CCT: Hot Schools Program

Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Schools 2006 Summer Institute "The Art of Higher Order Thinking"
July 9 - July 13, 2006 Dolce Heritage Resort and Conference Center Southbury, Connecticut


	HOT Schools, a program of the arts in education department, is funded by the Connecticut State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

	About Higher Order Thinking Schools
	Who Should Attend
	Week at a Glance Calendar
	Morning Tracks
	Sunday Workshops
	Monday Workshops
	Wednesday Workshops
	Faculty for 2006 Program
	What to Bring
	Directions
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	The Higher Order Thinking (HOT) Approach fosters learning communities that recognize and celebrate each child’s unique voice. The HOT Approach is based upon effective research-based methods and strategies designed to build higher order thinking skills through a combination of strong arts, arts integration, and democratic practice through an underpinning of Multiple Intelligence theory. The HOT Approach is reflected in a school’s commitment to hands-on, arts-integrated experiences. HOT school teachers work collaboratively to structure interdisciplinary curricula that promote deep learning of subject matter, and higher order thinking, creativity, adaptability, and teamwork in students.

	The HOT SCHOOLS program, established in 1994, has served 41 schools in all congressional districts reaching over 22,000 students, approximately 2,500 educators and 75 artist educators. The HOT Approach is designed to be flexible for adaptation and uniquely suited to help individual school communities address their specific needs and build community. The program directors work closely with each school to design and implement a professional development plan, and work closely with resident artists charting a course for personal and professional growth.

	Schools using the HOT Approach share a commitment to academic achievement through 3 essential components:

1.	Strong Arts
	Education in, about, and through the arts helps students develop critical thinking abilities, independent judgment and creative problem solving skills. The arts, as rigorous academic subjects, each with their own sequential comprehensive curricula, convey knowledge not learned through studying other academic disciplines and provide stimulating vehicles for children to communicate their ideas.
2.	Arts Integration
	Developing basic skills is central to the HOT Approach to school renewal. An interdisciplinary approach to teaching reinforces learning in all disciplines, encourages students to seek, establish and test connections, and allows them to synthesize relationships between ideas. Integrating the arts into all subjects and creating arts-rich environments enhances and reinforces the power of the arts in learning in each school community.
3.	Democratic Practice
	The arts provide avenues for expression in an authentic democracy. HOT Schools cultivate a school culture in which purposeful activities support choice, participation, connection and contribution to celebrate the unique voice of each member of the school community. HOT School educators plan and work collaboratively and invite parent partnerships, input and participation.

	{Photo of participants engaged in team work} Participants engaged in team work at the HOT Schools Summer Institute "The Teachable Moment"

Who should attend the HOT Schools 2010Summer Institute?

	Administrators looking for a new vision to reshape their schools; classroom teachers seeking new perspectives, teaching strategies and an opportunity to re-energize and re-discover their creative spirit; parents interested in understanding the power of schools that reflect an arts-infused culture and the potential of partnering with educators in their child’s learning process. The Hot Approach can be adopted by arts organizations, individual artists, and state and local arts agencies (interested in understanding school culture and curriculum design), who wish to strengthen their school/arts partnerships and arts in education initiatives.

	We invite you to join dedicated colleagues from across Connecticut and the nation to become immersed in innovative strategies for teaching and learning through the arts. Work with some of the finest artists and educators in the country. Through seminars, workshops, interactive demonstrations and performances, you will learn HOT strategies and explore the HOT Schools approach to school renewal. This weeklong Institute is choreographed to provide intellectual stimulation, creative growth, and opportunities to rediscover your passion for teaching. We encourage you to join us on this journey.

	HOT Schools Staff: Amy Goldbas and Bonnie Koba, Arts in Education Program Managers Co-Direct the HOT Schools Program.