S3E:10 Meet Jessica Boritz

In this episode of TAB Storytellers, Abi and Jen sit down with Jessica Boritz, an atelierista and art teacher at Grace Episcopal Day School in Kensington, Maryland.  During their conversation, Jessica shares her extensive knowledge of and experience with TAB and Reggio-Emilia, two very compatible approaches to contemporary art education. In addition, the triad also discusses curiosity and creativity in teaching and learning, children’s aesthetics, and the role of beauty in learning.

For more information about TAB, please visit the TAB website: www.teachingfor artisticbehavior.org. Also, you are invited to join us on Mighty Networks (https://teaching-for-artistic-behavior.mn.com/), an online platform dedicated to everything TAB!

Here are resources to more information discussed in the TABcast: 

• Everywhere Atelier Study Group - Roberta Pucci: https://www.everywhereatelier.net – Study groups and online resources about Reggio Emilia–inspired practices, including material dialogues and the Atelierista role.

• Reggio Children - Official Reggio Emilia Organization: https://www.reggiochildren.it/en – Offers official resources, training, and background on the Reggio Emilia approach.

• Project Zero - Harvard Graduate School of Education: https://pz.harvard.edu – Research related to creativity, education, and thinking strategies, often linked to Reggio Emilia practices. Relevant books include Making Learning Visible and Making Thinking Visible.

• Edward Clapp - Participatory Creativity: https://pz.harvard.edu/projects/agency-by-design – Focuses on creativity as an emergent, collective process rather than an individual trait.

• Rick Rubin - The Creative Act: A Way of Being: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Creative-Act/Rick-Rubin/9780593652886 – A book exploring creativity and process.

• Elizabeth Gilbert - Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear: https://www.elizabethgilbert.com/books/big-magic/ – A book referenced regarding inspiration and the creative process.

• Richard Serra - Verb List: https://www.moma.org/collection/works/152793 – Mentioned in relation to material exploration in art and Reggio Emilia.

• Goldy Muhammad - Culturally & Historically Responsive Education: https://www.goldymuhammad.com/ – Referenced regarding beauty and humanity in curriculum design.

• Elaine Scarry - On Beauty and Being Just: https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691070053/on-beauty-and-being-just – A book discussing aesthetics, justice, and the role of beauty in learning.

• National Art Education Foundation (NAEF) Grants: https://www.arteducators.org/opportunities/naef – Jessica mentioned she traveled to Reggio Emilia through an NAEF grant. More details on professional development grants can be found here.

Here is a link to the lightly transcript of this episode. We recognize that there are probably errors and grammatical issues. If anyone with the time or inclination to edit this wants to do so, please email us at storytellers@teachingforartisticbehavior.org