Community Arts Partner

Participant Details

Community Arts Partner Name
We.APP (We Act. Present. Perform.)
Partner Type
1
Profile Photo
Individual Bio or
Organizational Statement
OUR PROGRAM: Speak With Purpose is the only public speaking class offered as an elective or Language Arts course during the school day.  It is designed to teach young scholars to discover their unique voice and create original work that expresses their view on education, home, and life. Our project-based learning methods are anchored in using writing and presenting to empower participants to explore ideas that reflect their clear, passionate, and distinctive perspective of the world. Speak With Purpose is an integral part of what schools provide to bridge the engagement and opportunity gap. By teaching students to expand vocabulary, critical thinking skills, and ability to collaborate, students increase their ability to self-direct, grow and lead. HOW WE DO IT:  PROGRAM BREAKDOWN:
  • Semester or full school year
  • Co-teaching Model
  • 1 - 4 days per week
  • Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Experiential Learning
  • Grades 4th – 12th
  • African American Males (AAM), Special Ed, English Language Learners (ELL), McKinney-Vento (students experiencing homelessness or unstable housing))
PROGRAM OUTCOMES:
  • Self Advocacy, empowerment & acknowledgment
  • Increased writing, reading & presentation skills
  • Write with attention and purpose, compose narrative writing
  • Advance listening & Nonverbal Communication
  • Collaborate effectively as group members or leaders who listen actively & respectfully pose thoughtful questions & acknowledge the ideas of others

Contact Information

First Name
Toyia T.
Last Name
Taylor
Address
Address 2
City
Seattle, WA
State
WA
Zip
Phone
2066599720

Grade Levels Preferred

Grade Levels Preferred
3rd - 5th, 6th - 8th, 9th - 12th

Artistic Disciplines

Discipline
2, 4, 6, public speaking
Type

Experience

Previous School Partnerships
Previous: Garfield High School, Cleveland High School and West Seattle Elementary Current: Pathfinder K - 8, South Shore PK - 8, South Lake High School, Orca K - 8 and Dearborn Park International Elementary  
Other Trainings or Certifications
Sample Lesson Description: Student / Classroom Residencies
Sample Workshop Description: Teacher Professional Development

Areas of Experience and Expertise

Approved Professional Development Provider
1
Approved Classroom Residency Provider
Yes

Lesson Plan

Integrated Art
Cultural Art

Teaching Approach

Teaching Philosophy + Approach
Interactive Lesson Design. Each lesson plan includes direct instruction or a mini-lesson of the skill and a modeled demonstration.  Afterwards, students may engage in open forums, project based learning opportunities (individually, pairs, or teams) and reviews of upcoming lessons to practice the new skill.  During each session students are constantly engaged with every aspect of the lesson. This encourages students to use critical thinking skills and collective collaboration to reach common goals, devise consequences and solutions, and ultimately, produce stellar work.    
Curriculum Integration Possibilities
       
Special Skills and Areas of Expertise
  • Professional Development
  • Establishing and teaching remote learning using Padlet.com, Zoom.com, Microsoft Teams, etc.
  • Public Speaking workshops and training
  • Developing and implementing curriculum and lesson plans
Testimonials from Schools
Feedback from Classroom Co-Teachers Motivating ELL  A scholar had a writing IEP and really struggled with the writing of a clear and coherent piece this year.  For our final in-class project the students had to apply to a job and be interviewed.  This student took it upon himself to figure out how to write a resume and wrote a clear, coherent and convincing resume listing his qualifications and why he wanted this job.   Student with IEP: Of the 18 students who performed at [the We.APP Annual] Rising Voices [Oratory Competition], 6 of them had independent education plans for various learning disabilities.  All three of the finalists who won the competition have some form of academic or medical challenge.  One has a writing IEP and struggles with a sensory disorder, one is Dyslexic, and one has been battling an eating disorder.  I believe that We.APP gave the venue and the avenue to help give voice to their struggles and give them an opportunity for success.   Academics All 58 7th graders participate in We.APP and perform a culminating oratory piece.  26 of the 58 were not meeting academic writing standards at the start of the 2018-19 school year.  Through the We.APP writing, review and performance process 14 of those 26 are now at writing and language standards per the Common Core standards we assess for in the late Spring.   Community/Classroom Climate The We.APP experience gave our students the ability to give clear and constructive feedback to their peers using the “grow and glow” method.  This helped build trust and a supportive community when sharing their personal work publicly.  This also gave them the skills to give constructive feedback in a mindful concrete and respectful way to the teachers on how to make We.APP better at Pathfinder next year.  We.APP helped build a classroom environment where student voices are heard and their visions are put into effect.   Feedback from Parents  “I think Toyia Taylor has created such an encouraging and nurturing environment at We.APP that awards are the sprinkles on a well iced cake. Imagine having a platform, resources, and permission to explore your voice and treat it as a gift so early in your development as a young adult. I do believe that every child in that room was positively influenced yesterday.”   “I am convinced that the skills my child learned in #WeAPP are what gave her the strength to push for participation in the Youth Climate change strike. If you know Eden she doesn't want to miss school for ANYTHING so for her to write me a 3 page paper on why she felt it was important that she participate was huge.” “This morning I had the opportunity to watch our 7th graders give speeches about topics of their choosing with the only direction being social justice as a theme. I heard their thoughts about everything from litter to immigration to body shaming to equality to gun violence to rape. I was choked up listening, and hit with both pride for their courage and hard work coupled with the heaviness knowing they carry these topics as their inheritance for their future. This part of their education will serve them well, as they will undoubtedly find themselves in situations where their voice is needed.”  

Fees

Fees

Images

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Image Description
Rising Voices Oratory Competition
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Image Description
Speak With Purpose Program
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Image Description
Speak With Purpose
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Image Description
Speak With Purpose Program
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Image Description
We.APP Rising Voices Oratory Competition

Video

Video Description
Check out our We.APP Youtube Page
Video Description
Seattle Children's March
Video Description
Youth Shall Lead Public Service Announcement Project