Dramatic Results Newsletter

2010/11 Program Reflection

Talk about Dramatic Results! We are thrilled to share with you the dramatic results of our work with students and teachers in the 2010/11 academic year.

Despite these uncertain economic times – especially for education and arts – and with a heartfelt THANK YOU to our many generous donors, Dramatic Results’ has maintained the integrity of our program design, demonstrated consistently strong outcomes and advocated for the power of arts integration locally and nationally.

In 2010/11, Dramatic Results’ positively affected:

• 430 students (2nd, 4th and 6th grades), from five Title I elementary/middle schools in Long Beach received our in-class arts integrated programs this year
• 14 classroom teachers received in-class coaching in arts integration techniques.

"I see a whole other side of my students as they create art that I don't usually see. It also challenges me to incorporate art into my lessons on a more regular basis." - 2nd grade Teacher at Holmes Elementary

We received consistent feedback from our classroom teachers that Dramatic Results has increased their confidence and skill level in integrating art into their curriculum. They did not think they could make art and now they do. Significantly, they are demonstrating for themselves the connection between art and student’ success in their classrooms. Teachers have included the Dramatic Results reflection and compliment circle into their daily practice, finding that these moments have huge impact in the attitudes and learning of their students. Ms. Corrales and Ms. Kroneberger, teachers at Holmes Elementary School have shared that this has changed the way they view their children and how the children respond to one another –with increased courtesy and respect.

Click here to read more specific information about each of our three programs.
 

Our Schools Earn Title I Awards

Math in a Basket demonstrates longitudinal academic success!

Addams and Buffum Elementary Schools in Long Beach, two of Dramatic Results’ Math in a Basket program schools (funded by a U.S. Department of Education grant), have been awarded “Title I Awards” by the State of California in 2011 for doubling the achievement targets set for them for two consecutive years . Dramatic Results served approximately 240 students at Addams and Buffum over 3 years (2007-2010) as 3rd,4th and 5th graders – the exact years measured for this award.

Click here to find out more.

U.S. Department of Education Highlights Dramatic Results

Based on the impact of our programs on student engagement and academic achievement, Dramatic Results was one of only two arts agencies in the nation to present at the U.S. Department of Education’s Policy Briefing on Arts Education in Washington DC on April 6, 2011. This high honor was because of independent evaluation showing the impact of our arts integrated programs on student engagement and academic achievement year after year.

Dramatic Results presented the highlights of our experience with two Math in a Basket federal grants and looked ahead at our new Write-On Arts federal grant project that will be starting in Long Beach classrooms October 2011.

Debbie Anderson, principal of Buffum Elementary, from one of our Math in a Basket schools, joined us in WDC to discuss the impact of our program on students. Our presentation was hands-on and each attendee walked away with a completed basket.

Further detail concerning the information shared at the event can be found on the ED.gov Blog (http://www.ed.gov/blog/2011/04/every-child-needs-the-arts/) and the OII website ( http://www.ed.gov/oii-news/oii-arts-integration-grantees-share-evidence-effectiveness).

Presenting for Arts, Business, and STEAM

As testament to the growing recognition for our work, Dramatic Results has shared our programs across multiple disciplines with workshop presentations to local, regional and national audiences this year, including: the National Arts Education Association (NAEA), Town Hall Los Angeles’ STE(A)M Ahead Conference, CSU-Fullerton’s Mihaylo College of Business and Economics, and the U.S. Department of Education.

Please look for Dramatic Results at the Town Hall Los Angeles' conference: Full STEAM Ahead! Part Two: Hands-On Strategies for 21st Century Education in August 2011, and the Learning Forward 2011 Conference (formally known as the National Staff Development Council) in Anaheim in December.

Click here for more information.

Looking Forward to 2011/12 School Year

What’s Ahead for Dramatic Results in 2011/12:

• Launching our THIRD federal grant program (one of only 3 agencies in California to ever receive Arts in Education Model Development and Dissemination funding three times!) to provide 600 elementary students with our Write-On Arts program and professional development to 60 classroom teachers over three years.
• Forge new partnerships between the science, industrial, education and art communities to ensure each of our students experiences the academic and personal success that comes from stimulating their curiosity and fostering creativity through a hands-on, arts-based approach to learning.
• Celebrate Dramatic Results’ 20th Anniversary of award-winning programs for students with a fundraising campaign to raise $200,000 to sustain our student programs.

How can you help?

• Contribute to Dramatic Results’ 20th Anniversary Fundraising Campaign that starts in September 2011.
• Connect us to an outstanding person in science, industry, business, arts or education that can make Dramatic Results’ programs even more effective.
• Volunteer your time to support our programs, special events and outreach efforts.
• Email Christi Wilkins (christi@dramaticresults.org), or call 562-595-4600

In this issue

• 2010/11 Program Reflection
• Our Schools Earn Title I Awards
• U.S. Department of Education Highlights Dramatic Results
• Presenting for Arts, Business, and STEAM
• Looking Forward to 2011/12 School Year

Board of Directors

Helene R. Goodman,
President

Julie Mendell,
President Elect

Devi Kokaram,
Vice President

Carolyn Price,
Treasurer

Christy Cleveland,
Secretary

Vincent Acosta
Frieda Rapoport Caplan
Barbara Ellis
Robert Ellis
David Suarez
Urvi Sutariya
Christi Wilkins

Pass it on

If you know someone who may be interested in receiving this newsletter, you can easily forward up to five copies at once.