Creative Matters
For Teachers
Professional Development and Support in the Visual Arts
Facilitated by Mandy Jakich
Mandy has taught in Primary and Intermediate schools for more than 25 years, was an Art Educator at Auckland Art Gallery for 4 years, is the Founder and CEO of Creative Matters, the host of the Creative Matters Podcast and is a practising artist.
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She has facilitated visual arts courses for 8 years in Primary and Intermediate schools and ECE centres around Auckland, online with teachers around NZ, with beginning teachers at Kohia Centre - University of Auckland and with teachers in the holidays at Studio One, Toi Tu.
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Testimonial from Grey Lynn School Principal Alicia Whata
The professional learning that Mandy delivers, is of the highest quality. Her delivery and engaging style, empower all staff in a positive way which reminds us that we are learners too, and that we can be successful as artists and teachers. She provides impactful sessions that are bespoke to our school's needs. A session with Mandy invigorates our team every time and we look forward to each impactful session. This PLD is exceptional and Mandy's experience and passion are the reason why.
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"The role of a creative leader is not to have all the ideas; it’s to create a culture where everyone can have ideas and feel they’re valued"
Sir Ken Robinson
"The role of a creative leader is not to have all the ideas; it’s to create a culture where everyone can have ideas and feel they’re valued"
Sir Ken Robinson
Our PLD motivates, empowers and enables primary teachers to teach visual arts in a way that stimulates their students to think creatively, giving children rich opportunities to:
feel good about themselves
observe closely
share, respond and reflect
collaborate
take risks
make decisions
express themselves
connect with other parts of the curriculum
communicate and interpret
create unique artworks
develop art making skills and techniques
show their individuality and have ownership over their work
Encouraging Creativity in a Cross Curricular Way through the Visual Arts
Creative Matters PD for Teachers | Experiencing the Creative Process
Teachers in action
5 Professional Learning Options
LEOTC Teacher Only Day
At Muriwai Beach \ West Auckland - A stunning black sand beach and native bush environment. We will take you on a unique professional journey to experience ways to respond to an environment creatively and critically through environmental art and photography. A wonderful mindful day of learning, connecting with each other and improving your well being.
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1-1 Customised Support
Are you in charge of the visual arts in a primary or intermediate school and don't know where to start or need support? Are you part of a school leadership team and need support to help make the visual arts happen in your school in a more cross curricular, creative way? Are you an ECE leader who wants to place more emphasis on creativity? Whatever your needs, role or experience Mandy can help! 30 minute sessions on Zoom.
Online via Zoom for a small group of teachers (no more than 6) at 2 - 4 staff meetings. Teachers will go through the same process as face-face PD but you will supply the materials, the space and the big screen. Accessible for all schools around NZ and a cheaper option!
Developing the Creative Process
Staff meetings
Get in touch with Mandy to discuss your school's needs. Devise a customised programme or choose one of our PD courses that have been tried and refined and then we can modify them if we need to! We can connect the programme to your current themes and cover the visual arts skills you want to focus on. And a NZ curriculum based teaching plan will be provided so your teachers can go back to their classrooms and implement their learning across the curriculum - with all the planning done!
St Mary's School in Ellerslie, Auckland - 2021
Thanks Mandy for facilitating a well organised and engaging staff meeting for my staff. It was wonderful to see such practical art ideas and tips that can be used back in the classroom.
Sue Kubala
Principal
Holy Cross School, Papatoetoe, Auckland - 2021
This course changed my mindset towards visual arts dramatically. Knowing now to encourage our art to be unique, not the usual formulaic approach. Teacher Holy Cross
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It was an awesome PD that I want to continue throughout my teaching career. Teacher Holy Cross
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Can't wait to try this with my class next term - Ann O'Grady
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You have empowered me to take more risks, explore and try out different techniques. Mandy is so professional, patient, encouraging and content/delivery is on point! Hope we get you back! Teacher Holy Cross
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Pakuranga Heights School, Auckland - 2021
From working with Mandy, who is an effective communicator, I was able to see the value in the process of art and to consider all aspects of the arts achievement objectives which I think, quite often get neglected by teachers but are so vitally important in creating connected, collaborative life long learners that are able to think critically and creatively.
Vanessa Roscoe | Art Lead Teacher | Pakuranga Heights School
St Mary's Ellerslie, Second series of courses - 2022
It truly is an awesome PLD, led with energy and enthusiasm. I loved it!
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Great PD for teachers, fabulous team building - Hellene
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So much fun - releases your inner artist!! - Alisha
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Easy to follow instruction and inspiring - Eugene
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Great experience and way to broaden your creative mind! - Sarah
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You will fall in love with the journey of art - Dani
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I value the art/design process a lot more than the final product now - Casey
Arahoe School, New Lynn , Auckland - 2022
I enjoyed being hands-on and creative. We had a great mix of guided art as well as the freedom to experiment and to put ourselves in the shoes of our learners.
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Loads of learning for me, the practical element and hands-on nature of visual arts, the communicating and interpreting and time to give to that with students, how achievable and accessible art can be. Mandy's modelling and discussion.
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I feel more confident to actually do art lessons.
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I like Mandy's kind, relaxed, open mined approach to teaching/learning.
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It's lots of fun and so relaxing! A lovely way to end the school day with getting to be creative ourselves, which often doesn't happen. Great to get to experience the processes we expect our kids to go through.
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A great opportunity to express your creative side without feeling challenged by your own personal lack of how to teach the arts. Mandy was awesome, she taught it to me so that I could take it directly to my class and implement it.
Developing the Creative Process
Teacher Only Day
We can provide a similar service and programme as the staff meetings but all on one day over 4.5 hours. This is a very accessible, interactive course aimed at teachers from all levels and is a great way for your staff to connect with colleagues. Teachers will go away feeling motivated and equipped to take the learning into their classrooms. AND it's a very mindful, therapeutic session much needed by busy teachers!
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.
Denise Haven, Deputy Principal, Waitakere Primary School
Developing the Creative Process
ONLINE - Zoom Staff Meetings
We can provide a similar service and programme as the staff meetings but online for a maximum of 6 teachers at a time.
We will facilitate the course via Zoom at a time that works for you. Teachers will work alongside Mandy in the same way as our other courses. This allows schools and teachers from all over NZ to participate in our well respected PD without having to travel and provides a good option in COVID times. Teachers can even join in from home with the staff based at school if necessary!
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We will provide you with a list of materials and equipment you need (to purchase or gather from your existing art resources) and teachers will set themselves up in a space that allows them to work through the creative process and create while watching the screen when applicable. Still a very interactive, rich experience for your staff.
"I would highly recommend your online PD for all teachers. Even teachers that have been teaching visual arts for a number of years. The knowledge that you have as a classroom practitioner and your ability to cater to a variety of skills levels amongst the kaiako is awesome. You made all members of our group feel successful and to see themselves as artists. You have also created a number of highly engaged students who are now viewing themselves as successful artists."
Ramia Honatana, Deputy Principal
Developing the Creative Process
LEOTC - Teacher Only Day
Creative and Critical Thinking through the Visual Arts
At Muriwai Beach \ West Auckland - A stunning black sand beach and native bush environment.
We will take you on a unique professional journey to experience ways to respond to an environment creatively and critically through environmental art and photography. A wonderful mindful day of learning, connecting with each other and improving your well being.
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You will learn techniques for: demonstrating a creative process; verbalising and encouraging creative and critical thinking; making environmental artworks in response to the land and nature; taking photographs that capture elements in different ways. We will make links across the curriculum and discuss ways to implement these ideas or the experience into your classroom programme.
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We will develop understandings of visual arts elements and principles:
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form
space
texture
composition
scale
shape, line, pattern
colour
contrast
materiality
balance
Orakei School, Auckland
We were all inspired in so many ways and the team came away feeling relaxed and motivated. Thank you for sharing your knowledge around the creative process and making clear links to all areas of the curriculum.You certainly are part of the Orakei Family now :)
Fehm Hussain | DP Orakei School
Developing the Creative Process
1 - 1 Support and Mentoring
I'm the across school release teacher, and am lucky enough to teach the arts to all our students. I approached Mandy for some 1:1 PD sessions because she had previously worked with our school, and the staff have such great feedback about her. My first session with Mandy was everything I had hoped it would be. I was inspired, motivated and I had 'lightbulb' moments which have already changed my planning and improved my philosophy. I cannot wait to have my next session with Mandy and learn even more.
Suzie Espie | Arts Lead | Glenavon School