The Third Annual American Art Summer Institute
Delivered by Art Resources in Teaching in conjunction with the Ryan Education Center at the Art Institute of Chicago
Made possible with the support of the Terra Foundation for American Art and the Polk. Bros. Foundation
 
From June 15-19, 2009, thirty teachers from six different Chicago elementary schools enjoyed an intense and challenging five-day mentoring program.  Artists from Art Resources in Teaching led the program, which expanded the teachers’ knowledge of American art and offered practical approached to integrating American art in the classroom.  These teachers provide instruction in fourth through eighth grade classrooms, and found opportunities to make deep and meaningful connections between art works and core learning areas.

Artists advised teachers on how to glean the most information from a single work of art, including visual thinking strategies and how to place an artwork into an historical context.  Teachers developed the skills they need to approach a work of art, and they practiced those skills with their peers during the Summer Institute.  This background forms the basis of the lesson they will teach to their students during the upcoming Fall semester in the classroom with the support of the artist.