April 7, 2020

Love and Awesomeness

Zoe Bennion (10 years old,) a fifth grader at Rosemond Elementary School in Jordan School District and her sister Mia (5 years old,) a Kindergartner at Foothills Elementary also in Jordan School District made a slide show to make all the teachers in Utah happy! Trust me, it does just that! BTSALP’s website designer, Anneliese Bennion took the LOVE up a notch by creating the . . . Awesome project for teachers, parents and creative spirits of all ages!! Check it out below.
March 16, 2020

Art Works for Kids Lesson Tool Arts Integrated Lessons for your K-6 Classroom

Education is much more than just academic achievement. The classroom needs to be a place where students can learn about themselves as well as the world around them. Integrating the arts into the core curriculum is a proven strategy for helping to address all the needs of students. In elementary schools, arts-integrated learning has been shown to improve students’ social, emotional, core academic, and arts learning. Art Works for Kids is happy to announce the new and improved Lesson Plan Tool is up and running! Lesson plans for all grade levels, art forms and subject matter are available for your […]
March 1, 2020

Sunshine 2.0

Sunshine 2.0 is a professional traveling theater troupe based at Rochester Institute of Technology’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID) in Rochester, New York. The troupe provides performances and activities for deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adults that highlight the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEaM), as well as educational topics pertaining to the Deaf experience. The theater troupe travels to schools, and programs serving deaf and hard-of-hearing students, colleges, museums, conferences, civic groups, festivals and other venues. Performances are presented in voice and in American Sign Language, are accessible to all audience members and cover […]
October 15, 2019

Utah Birds and Ecosystems

This Fall, 2019 the Artsbridge Honors course at Weber State University will design and co-create a new faux-stained glass installation called Utah Birds & Ecosystems. This is a course designed for Weber State University students to work closely with professors and BTSALP Visual Arts Specialist, Brent Rhodes, and his 4th graders at James Madison Elementary. Through this collaboration students design and build a hanging installation that depicts the birds and ecosystems found in Utah. This aligns with the 4th grade Utah State Science Standards. All of the Weber State students and 4th Graders will visit the Ogden Nature Center to gather field […]
September 8, 2019

Utah State: Arts Are Core Conference

Utah State University sent BTSALP specialists and classroom teachers “back to school” with strategies and lesson ideas to reach every learner. Arts Are Core: One World, Many Makers held on August 1, 2019 provided professional development arts-integration for K-6 classroom teachers, arts specialists, administrators and university students/pre-service teachers. Educators participated in a full day of professional development exploring how the core curricula of Math, Science, Language Arts and Social Studies can be taught using the rich hands-on art forms of dance, drama, music and visual art. Participants delved into the foundation of arts-integration, unpacking all of the quality characteristics of […]
May 3, 2019

Congratulations to the University of Utah’s MAT Program

The Master of Arts in Teaching – Fine Arts at the U of U was just ranked #11 as one of the best online education degree programs in the country! The program isn’t even a year old!!! Check it out!!!
March 20, 2019

Jeremy Chatterton: BTSALP’s Best Friend

Jeremy Chatterton, principal at Dilworth Elementary School in Salt Lake City School District, is definitely a friend of BTSALP. He is willing to share the success of the BTSALP every chance he can! Jeremy presented information about his school and the program at the Principal’s Symposium held at the University of Utah and at the BTSALP Legislative Dinner.
January 30, 2019

What Happens to Student Behavior When Schools Prioritize Art

Here is an excellent excerpt from the book, You, Your Child and School: Navigate Your Way to the Best Education by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica. Share with parents, principals, colleagues, and community members to advocate for the benefits of Art Education in schools. Click here to read more. Just for fun – a bit of Doodling. Enjoy!
November 5, 2018

For The Love of Reading

Jen Terry is a BTSALP Professional Development Partner and elementary art integration coach at Alpine School District. She believes that art integration transforms learning into purposeful experiences that are worthwhile for the teacher and student. Jen holds a B.S. from Utah State University in Early Childhood Education with a Visual Art emphasis and a M.Ed. in Integrated Curriculum from American College of Education.  As a practicing artist, she is passionate about the arts and children’s literature. She is a curator of children’s picture books who works to bridge stories and inspire ideas in the hearts of children and educators.   Jen […]
October 3, 2018

Saturday Classes and Professional Development Opportunities

Don’t miss out on these exciting opportunities available to you, several at minimal or no cost! The Arts Engage Saturday workshops at UVU still have openings. Join the best presenters in the area for Drama, Dance, Music, Visual Art or Robotics workshops. Visit this website to sign up. Class meets October 13, November 10, January 26, February 23, March 16 and April 13. (There will be a make up for the Sept 15 class for those needing USBE credit.) Evening For Educators information and registration can be found here. October 3rd 6:00-9:00 at BYU University of Utah College of Fine Arts ArtsLINK Mini Conference Friday, October 5, 12:30-2:30 at […]
September 19, 2018

BTSALP Statewide Conference 2018

On September 13th and 14th, members of the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program, from all over the state gathered at the Utah State Capitol to connect, learn and create. Specialists, principals, university partners all working together to create artful learning in our schools.  Sydnee Dickson, Utah State Superintendent of Public Education was the keynote speaker, Art and the Whole Child, and kicked the conference off on a positive note. Success stories of specialists making a difference with a class, school, or individual students were shared.  Over the two days of the conference, breakout sessions were conducted in all 4 art […]
September 10, 2018

Great Way to Start the School Year

BTSALP Specialists gathered at Luminaria Photography Studio on Saturday, September 8, 2018 to learn the process of  Cyanotype. This  is a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print. Engineers used the process well into the 20th century as a simple and low-cost process to produce copies of drawings, referred to as blueprints. Thanks to Dave Hyams & Christine Baczek. The Process of Cyanotype The English scientist and astronomer Sir John Herschel discovered the procedure in 1842. Though the process was developed by Herschel, he considered it as mainly a means of reproducing notes and diagrams, as in blueprints. Hard at Work Rachel Jacobs, BTSALP […]
September 3, 2018

Murray Mural Project Part 1

The Department of Art and Art History at the University of Utah, the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts Learning Program (BTSALP) and Murray City have created an opportunity for University of Utah undergraduate art majors, graduate art majors, BTSALP Visual Art specialists and elementary students to collaboratively paint nine socially engaged, portable murals in  the elementary schools within the Murray City boundaries. The murals will be unveiled by Murray youth at their annual “Murray Fun Days Parade,” July 2019. The murals will then be permanently displayed at various schools in the district. Each mural will have a theme developed collaboratively specific to […]
June 14, 2018

Exciting Research from the BTSALP!

Two of our BTSALP Visual Arts specialists in the University of Utah region have concluded and published some exciting research. Read about Jonathan Hale’s joint project between Sprucewood Elementary School and Jordan Valley School (Canyons School District, Salt Lake City, Utah) in VSA INTERNATIONAL: The Kennedy Center Office of VSA and Accessibility blog post below. Peer Partners in the Elementary Art Classroom Lead to Growth for Students With and Without Disabilities Megan Hallett, Director of Framework Arts and BTSALP specialst at Escalante Elementary School, (Salt Lake City School District, Salt Lake City, Utah) is the mastermind behind the Family Art […]
October 22, 2017

Plein Air Art in Arches National Park

Fourth graders study of Utah comes alive as they view the scenery of Arches National Park.  Follow BTSALP Visual Art Specialist and “Art Coach,” Bruce Hucko with his merry band of students as they make art in the park!  Read all about right here… 
March 25, 2017

Spotlight on Visual Art Specialist, Kate Watson

Take a tour of BTSALP specialist, Kate Watson’s art space at Harvest Elementary School in Saratoga Springs. Kate is a master at integrating visual art with Science, Technology Engineering and Math.  She puts the A in STEAM!  Start your tour here in our latest newsletter.
October 3, 2016

Self Portraits = Self-Esteem

“With new teachers, new classmates and a new batch of facts, figures and concepts to learn, the start of a new school year can be a tough time.” – Jeff Bogle BTSALP Visual Art specialists know that creating self portraits might be the perfect art project to boost self-esteem at the start of a new school year. Check out the many, varied and unusual ways Utah students started off the school year!  
September 22, 2016
Why Is Arts Education Important?

Why Is Arts Education Important?

  Here Are 3 Benefits Of Arts Education For Students  By Daniel, Parent Herald 1. Arts Education Improves School Performance One of the biggest benefits of arts education for students is that it can actually improve their learning skills, school attendance, critical thinking skills and creativity. All of these are essential for a successful academic performance. “In fact, several recent studies have concluded that the creativity and innovation utilized in the artistic process will be highly valued by employers in the United States in the coming years as we continue to shift into a global economy,” The Education Fund shares. […]
September 15, 2016
Drums Alive! at BYU Arts Express

Drums Alive!

BYU Arts Express featured Carrie Ekins and her Drums Alive program for students as part of their summer 2016 workshop for classroom teachers and specialists. The Drum Beat Chemnitz Drumming Research Project with Drums Alive In 2010 Drums Alive® took part in a scientific study THE DRUM BEAT Chemnitz Drumming Project a worldwide, unique research project that was created to answer scientific questions as well as derive and evaluate social and medical measures using the characteristics of drumming and movement. The Drum Beat was inspired by a research project of the University of Gloucestershire and University of Chichester, titled the […]
September 8, 2016
BTS Goes Back to School

BTSALP Goes Back to School

Classroom teachers and BTSALP specialists don’t take the Summer off . . .  they are always thinking about their students and their curriculum. Teachers and specialists from all over the state came together at a variety of university locations for hands-on, arts integrated workshops. It may sound like work but I bet they’d all say it was really more like FUN! Find out more about what teachers and specialists REALLY do on their summer vacations in this month’s newsletter! Click here to read. 
May 19, 2016

ArtsLINK in the News

ArtsLINK was featured in the University of Utah’s The Finer Points blog. To read the article and check out the great pictures click here!
April 28, 2016
ArtsLINK 2016

ArtsLINK 2016

Infuse art!  Change our world! The second annual free statewide ArtsLINK conference took place on Saturday, March 25, 2016 at the Beverley Taylor Sorenson Arts and Education Complex on the University of Utah campus. Learn all about this conference in the latest BTSALP newsletter.
March 24, 2016
Strolling Through Draper Elementary

Strolling Through Draper Elementary

Welcome to Draper Elementary’s Art Night 2016. Enjoy the visual arts projects created by the students and their BTSALP specialist, Kylie Welling. Arts and academic integration at it’s finest. Click here to learn how visual art can support and enhance content area learning.
March 10, 2016

Drama, Dance and Dr. Seuss

BTSALP students have been busy this month painting, dancing and acting. Find out all about their efforts and take a peek at the new Marmalade Branch of the Salt Lake Public Library right here in our newest newsletter. 
February 24, 2016
Day On The Hill

Day On The Hill

Monday, February 8, 2016 was Day on the Hill at the Utah State capitol. Students from the BTSALP program performed integrated music and dance compositions. Advocates for arts in schools, used the day to meet with legislators and support BTSALP.  Read more about it in our latest newsletter.