Barbra Kates

 

Primary Discipline: Visual Arts

Areas of Specialty: Ceramics, Digital media, Curriculum development

Additional Disciplines/Specialties: Dance, Literary Arts, Music, Theatre, Integration of Arts and Academic areas; Connecting Arts EALRs and Academic GLEs

 

Based in: Yelm
Phone: 360-894-7527
Email: fotograffia@gmail.com
Website: www.barbrakates.com

 

Biography: Barbra Kates has always been passionate about the arts. She received her BFA and MFA in Ceramics from Towson State University and is currently working towards a Masters of Education through City University. Kates sees her work in sculpture and digital media as an ongoing exploration into ways of combining new ideas and developing inventive techniques for self expression. Kates has been teaching through the Washington State Arts Commission’s Arts in Education programs since 1999. She is the Director of the Architektura Visiting Artist Workshops, an educator and consultant in Visual Arts K-6 Curriculum for the Tacoma, Yelm and Buckely School Districts and a lecturer in Art History and Digital Photography for Princess Cruises.

 

When asked about her approach as a Teaching Artist, Ms. Kates wrote this: “As a teaching artist, I am engaged in an ongoing conversation with learners, teachers, principals, administrators, artists and the community. I see myself in partnership, planning, collaborating and co-teaching with the classroom teacher. I strive to actively engage students through an integration of arts curriculum with other academic subjects. Arts integration is one of the most effective ways to reach all of the intelligences. In the classroom I share my skills and knowledge through innovative teaching techniques. Hands on work in the arts provides students with opportunities to use original thought processes, challenge themselves, make aesthetic decisions, engage multiple intelligences, develop critical thinking skills and creative problem solving, make connections to other academic content areas and tap into their own creativity. One of my strengths as a teacher is my ability to adapt pedagogical skills to teach students of all ages. I also enjoy working with students of diverse ethnic backgrounds.

 

Suitable for Grades: K-12
Preferred Grades: K-12

Curriculum Integration Possibilities: Literacy, Reading, Writing, Math, Science, History, Social Studies, Technology, Other Arts Disciplines

 

Additional Interests/Experience:

• Leading Professional Development workshops for K-12 Teachers

 

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