responded, 'how did you get me to do that?!' It was funny, and she was so surprised at her own skills.
During the first quarter, students have been focused on building drawing skills through observational drawing as well as imaginative drawing. Recent projects have included drawings based on the colors, compositions, and motifs of Panamanian textiles and a street art–inspired project using bent wire to bring line drawings to life. "I like to take a skill and apply it in a bunch of different ways, but soon we'll be moving on from drawing into 3D stuff like sewing and clay work. It's been very fun to figure out what I want to teach and what areas of art I want to delve into."
Ms. Martin will display student works of art around the two TNCS buildings—get a peek when you can!
Standard | Posted in Art Education, Elementary Education, Middle School Education, Montessori education, Progressive Education, The Arts, Uncategorized	| Tagged art education, Barrie Institute for Advanced Montessori Studies, Devin Martin, maryland institute college of art, Montessori, social and emotional learning (SEL), The Arts, The New Century School, TNCS	| 0 comments
A Day in the Life: Peeking into TNCS Division by Division!
What happens at The New Century School does not stay at The New Century School. Instead, the magic that fills each and every day enriches the lives of the students who experience it far beyond the classroom. Imaginations are sparked, perspectives broadened, values instilled, skills honed, spirits of adventure awakened. All while students pursue rigorous academics in an environment that allows them to learn and progress at their own paces.
Although this last attribute is typically understood to mean that a student who is not ready to work at a standard age level is not forced to try to do so and therefore burn out, and that's of course the case at TNCS where applicable, it often means the inverse here—students are not asked to wait for anyone to catch up to them but can soar as high as they so desire.
Among the TNCS community, we have watched this magic transform our children lives, but it can be difficult to articulate to someone unfamiliar with the school. Sometimes, it just needs to be seen to be believed. So, this week's Immersed is trying something a little different. Throughout the past years, we visited classrooms unannounced to get inside glimpses of what any given day looks like in each division. You can bet there's almost always something special going on. Maybe that's because with daily triple language learning, visual and performing arts, an emphasis on service learning, and a pervasive atmosphere of inquiry, there's just no such thing as quotidian at this school. We invite you to look closely at the montages to follow. There are worlds to see.
A Day in the Life: Preschool Division
TNCS's littlest learners in the preprimary classrooms, ages 2–3, focus on social and emotional development. They learn to work in groups and cooperate with their peers. They are immersed in either Mandarin Chinese or Spanish, so, as they cultivate language skills, they do so bilingually. Take a recent visit from Spanish-speaking Clifford the Red Dog and Pete the Cat. In addition to being exposed to language in all forms, making music and art are their main in-class pursuits, and artists are invited to classrooms to present their age-appropriate art. As students are ready, they begin to explore the Montessori materials they'll see regularly in the primary classroom.
In the TNCS primary Montessori classroom, students ages 3 to 5 develop the ability to concentrate—to start, work through and complete a given task. They use Montessori materials to hone fine and gross motor skills both individually and in small groups. They continue to develop socially and emotionally and begin to refine their language skills in, now three, languages. Art and music are daily pursuits as is an emphasis on peace and kindness.
Spanish lesson on rainforest animals.
This tiny TNCS tot is exploring multiple dimensions with the Graduated Cylinder Blocks.
This TNCS preprimary student practices her fastening skills on the Montessori Button Frame. She is well on her way to independent dressing!
A quiet, cozy moment with a friend in the peace corner.
Cracking an egg into a bread recipe.
Tidying up a spill with the crumber.
Cleaning the chalkboard.
A Day in the Life: Elementary Division
In elementary grades, K through 5th, academics become more rigorous, but the focus on visual and performing arts, music, and languages also amps up, with dedicated teachers in each subject, making for a truly well-rounded education. Fostering independence while celebrating community, the elementary program encourages students to ask questions then figure out how to find the answers. Field trips to local spots of interest as well as in nearby towns happen at least quarterly.
As elementary students age up, they move to building north, which they share with middle schoolers. Here, service learning expands to include the outside community as well as the campus.
A Day in the Life: Middle School Division
When TNCS students hit the big time, a lot changes for them at school. Academic preparation intensifies, as they ready for high school, but research shows that middle schoolers can flounder socially and emotionally, so TNCS students are given loads of opportunities to try out their burgeoning independence in new ways and develop self-confidence and self-agency.
This peek inside some typical days at TNCS (where a typical day is anything but typical) should make it clear—TNCS students have the world at their fingertips.
Standard | Posted in Art Education, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Middle School Education, Multilingual Education, Physical Education, Progressive Education, Uncategorized	| Tagged elementary school, language learning, middle school, physical education, preschool, The Arts, The New Century School, TNCS	| 0 comments
TNCS's Second Annual Art Show Beguiles Attendants!
The Arts are an integral part of every school day at The New Century School. Visual arts teacher (and newlywed, hence the name change) Elisabeth Davies hosted the first-ever TNCS student art show during the 2015–2016 school year, but her show this year took it to a new level.
Kicking off Memorial Day weekend, the show comprising works from each and every primary through middle school student took place Friday, 5/26/17, from 5:30 pm–6:30 pm. Paintings, drawings, and sculptures were on display, spiraling up the central staircase of building south and spilling out into the hallways. A silent auction* and reception were held in the multipurpose room. Attendees were invited to have some snacks and do a gallery walk through the school, guided by their young artists.
Ms. Davies says she came up with the idea for hosting an art show having grown up participating in one every year. "I grew up always having an art show in the district," she explained. "It combined art from three elementary schools, two middle schools, and the local high school. It was a really fun event that brought everyone together and meant a lot to the kids to get to show their families."
It evidently means a lot to TNCS students as well. Ms. Davies says, "The students have worked so hard on every project this year, knowing that I would be putting together an art show at the end of the year. They were all very excited."
Her primary goals for the show were to have some fun but also demonstrate the technique and skill that go into creating art:
I wanted to show parents all the skills their children learned this year in art. It may just look like a drawing of a snowman, but the kindergarteners and 1st-graders learned how to create foreshortened space and give volume to a sphere using shading. The 4th- through 6th-graders are learning how to draw from life and see and translate those things into paper. I'm so proud of every single student in the school.
As for the primary students, Head of School Alicia Danyali explains, "Primary students have studied communities all year long, working from the closest community to them (their families) all the way out to the world. This month, we have discussed what we all have in common and what makes us different, and that we are all part of a larger community outside of ourselves." You'll read below how this translates to their art.
And, with this brief introduction, we leave you now to feast your eyes on these amazing works of creativity, beauty, imagination, and masterful execution. This is truly one of those times when the picture is worth 1,000 words.
Snowmen at Night
Cooperative Monsters
Inner Self-Portrait
Van Gogh, Pigasso, and Mootisse
Inedible Food
*TNCS's curriculum teaches global citizenship and peace. With that in mind, the primary students are excited to help other children in North America by making something with their own hands. The Peter Hesse Foundation aims to promote quality early childhood education; compassion; and a peaceful, just world. Parents for all ages were invited to take part in primary's silent auction to benefit The Peter Hesse Foundation.
Standard | Posted in Art Education, Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Middle School Education, Progressive Education, The Arts, Uncategorized	| Tagged art show, Elisabeth Davies, The Arts, The New Century School, The Peter Hesse Foundation, TNCS, visual art	| 0 comments
Pipa Concert at TNCS
Li Laoshi poses with her pipa just before the concert began.
Li Yangyang joined The New Century School this year from southwest China, where she is a graduate student at Sichuan University, working to obtain a Master of Pedagogy degree. Li Laoshi also has abundant experience teaching Chinese as a foreign language, and TNCS is proud to have her on board. Assisting in the Chinese classrooms is not the only skill Li Laoshi brings to the table, however. She plays pipa (similar to a lute) and guqin (similar to a zither), both ancient Chinese musical instruments. She has completed high-level certification in pipa through the China Traditional Music Association. Xie Laoshi says, "Yangyang is a true artist! "
On Thursday, October 24th in Building North, TNCS students got to see and hear for themselves just how talented Li Laoshi really is. As part of TNCS's ongoing focus on studying other cultures as well as The Arts, Li Laoshi presented a 30-minute concert showcasing her pipa music.
"I started playing pipa when I was 7 years old," she says. "At that time , my neighbor's daughter played pipa, and when she practiced it, I could hear the music. I thought that music sounded so good, and it made me feel peaceful. When I first saw the pipa at her home, I was excited by its beauty. I asked my parents, 'can I play this instrument?' and 2 weeks later, I saw a beautiful pipa waiting for me in my room. Now, I have been playing pipa for 16 years. I love this instrument very much!"
Staff and students alike, TNCS really enjoyed the pipa show!
Li Laoshi played four songs, each very different, including her introductory song ("The Language of Pipa"; 琵琶语), the theme song from a cartoon ("Counting Ducks"; 数鸭子), a war song ("Surrounded on All Sides"; 十面埋伏), and the most popular pipa song in China ("Nezha"; 墨明棋妙 – 哪吒). As she began "Counting Ducks," she invited the audience to sing along. Lo and behold, the entire student body sang right along—from the pre-primary students to the elementary students! During the last song, which was quite spirited, one of the elementary girls was spotted playing "air pipa"! Suffice to say, the kids loved the concert!
For those of you who could not attend the concert, do not despair! Here is a video of Li Laoshi playing the third song in her line-up. Enjoy!
Standard | Posted in Montessori education, Multilingual Education, Progressive Education, The Arts, Uncategorized	| Tagged Chinese language, cultural studies, guqin, pipa, The Arts, The New Century School	| 4 Comments