So you want to cultivate a stronger sense of belongingness?

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Start with art (AND our 2026 Teacher Institute!)...

In this cARTie @ home blog post, we're offering you a glimpse into what you'll learn at our 2026 Teacher Institute, Centering Student Art: A Pathway to Belonging and Confidence.

On Tuesday, October 20th, Connecticut early childhood and elementary educators will come together for a full-day of professional learning, curated by cARTie.

Over the course of the day, cARTie will weave together action-oriented workshops and motivating presentations that demonstrate how student artwork can increase engagement, foster belonging, and build confidence across preschool and elementary classrooms.

Our Keynote, Dr. Judith Burton, will ground our day by considering centering student art from two related perspectives. The first will consider centering art from an integrative position in the school curriculum—a way of belonging; the second will consider centering art in terms of ways of thinking, or pathways, that empower human minds. Fully empowering human minds within the framework of the school curriculum should be aim of all young people’s education; indeed, an argument can be made that in the absence of a centered art education this is not always the case!

Then, workshop facilitators will guide hands-on learning experiences with loose parts, showing student art, and aligning process art with ELDS. For example, Jane Racoosin, Founder of Teaching Beyond the Square, and Kristen Eno, materials educator, will help participants begin to build a better understanding of the potential of materials for both children’s personal expression, self-esteem, and the connection to sustainability. Jane and Kristen will also discuss and provide examples of children’s work and provide the opportunity for attendees to play, create, and build with a variety of beautiful materials sourced from architects and designers that otherwise would be headed to landfill.

Because we know program demonstrations are invaluable, we're making sure educators get a chance to interact with cARTie, Teaching Beyond the Square, and Milford Makes.

Endorsed by the Art and Art Education Department at Teachers College, Columbia University, cARTie's 2026 Teacher Institute is not to be missed!

Share this post with your administrator and register today: www.cARTie.org/events/institute.