CONFERENCES
& WORKSHOPS...
—
These were events for teacher
training and renewal. Often groups would negotiate a focus based on their own needs
and interests. The events were always lively, filled with practical information and
much nourishment for the heart.
KEYNOTE
PRESENTATIONS:
(often
using songs for a lighter, engaging keynote around either the theme of a
conference or one of the following topics)
-
"Building Environments of Belonging
for Young Children"
— being
responsive to what we know about how children learn and grow
-
"Nourishing the Heart of our
Teaching"
—
awakening our own vitality as teachers, our passions and talents
- "The Way Songs Enliven Learning"
— nourishing
creativity, imagination,
curiosity
WORKSHOPS:
(topics
similar to what's listed above, but with a more practical nuts-and-bolts
approach, more how-to, and interaction with participants...
topics also included the following)
-
"Using Songs to Listen to Children"
- "Strengthen Early
Literacy with Songs"
- "Integrating
Songs into the Life of a Classroom"
 |
—
Any of the above topics were available for district,
regional or building workshops too.
— The
Bureau of Education and Research (BER) hired
Tom for a number of dates around the country each year. |
top
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS...
—
The goals here were to have fun with songs, to integrate songs into
the life of the school and classroom, and to prod teachers to use more songs
to enliven learning (even when music isn't their strength!)
ASSEMBLIES:
(typically scheduled in two parts with 30 min. for grades K-3 and 45 min. for
grades 4-6)
- engaging, participatory programs geared to differences between
primary and intermediate ages
- mostly original folk songs, some traditional, with stories about
where they came from
- accompanied by guitar, and often demonstrating sounds and home-made
instruments
ALL-DAY VISITS:
(maximum
of seven sessions of classroom or grade-level visits)
- songs presented interactively with
students encouraged to ask questions and tell stories
- song writing
— described and
sometimes encouraged (brainstorming good
ideas, beginning to shape a song)
- folk songs as
more participation than performance, a tradition that belongs to all of us
—
In-service sessions for teachers were offered before or after the school day on a variety
of themes listed here in the section of workshops and conferences.
— PTA-sponsored family sings are
wonderful evening events for nourishing the sense of the school as a learning community.
— Schools
were encouraged to
clarify what they want from these visits, and to schedule them so they fit the details of
their school day. |
 |
top
NORTHWEST TEACHERS' CONFERENCE...
 Northwest
Teachers' Conference
(NWTC), started
in 1996,
is a five-day event that offers an innovative
staff development experience.
Mornings are filled with presentations from a dynamic staff, afternoons are
open for participant-generated workshops and activities, and evenings are
for community-building campfires and gatherings. Past participant
teachers say they value the time to reflect on good teaching and learning,
and the chance to renew their own passions for teaching.
Tom and Richard Scholtz were co-directors.
For more information, click
here.
The Northwest
Teachers' Conference is a project of the Puget Sound Guitar Workshop.
For more info,
click
here.
top
CHURCHES...
 In
addition to his work in schools and education, Tom
worked with
churches too.
Every year Tom was responsible for the content of a
Christmas Eve Family Celebration hosted by First
Congregational Church in Bellingham, WA. Held in a
theater and drawing 1,300-1,400 people, the celebration
featured original music and a lively retelling of the
Christmas story for people both supportive of and cynical
about churches.
Some of
his content themes
were:
- worship and music
- using hymns as invitations to
telling stories
- the way ordinary details
become images of faith
- and what are the marks of a
lively church and lively ministers.
top
|
