WMA Education Director Presents at AAEA Conference

Brook McGinnis, Education Director at the Wiregrass Museum of Art, recently presented at the Alabama Art Education Association Conference in Mobile, providing instruction and inspiration for early education (preK-2nd grade) educators in her seminar, “Creating art is LIT! Igniting LITeracy skills through talking about and making art!”

McGinnis explained how WMA has reimagined their school tour program to address the Alabama Literacy Act, by learning how to use content framing questions when looking at art and learning different strategies to help boost literacy skills when making art. 

Seminar participants explored WMA’s Fall Docent Guide, a tool for training volunteer docents how to talk about art in a way that can improve reading comprehension skills. Then, the class discussed works in the museum’s Permanent Collection by Carolyn Sherer and Randy Gachet, and did a blind contour line drawing activity. Participants also learned new skills by working through WMA’s K-2 Literacy tour activity, Paper Story Quilts, illustrating favorite moments from the book “Never Let a Unicorn Scribble” by Diane Alber.

“Art teachers are isolated on their own little islands as they are typically the only one in their subject area at their schools. As such, the work life of an art teacher can be very lonely. This conference reminded us that we are not alone! We have hundreds of brilliant colleagues across the state who are willing to share their successes (and a few challenges) with their peers so that we can all learn and grow together. The sense of community in this particular organization is almost overwhelming. I have never before been around such a welcoming and supportive group. This is my second time attending and presenting at the Alabama Art Education Association Conference and both times I have come away feeling refreshed and renewed and with a whole new set of ideas to bring into my classroom at WMA,” said Brook McGinnis.

For more information on becoming a docent or volunteer, visit here on WMA’s website.