NAEA Convention 2010 Presentation Success!

Today was a long, eventful, and very positive energy day here in Baltimore. So far it has been so wonderful to reconnect with my peers and connect with some for the first time. I have been here since Tuesday and it has been such a fulfilling experience already- and I still have 2 more days left...

But today was very special to me. It was the very first time that I gave a presentation here at the national level. I was nervous at first but it is somewhat comfortable being in the front of the room and sharing ideas and experiences with others because that is what teachers do on a regular day to day basis. Being in front felt natural. I received many compliments on my performance if you will and ability to conduct discussion as well that followed. Needless to say I seemed to spark the fire about IEP's in the art room. The most heated debate was over the issue of whether or not I'm doing the job of the OT through the writing of my goals. I had one audience member that continued to challenge me and I was told I handled myself well.

I feel very accomplished to be a second/ third year teacher that has already presented both at the state and national levels of our professional organization. Now I'm sure as many of my peers have said, I will be hooked and I am already thinking of potential topics that I can present on for next year in Seattle!

(Peter has a question for me!)

A very special friend of mine did a very fabulous job presenting for the first time as well yesterday. Mary Silvestri from the Learning Center in Framingham MA a school for the deaf presenting on being a deaf teacher and teaching students who are deaf with multiple disabilities. WOW! Mary you ROCK!!!

Mary @ her Presentation                        Us @ Inner Harbor

Also I wanted to mention to that tonight I officially was appointed the membership chair for the Special Needs in Art Education Group (SNAE). I knew it was only a matter of time- especially when Peter Geisser had e-mailed me a couple weeks ago asking for me to take on some job for the group involving technology. Boy am I in trouble...

Finally to conclude today I want to congratulate the SNAE group for their fantastic super session and latest Publication on Autism and Art! Sue Losel and Beverly Gerber are truly my heros and do such a fabulous job. A special thanks to Sue for coming to my presentation today- it made my day and meant a lot to see everyone there that showed up!

Beverly, Sue, Julie, and Judith

Some of the finest of SNAE!

Stay tuned! More to come from Baltimore!

Getting Geared Up!

I know the conference is 2 months away, but I'm already excited. This will be the third NAEA conference that I will attend, and the first that I will present at! I just read through the schedule and it looks really great. Last year most of the Special Needs (SNAE) Issues Group sessions were overlapping one another, and this year there is about one per hour which is great! I'm also super psyched to see so many of my friends are presenting as well. Certainly ones NOT TO MISS---

Debi West

Donalyn Heise

Mary Silvestri

Pete Curran

Tina Atkinson

Sue Loesl

Debbie Sickler-Voigt

Peter Geiser

Even more exciting... This year will be the first that the SNAE group is putting on a SUPER SESSION! Friday afternoon from 4-5:50 the great Beverly Levett Gerber will be co-presenting with Susan Loesl, Julia Kellman, and Judith Burton.

“Artism”: Understanding Autism through Art Education
4:00-5:50 PM
“Artism” is a term used to describe the “relationship between art and autism.” Explore this relationship as presenters share information on students with autism and the implications for art education.

I can't wait!


Oh and I present on Friday April 16th at 1:00. Please be there! :)

TAEA conference Presenter: November 2009!!!

Here is the description of my upcoming presentation as it will appear in the conference program!

Saturday, November 14th, Super Sessions—1:00-1:50

“Art for All: Tricks and Tips for Your Inclusion-friendly Classroom”
Presenter: Rachel Motta. This session will provide insights and information about how to develop and adapt lesson plans for students with special needs including (but not limited too), MR, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Asperger’s Syndrome, ODD, Tourette’s Syndrome, Bipolar Disorder, PDD, and Schizophrenia. The presenter works specifically with special needs students and will provide participants with definitions to various special education classifications as well as offer lesson plans that are great for all ability levels. All Levels.
Location: Wood Auditorium

This presentation will be given at Arrowmont School for Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN>

TAEA state conference Presenter!

Can you believe it! I was chosen to present at the state conference this November on making your classroom inclusion friendly! I'm wicked excited and nervous all at the same time. Arrowmont is gonna rock! Especially since I'm going with some wicked awesome art teacher friends from Franklin and I haven't be to Gatlinburg yet.