Arts For Learning Maryland Inc

TO TRANSFORM THE LIVES AND EDUCATION OF OUR YOUTH THROUGH THE ARTS BY CONNECTING EDUCATORS, PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS AND COMMUNITIES.

OTHER OUT OF SCHOOL TIMETHE ORGANIZATION OFFERS A RANGE OF AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING IN AND AROUND BALTIMORE. THE MAJOR OTHER OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMS INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:AFTER SCHOOL ARTS AND LEARNING ACADEMY - THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS THE AFTER-SCHOOL ARTS & LEARNING ACADEMY (ASALA) IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BALTIMORE CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS AT SIX LOCATIONS. ASALA PAIRS A CLASSROOM TEACHER AND A PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTIST TO DELIVER ARTS-INTEGRATED MATH AND LITERACY LESSONS TO ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. PARTICIPATING STUDENTS EXPERIENCED THREE HOURS OF EXTENDED ACADEMIC LEARNING AND ENRICHMENT PER DAY FOR FOUR DAYS A WEEK. STUDENTS WERE INTRODUCED TO A WIDE VARIETY OF ART FORMS, FROM ILLUSTRATION AND SPOKEN WORD TO PERCUSSION, DRAMA AND DANCE, AND HAD A CHANCE TO WORK ALONGSIDE STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE CITY AND LEARN FROM PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2023, 485 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN ASALA, CUMULATIVELY EXPERIENCING 17,000 HOURS OF ARTS-INTEGRATED LEARNING. SUMMER ARTS & LEARNING ACADEMY - THE SUMMER ARTS FOR LEARNING ACADEMY (SALA) IS OUR SUMMER LEARNING PROGRAM THAT WE OPERATE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BALTIMORE CITY SCHOOLS. THIS SIX-WEEK, FULL DAY SUMMER PROGRAM CURBS SUMMER LEARNING LOSS IN LITERACY AND MATH BY PROVIDING ARTS INTEGRATED INSTRUCTION. THE POWER OF SALA LIES IN THE COLLABORATION THAT OCCURS BETWEEN TEACHING ARTISTS AND TEACHERS WHO CO-TEACH CHILDREN, PREK-6TH GRADE, IN THE PROGRAM. IN ADDITION TO ACADEMIC INSTRUCTION, KIDS HAVE ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ARTS, ATHLETICS, ROBOTICS AND FIELD TRIPS. DURING THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2023, THE ORGANIZATION SERVED 2,000 YOUTH THROUGH SALA.SUMMER ARTS & LEARNING ACADEMY: DC - SALA DC USES THE SAME MODEL AS THE SUMMER ARTS FOR LEARNING ACADEMY PROGRAM IN BALTIMORE. ARTS FOR LEARNING ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT WITH DC PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN MAY OF 2023 TO PROVIDE A 5 WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM FOR 572 STUDENTS ACROSS TWO DC SCHOOL SITES. THE PROGRAM AIMS TO PROVIDE ROBUST PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT TEACHERS IN IMPLEMENTING ARTS-INTEGRATED INSTRUCTION. IN FULL, THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE TEACHERS' ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT ARTS-INTEGRATED INSTRUCTION THAT PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE SUMMER LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY ENGAGE IN ARTS-INTEGRATED LEARNING, CO-TAUGHT BY PROGRAM STAFF AND RENOWNED ARTISTS THAT SUPPORTS THEIR ACADEMIC, ARTISTIC, AND SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND RECOVERY FROM LEARNING LOSS ASSOCIATED WITH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.GOODNOW - THE ORGANIZATION BEGAN OFFERING OUT OF SCHOOL TIME PROGRAMMING AT GOODNOW DURING THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2022. IN 2023, THE OFFERINGS EXPANDED TO INCORPORATE AFTER SCHOOL AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING. THIS PROGRAM WAS OFFERED TO BALTIMORE CITY STUDENTS IN GRADES K-8 AS AN ENERGETIC, HEALTHY, AND SAFE SUMMER PACKED WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATIVELY COLLABORATE, COOPERATE, AND ENGAGE WITH PEERS AND THE COMMUNITY THROUGH ART-MAKING, RECREATIONAL SPORTS, STEM-BASED AND ACADEMIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES. THE SUMMER PROGRAM WAS A FULL-DAY, SIX-WEEK PROGRAM, WHERE TEACHING ARTISTS AND ASSISTANTS SUPPORT STUDENTS' PROVIDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, ARTS EXPERIENCES AND ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS FIELD TRIPS TO OVER 70 STUDENTS. THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM SERVED OVER 50 STUDENTS MONDAY-FRIDAY FOR THE DURATION OF THE SCHOOL YEAR FROM 3-6 PM. STUDENTS WORKED WITH PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTISTS TO EXPLORE DIFFERENT ART FORMS, ENGAGE IN THE CREATIVE PROCESS, AND DEVELOP SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY.

EARLY LEARNING/WOLFTRAPAS THE MARYLAND AFFILIATE OF WOLF TRAP INSTITUTE FOR EARLY LEARNING, THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS RESIDENCY PROGRAMS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR OUR YOUNGEST LEARNERS (FROM BIRTH THROUGH KINDERGARTEN). ADDITIONALLY, THE ORGANIZATION ALSO OFFERS OTHER TYPES OF EARLY LEARNING PROGRAMMING INCLUDING FAMILY INVOLVEMENT WORKSHOPS, TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND ASSEMBLIES. THE 2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR PROVED TO BE AN INCREDIBLE TIME OF GROWTH AND CONTINUED INNOVATION. ARTS FOR LEARNING FAR EXCEEDED OUR GOAL TO REACH 1,350 EARLY LEARNERS, FAMILIES, AND EDUCATORS, ENGAGING OVER 20,000 PEOPLE IN TOTAL. IN ADDITION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MSDE AND READY AT FIVE, WE KICKED OFF A SERIES OF SIX EVENING AND SATURDAY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS DURING THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2023. THESE WORKSHOPS WERE LED BY WOLF TRAP MASTER TEACHING ARTISTS AND OUR NEW EARLY CHILDHOOD CURRICULUM SPECIALIST, DR. SYRETHA STOREY. WE OFFERED PARTICIPATING CHILD CARE PROVIDERS THE ABILITY TO EARN THE MSDE CORE OF KNOWLEDGE HOURS REQUIRED TO RETAIN THEIR LICENSES, ALLOWING US TO RECRUIT AND BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH MANY NEW CHILD CARE PROVIDERS. THE WORKSHOPS COVERED A RANGE OF TOPICS INCLUDING USING THE THEATER ARTS TO ACTIVATE CHILDREN'S IMAGINATIONS, DANCE FOR STRENGTHENING FINE AND GROSS MOTOR SKILLS WHILE ENCOURAGING COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT, AND USING MUSICAL TECHNIQUES AS A PRACTICAL STRATEGY FOR ENCOURAGING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL AND ORAL LITERACY SKILLS. IN TOTAL, 509 EDUCATORS AND CHILD CARE PROVIDERS REGISTERED TO ATTEND THESE WORKSHOPS.

RESIDENCIESIN A RESIDENCY PROGRAM, A PROFESSIONAL TEACHING ARTIST COLLABORATES WITH TEACHERS TO CO-PLAN AND CO-TEACH A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS IN THE CLASSROOM. IN FINE ARTS RESIDENCIES, THE LESSONS FOCUS ON UNDERSTANDING AND EXPERIENCING THE ART FORM. IN ARTS INTEGRATED RESIDENCIES, THE LESSONS INCORPORATE BOTH LEARNING ABOUT THE ART FORM AND USING THE ART FORM TO BETTER UNDERSTAND OTHER CURRICULUM TOPICS. EACH TEACHING ARTIST COMPLETES INTENSIVE TRAINING TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO NAVIGATE THE FINE ARTS STANDARDS AND BREAK DOWN THEIR ART FORM FOR STUDENTS. STUDENTS BENEFIT BY HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY TO DELVE DEEPLY INTO THE ART FORM AND FIND THEIR OWN CREATIVE PROCESSES, AND TEACHERS BENEFIT BY LEARNING NEW STRATEGIES TO USE THE ARTS IN THEIR TEACHING. RESIDENCIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR STUDENTS OF ALL AGES, FROM BIRTH THROUGH GRADE 12.