Yes…We ARE at the table!

Rosanne Malek (DE Arts Education Consultant) and Leon Kuehner (Hampton) have been selected to be on the Iowa Core Professional Development Team, which met for the first time in May.  The purpose of the team is to establish expected outcomes and develop the framework and structure for the work of statewide professional development. It also includes revision of sample units to use as examples of teaching strategies.

The other state initiatives represented have only one person on the team, usually from an AEA, university or a master teacher - we have two representatives.  Aside from the two Iowa Core leaders, Rosanne is the only DE consultant representing a content area on the team.  Our thanks to Rosanne Malek for her patient and tireless work in this area. We can no longer say the arts are being left out or are being ignored. We now need your support in understanding the opportunity the arts have in forming the future of the Iowa Core Curriculum.

At the first meeting the team was introduced to the Characteristics of Effective Instruction which includes 1) teaching for understanding 2) teaching for learner differences, 3) Assessment for Learning, 4) Student Centered Lessons/classrooms, and 5) rigor and relevance of curriculum.

The second meeting held in early June focused on the attributes of good statewide professional development opportunities. We were asked our opinions and our ideas were valued. Our input included the need to show the connection with fine arts and re-emphasize that Iowa Core is driven by concepts and skills, not by content or course.

The arts have sample units that were prepared last summer and these units will be a part of designing the statewide professional development framework that will be used by the AEAs.

The funding for the Iowa Core training is provided by the Iowa legislature and implemented through local AEAs.  All Iowa educators are the target audience. You will need to contact your AEA to request the contact information and dates.  Although AEA teams attend trainings, each AEA is independent in determining how to serve their school districts.

Conclusion

Are you dealing with questions as to why the arts are not listed specifically in the Iowa Core? I would direct you to the previous articles that have been written regarding this issue in the Iowa Bandmaster Magazine. Better yet, be PRO-ACTIVE and download a copy to educate your administrator on how the arts are integrated into the process.  After July 1^st you will be able to find all of these articles online via our website www.bandmasters.org

Regardless, Iowa Core is here and the Arts are being included.  Find ways to use arts education as a direction toward the Iowa Core. Use arts programs to reinforce the concept of becoming "global." Use arts integration to justify the importance of our work toward the goals of the Iowa Core Curriculum and the 21st Century Skills.

Resources

Iowa Core Curriculum Overview Document. (2009, May 21). Iowa Core Curriculum [Information about the Iowa Core Curriculum]. Retrieved June 17, 2009, from Iowa Department of Education Web site: http://www.iowa.gov/educate/