A paid workshop for Perth Amboy teachers is offered end of summer, by the Arts Institute of Middlesex County. They are collaborating with Local Learning, a national leader in cultural and folklife education, to offer Perth Amboy schools a new program that partners educators with local traditional artists to educate and empower students. The Arts Institute will provide a stipend to all educators who attend this two-day workshop. We will also cover the costs of a two-day program for participating teachers’ students during the school year! Learn more about this opportunity below:
Culture, Community, and the Classroom
Cultural Education Professional Learning Workshop
Thursday & Friday, August 22 & 23
9:00am – 3:00pm
East Jersey Old Town Village
1050 River Rd, Piscataway, NJ
Registration is required by email to Shannon Cole at shannon.cole@co.middlesex.nj.us by July 19th. Capacity is limited to 20 educators, so don’t delay! Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Perth Amboy educators are invited to participate in a two-day workshop exploring culturally responsive, engaged learning through local traditional arts. This workshop at Middlesex County’s historic East Jersey Old Town Village will introduce concepts of cultural identity to educators. Teachers and artists will build model unit plans that empower students to recognize their own expertise in their cultures, communities, and identities and bring that expertise to the classroom. Study of traditional arts contributes not only to students’ understanding of culture and community, but also to their ability to think critically, gather and analyze evidence, and express their ideas and interpretations through personal creativity. Additionally, this program will help local students make explicit connections between their surroundings, local history, and their everyday lives in ways that may not otherwise be obvious to them.
This workshop also offers educators a widened perspective on their own cultural identities and promises to guide educators in modeling curiosity and inquiry for their students. Teachers will understand how traditional arts and culture can be assets in the classroom, build inclusive learning plans with proven tools for student engagement, and learn with a cohort model that centers teachers’ expertise. How does one’s knowledge of their cultural identity influence their learning? How can cultural investigation create a more collaborative classroom? Let’s find out together!
In addition to a stipend and 12 hours of professional learning, educators will have the opportunity to host a traditional artist for 2 days in their school at no cost to the school. Participating mini-residency artists will represent local traditions of the region.
Please extend this invitation to any Perth Amboy educators who may be interested in participating! The program is appropriate for all grades, though grades 4 through 8 are most strongly recommended.