Performing arts teachers from across the NYC Outward Bound Schools network gathered for a convening in Long Island City on December 16. This was the first time our arts educators had the chance to learn and investigate shared practices together as part of a subject-specific convening.
The day’s theme centered around how best to support one another and how to design arts curriculum and classrooms for students to make decisions that matter. The convening was led by School Designer and Coach Eric Shieh.
Following an opening hip-hop cypher that challenged participants to improvise and create a space of sharing — by rapping, playing an instrument, keeping the beat, dancing, or making other creative contributions — the educators split into discipline groups to discuss what it would look like to be thriving as a performing arts teacher.
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After lunch, teachers worked across disciplines to investigate the idea of “cultural production,” taking turns staging original performances that might amplify a call for change. One group created rhythmic poetry together and titled their piece “On An Island.”
“Sometimes it feels like you’re on an island as an arts teacher, or even just as a teacher,” said Jenna Weinberg, theatre teacher at MS 839, a NYC Outward Bound School in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn, explaining the meaning to the group. “But in our piece, the chorus shifts from ‘on an island’ to ‘on our island,’ — and that makes all the difference.”
“A feature of learning in the performing arts is that it all but demands community,” shared Eric. “It’s so important for NYC Outward Bound Schools to bring together teachers to do the kinds of sharing and creating and trying out of ideas that brought so many of us into this work in the first place.”
The day wrapped up with a discussion around defining experiences that matter to students — projects that are timely and relevant to individuals, structures that enable leadership in a classroom community, and work that connects to justice in the greater society.
“Several teachers shared in our closing circle how energizing it felt — at a time when we’re so busy trying to survive — to hold ourselves to the bigger reasons for why we do what we do as arts educators,” said Eric. “We need these spaces, for ourselves and for our students.”
Several teachers shared in our closing circle how energizing it felt — at a time when we’re so busy trying to survive — to hold ourselves to the bigger reasons for why we do what we do as arts educators.