Professional Development

Developing the Creative Process
PD Courses for Teachers

Cross - Curricular: Visual Arts, STEM and literacy linked
Interactive: Teachers gain confidence and insight through participation
Accessible: Great for all teachers, no matter their experience or the level they teach
Encourages Critical and Creative Thinking
Develops Key Competencies and Values

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Our interactive courses for primary teachers explore ways to teach the visual arts with an emphasis on creative thinking and critical thinking, placing value on the development of a rich creative process as much as the final product.

This learning and approach links with visual arts The New Zealand Curriculum Achievement Objectives, across Learning Areas, the Key Competencies and Values.

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Choose from our range of courses or we can customise a course to suit your needs

Are you looking to revitalise your visual arts programme with more of an emphasis on creativity?
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Our courses provide the resources, techniques and motivation to implement creative ideas across the curriculum and encourage creative and critical thinking in your learners.

We will support teachers to create and deliver cross curricular art lessons which encourage creativity, mindfulness and individuality as well as providing opportunities to develop practical knowledge and ideas, communicating and interpreting in the visual arts. 

All of our courses follow the same philosophies, approach and interactive format. We can also customise a course that works for your teachers and your school logistics. Discuss with Mandy the curriculum links, achievement objectives, inquiry or visual arts skills you would like to focus on.

Planning Support

Are you a primary teacher looking for a comprehensive visual arts term overview that links directly to your literacy or numeracy programme?

Are you wanting to encourage creative and critical thinking in your classroom?

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WOULD YOU LOVE ONE LESS TASK IN YOUR BUSY TEACHING LIFE??

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Our overviews have been written, tested and refined by Mandy, a primary school teacher with over 20 years experience and Founder/CEO of Creative Matters.

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TELL ME A STORY

This is a cross curricular, NZ Curriculum visual arts/literacy unit overview that explores the creative process through visual, spoken and written storytelling.

• Learn about 3 artists

• Explore and experiment with visual arts techniques and elements 

• Create three masterpieces in response to artists' work and style

• Respond and reflect through pair, group and class discussions 

• Write narratives, descriptions and explanations in response to the artworks explored and created.

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Feedback from Teachershe

The 'Tell Me a Story' term overview provides an exciting, rich creative process to follow over the course of a whole school term. Our whole team of seven year five and six teachers are taking what works for us from this plan and implementing it into our programmes for term 1 2020. 'Tell Me a Story' provides detailed, easy to follow, inspiring lesson plans with many opportunities for developing skills in visual art and descriptive writing, as well as producing a selection of unique artworks that support the 'getting to know you' stages of starting a new class for the year. Thank you Mandy for providing us with planning that allows all teachers (and learners) to feel confident and successful throughout a rich creative process.

Tayla Williams, Year 5/6 Teacher, Waimauku School, Auckland NZ.

Facilitated by Mandy Jakich

Our courses are facilitated by Mandy Jakich. 

Mandy has taught in Primary and Intermediate schools for more than 20 years, was an Art Educator at Auckland Art Gallery for 4 years, is the Founder and CEO of Creative Matters and is a practising artist.

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Mandy has facilitated courses in schools, at Kohia Centre - University of Auckland, and at Studio One, Toi Tu.

"Thank you Mandy for the wonderful art workshop you ran at our school recently.  The teachers were engaged and highly motivated as evidenced by the  way the majority of our staff utilised all they learnt with you  into their classroom programmes immediately. 

They enjoyed the way you delivered your programme, and also the freedom you gave them to be creative while also learning some basic paint techniques. All were impressed with how the session catered for all levels of expertise.  They are looking forward to having another session with you."

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Denise Haven, Deputy Principal, Waitakere Primary School

Experiencing the Creative Process - Courses

Using an Artist

for Inspiration

Teachers will develop practical strategies for creatively using an artist as inspiration and a starting point for creative thinking, and experience a series of creative art lessons exploring the themes, styles and techniques of this artist.

Painting and

Colour Making

Teachers will develop practical strategies for setting up, managing and teaching painting and colour making in the classroom through a rich creative process of exploring, experimenting, creating, reflecting and sharing.

Collaborative

Art

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Teachers will develop practical strategies for creating collaborative artworks that involve creative and critical thinking and a rich creative process. Perfect for term 1 class building and making connections.

Three Learning Options

Over 2 staff meetings at your school 

Splitting the course over two consecutive sessions of two hours works brilliantly - giving us time to refine the learning to suit your needs, for an even richer learning experience on the second session.

At a Teacher Only Day at your school

A 4 hour hands-on PD session is a great addition to a Teacher Only Day, encouraging communication and collaboration as well as the learning of new skills and approaches. 

At Studio One Toi Tu in the holidays

This is a good option if you are seeking individual or small group PD rather than school wide, held during the holidays. A creative, therapeutic treat!