Equal Access ~ Changing Classrooms
Residency Mini-Grant Program
2008 - 2009 School Year

Resource List for Equal Access-Changing Classrooms Grant

Q: How do I choose a teaching artist to work with?

A: Many other organizations have teaching artist rosters.   Below are links to these rosters.   These are only suggestions; you DO NOT need to choose an artist from one of these lists.

Minnesota State Arts Board   ( http://www.arts.state.mn.us/aie/alpha.htm )
Young Audiences of Minnesota   ( http://www.yamn.org/programs )
Compas ( www.compas.org ) Daniel Gabriel, Arts Education Program Director, can give you suggestions about who would be a good fit for your classroom.   You can reach him at (651) 292-3254, or email him, daniel@compas.org .

Q: How do I come up with potential outcomes that will be met through the residency?

A: The outcomes are what you expect students to learn through this specific experience or residency.   This could be related to culture, music foundation skills, your curriculum or standards, language development, playing instruments (for example in a drumming circle), or social emotional skills identified in your school and classroom.   If you would like some assistance with identifying these outcomes, Nyssa Brown or Barbara Cox from the Perpich Center for Arts Education can help you.

Nyssa Brown                
Music Education Coordinator
Perpich Center for Arts Education
(763) 591-2003
nyssa.brown@pcae.k12.mn.us

Barbara Cox
Arts Education Partnership Coordinator
Perpich Center for Arts Education
(763) 591-4762
barbara.cox@pcae.k12.mn.us

Q: How will I assess student learning during the residency?   Is there someone that can help me brainstorm assessment ideas?

A: For this grant, we are asking you to identify indicators of success that you will use to assess your students during and after the residency.   If you are having trouble thinking of assessment ideas, ask yourself:   What is my goal? How will I know if I have met that goal?

Q: Are there any examples of assessments that I could use for this residency?

A: These assessment ideas may be appropriate for the residency. These are only suggestions; you DO NOT need to choose an assessment idea from this list.

•  Video with teacher narrative - for example, could show collaboration between students who had previously not worked together.
•  Rubric - for example, a student or the teacher could rate their engagement in the learning process, or the knowledge gained in the process.
•  Narrative written by students - for example, students could journal about the following, "Before the teaching artist visited, I knew...After the teaching artist visited, I know..." This could be in relationship to history and culture, social dynamics of the classroom, ensemble playing, technique on new instruments, etc.
•  Still photos with description of skills being practiced - for example, could show evidence of instrumental laying technique on a new instrument.
•  Narrative written by teacher - for example, could show change in engagement over time of a student or multiple students.

Q: If I don't have much experience writing a grant. Is there someone that can help me?

A: Your colleagues, MMEA Board members who are active music educators, will be reviewing your grant application.   Think of the grant application as a lesson or unit plan you are sharing with a teaching colleague.   It may be helpful to describe your plan to a teaching colleague as one way of organizing your thoughts prior to preparing the grant application. Be sure to answer each section of the application.   If you have more questions about writing the grant application, contact Emily Deutsch in the MMEA office at (763) 566-1460, or email her, intern@mmea.org

Q: Are there any resources that can help me brainstorm a project idea?

A: Below are articles from past issues of Interval , the official publication of the MMEA, that can help you brainstorm project ideas. If you would like a copy of one of these articles, please email intern@mmea.org

•  Gamelan: Nontraditional Approach to Concepts in Kindergarten (by Allison Cramer, Fall 2007, pg 40-41)
•  World Percussion Drumming in the Elementary Classroom (by Cindy Shirk, Fall 2007, pg 7-8)
•  Fostering Cultural Competency Through the Teaching of Music (by Kim Kroetsch, Fall 2006, pg 10-11)

Q: I'm looking for more general information.   Are there any resources about assessment in the music classroom?

A: Below are articles from past issues of Interval , the official publication of the MMEA, that are about assessment in the music classroom.

•  Assessment in General Music ( by Holly Becker, Winter 2008, page 9-10)
•  Key Questions When Developing Assessments ( by Nancy Stutzman, Winter 2008, pg 20-22)
•  Rhythmic Learning & Assessment in a 9 th and 10 th Grade Band Ensemble ( by Janet Heukeshoven, Winter 2008, pg 36-37, 39-40)
•  Assessment: Some Nuts and Bolts for the String Classroom ( by Deborah Sittko, Spring 2007, pg 26-27)
•  Rubrics-Tools for Accountability and Assessment of Achievement in the Arts (by Cheryl Bungum, Spring 2007, pg 35 & 37)
•  Assessment Thoughts (by Mark Gitch, Spring 2004, pg 18-19)

Q: I have a question that's not listed here.   Who do I contact for other information about the Equal Access - Changing Classrooms mini-grant program?

A: Contact Emily Deutsch at the MMEA office, or the general email address for MMEA (info@mmea.org)

Emily Deutsch
Minnesota Music Educators Association
(763) 566-1460
intern@mmea.org