Curriculum Vitae

Education

PhD in Education. Foci: Cultural Studies, Children's Lterature, and Art Education. Washington State University, Pullman, WA.

Dissertation: An A/r/tographic Study of Multicultural Children’s Book Artists: Developing
a Place-Based Pedagogy of Pleasure.

Informal education encompasses a wide range of multimedia courses, further training in art, as well as courses in children’s literature, and participation in The Multicultural Transformation Institute weeklong retreat, Integrating Service Learning with Multicultural Outcomes workshop, Technologies for Teaching workshop, and Professional Writing seminars. I am currently taking a ceramics course.

Areas of Specialization and Research Interests

Critical multicultural and intercultural art education, social reconstructionist art education, the art of multicultural children’s picturebook artists, visual culture, place-based and environmental art education, critical race theory, postcolonial theory, culturally responsive teaching, a/r/tography and other arts-based qualitative research, pleasure as a pedagogical approach, art and technology, and images and experiences of homelessness.

Academic Experience

Assistant Professor

Art, Environment, and Culture                                                                                    Spring 2008
School of Art, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.                                                                  

• This graduate seminar course explored cultural and environmental connections using visual culture, postcolonial, and eco-social lenses to deconstruct the embedded messages (and their effects) in a variety of images.
• The course was divided into four themes: Art and Empire; Indigenous and Multicultural Approaches to Art and Environment; Environment and Culture in Film and Advertising; and Art, Culture, and Environment in the Great Outdoors, using traditional fine art, indigenous, multicultural, and contemporary art sources, as well as popular films, advertising, and children’s picturebook sources.
• Responding to the NIU shootings, students created an installation in the university museum reflecting on the absence of rites of passage rituals for young people, random acts of kindness, and cultural disconnection from nature.
• Students also made “Zines for Democratic Participation” which were submitted to a New York artists’ bookmaking collective for publication and presented at a regional conference.
  

The Art of Children’s Picturebooks                                                                             Summer 2008
School of Art, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.

• Why do people make and publish children’s picturebooks? What stories do the pictures tell that the words don’t? What are some of the hidden ideologies in the art of picturebooks? How does the business of children’s book illustration and publishing work within the realm of visual culture?
• This graduate seminar course explored these questions and others through a range of visual culture “considerations.” These included: race/ethnicity, gender and sexuality, class and homelessness, special needs, and environmental considerations; national versus international books; cultural aesthetics; and practical considerations, i.e., how a picturebook is made and distributed.
• Students explored course content through readings, discussions, critical explorations of picturebook art and construction of their own picturebook “dummy.
  
  Methods Course: Art for Elementary Teachers                                                 Fall 2006-2009
  School of Art, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.
  

• This course for general education majors teaches students about the value of art education and how to teach math, science, art, literacy, history, and social studies through art. It includes instruction in age appropriate materials and techniques, classroom management, assessment, art for special needs, and curriculum development in accordance with Illinois State Standards and Illinois Professional Teaching Standards.
• The conceptual foundation draws upon critical multicultural, intercultural, and place-based aspects of visual culture art education through fine art, children’s picturebooks, and other visual culture sources.
• The course alsoteaches essential art making skills combining ideas and techniques using the elements and principles of design.
• Students participate in service-based learning projects and also exhibit their work in a variety of venues.
  
  

Methods Course: Introduction to Art Education                                                        Fall 2006-2009
School of Art, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.

• This foundational course introduces students to the field of art education, focusing on the use of visual culture to teach art including traditional fine art, contemporary fine art with diverse artists, indigenous art, design art, and popular art.
• Provides instruction in age appropriate materials and techniques, classroom management, assessment, art for special needs, curriculum development, art education history and philosophy, the use of technology in elementary art education, and art education practice conducted in school clinicals in accordance with Illinois State Standards and Illinois Professional Teaching Standards.
• Students participated in service-based learning projects and exhibited their work in a variety of community venues.

Student Clinical Supervision                                                                                       Fall 2006-2008
School of Art, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.

• Duties include supervising and mentoring art education student teachers in K-12 schools throughout Northern Illinois by visiting students on-site, reading and commenting on weekly reflections, advising students on dealing with problems, meeting with cooperating teachers and principals, helping students develop curriculum, watching student videos of their teaching, meeting with students in seminars, assessing student progress, and writing letters of recommendation.
  
  Administrative                                                                                                        Fall 2006-2009
  School of Art, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois.
  
  Duties include,
• Student advisingCommittee member for Masters and Doctoral studentsEntry and exit portfolio reviewerActive committee member on required and volunteer committees
• Active participant in program evaluation and development (scope and sequence).

Teaching Assistant                                                     

Methods Course: Integrated Fine Arts                                                                      Spring 2003-2006                       
College of Education, Washington State University, Pullman, WA.

• Solely responsible for designing curriculum, ordering supplies within a budget, creating course packets and selecting course texts, and teaching all art education courses.
• The course for general education majors taught students about the value of art education and ways to teach math, science, art, literacy, and social studies through art in ways very similar to the Art for Elementary Educators course.
• Students participated in service-based learning projects and exhibited their work in a variety of community venues.

Methods Course: Survey of Children’s Literature                                                   Fall 2003-2004
College of Education, Washington State University, Pullman.

• Taught future general education teachers how to assess and integrate quality children’s picture books and young adult books across the curriculum.
• Facilitated students reading to children at the local library.
• Taught students how to write and illustrate their own children’s picturebooks.

Other Relevant Teaching Experiences

K-12 Art Teacher                                                                                                         1988 – 2003           
Taughtart in primarily culturally-diverse and low income K-12 schools throughout the
San Francisco Bay Area over a fifteen-year period with various non-profit organizations.
Schools include:

Elementary Schools
Alvarado Elementary School, Clarendon Elementary, Douglass Elementary School, El Grenada Elementary School, Hawthorne Elementary School, Heather Elementary School, Howard Elementary School, Jefferson Elementary
School, West Portal Elementary School.

Middle Schools
A.P. Giannini Middle School, Aptos Middle School, Graham Middle School, Malcom X. Academy.

High Schools
McAteer High School, Mission High School, AIM High School, Woodrow
Wilson High School.

Co-teacher Springboards to Nature Discovery Workshop                                     Summer 2008
Severson Dells Nature Center, Rockford, IL

• Co-taught workshop on how to use art and multicultural children’s picturebooks to jump-start outdoor nature activities with environmental education elder Dr. Clifford Knapp.
• Created an annotated bibliography of books, now posted on my personal website (www.mirareisberg.com).
  

Art and Literacy Consultant                                                                                        Summer 2004
San Bernadino County Office of Education, San Bernadino, CA.

• Worked with families in homeless shelters.
• Also worked with migrant farm worker communities to learn English through art.

Integrating Technology into the Curriculum for ELL                                               Summer 2004
College of Education, Washington State University, Pullman.

• Taught software workshop to Masters and undergraduate students in an English Language Learners endorsement program.

Illustrating and Publishing Children’s Picturebooks Instructor                             Fall 1996-2003
San Francisco City College Extension, San Francisco, CA (also U.C Berkeley Extension,
San Francisco, CA, Fall 2000-2003)

• Taught college age students children’s picturebook illustration skills. Fifteen of my former students have now been published.

Art and literacy consultant for Libros y Familias                                                       Spring 1998 & Spring 2003  
Corvalis, OR.

• Worked with families, teachers, and students in a migrant farm-worker community teaching culturally-relevant art and book making skills for week long residencies.

Recent Articles About My Teaching

• Feldheim, B. (October 29, 2008). Teachers, students build tent for refugees. DeKalb, IL: Daily Chronicle http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2008/10/28/
  news/local/doc4906abf942dfe744403137.txt
• McGowan, M. (October 13, 2008). Art professor, teacher bring students, children together for ‘Tents of Hope.’ DeKalb, IL: Northern Today. http://www.niu.edu/northerntoday/2008/oct13/tents.shtml
• Kmitch, J. (2008). From Hill Middle School to Darfur with love. Naperville, IL: The Daily Herald. http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=242914&src=76
• Waldorf, T. (Sun. October 12, 2008). Students pour 'heart and soul' into Tents of Hope for refugees. Naperville, IL: Naperville Sun.http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/1217158,6_1_NA13_HILL_S1.article
• McGowan, M. (2007). Mira Riesberg's (sic) puppets tell tomorrow's teachers to participate.NIU website featured article. http://www.niu.edu/news/features/reisberg.shtml McGowan, M. (2007). Future elementary school teachers learn lessons about creativity, community from art education professor. DeKalb, IL:Northern Star. http://www.niu.edu/PubAffairs/RELEASES/2007/dec/reisberg.shtml
  

Teaching Award

Received student-nominated Teaching Award                                                                Spring 2006

Publications

Published Articles

Reisberg, M. (2009). From Baby Rattlesnake with love: Using intercultural picture books to teach  visual culture. Journal of Aesthetic Education, 168, 4-9.

Reisberg, M. (2008a). Social/ecological caring with multicultural picturebooks: Placing pleasure in art education. Studies in Art Education, 49(3), 251-267.

Reisberg, M. (2008b). Maya Gonzalez: Portrait of the artist as a radical children’s book illustrator, Visual Culture and Gender 3, 48-62. www.emitto.net/visualculturegender/
A digital film, article, and transcript.

Reisberg, M. (2008c). Finding value(s) for a currency of caring: Exploring children’s picture
books, a dollar bill, and fine art sources. Art Education, 61(6).

Reisberg, M. (2008d). Touching the ephemeral moment. ChildArt Magazine, 11(2), 13.

Reisberg, M., Brander, B., & Gruenewald, D., A. (2006). Your place or mine? Reading art,
place, and culture in multicultural children’s literature. Teacher Education Quarterly 33(1), 117-133.

Reisberg, M. (2006). Integrated fine arts meets place-based pedagogy: Inspiring democratic
participation in pre-service educators. Democracy and Education 16(2), 52-56.

Reisberg, M. (2005). A tale of two curriculums: Juggling conflicting pedagogies.
In F. W. Parkay & E. Anctil (Eds.), Curriculum planning: A contemporary approach
 (8th ed.). Needham Height, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Children's Picturebooks Illustrated

Moroney, L. (1989/2004). Baby Rattlesnake. Illustrated by Mira Reisberg. San Francisco,
CA: Children's Book Press.

Miller, E, (1999). Just like home / Como en mi tierra. Illustrated by Mira Reisberg. Chicago, IL: Albert Whitman and Company.

Rohmer, H. (1998). Honoring our ancestors: Stories and pictures by fourteen artists.
Featured writing and illustration by Mira Reisberg. San Francisco,
CA: Children's Book Press.

Corpi , L. (1997). Where fireflies dance / Ahí donde bailan las luciérnagas. Illustrated by
Mira Reisberg. San Francisco, CA: Children's Book Press.

Rohmer, H.  (1997). Just like me: Stories and pictures by fourteen artists. Featured writing
and illustration by Mira Reisberg. San Francisco, CA: Children's Book Press.

Bresnick-Perry, R. (1992). Leaving for America. Illustrated by Mira Reisberg. San Francisco,
CA: Children's Book Press.

Moroney, L. (1990). Elinda who danced in the sky. Illustrated by Mira Reisberg.
San Francisco, CA: Children's Book Press.

Rohmer, H. (1988). Uncle Nacho's hat / El sombrero  del tío Nacho. Illustrated by Mira
Reisberg. San Francisco, CA: Children's Book Press.

Book Awards and Honors

• Where fireflies dance. Texas Bluebonnet Masterlist Award of the Texas Library Association, 2000.
  
• Honoring our ancestors: Stories and pictures by fourteen artists. Skipping
  Stones Honor Award.
• Just like me: Stories and pictures by fourteen artists. Small Press Book Award Finalist Multicultural/Juvenile.
• Where fireflies dance. Americas Commended List - Consortium of Latin
  American Studies Programs.
• Leaving for America. San Francisco Chronicle "Best Bets of 1992."                                 
• Baby Rattlesnake. Elementary School Library Collection Recommendation, 1992.
  
• Elinda who danced in the sky. Elementary School Library Collection Recommendation.
  
• Uncle Nacho’s hat UNICEF - Ezra Jack Keats Award Citation.
• Uncle Nacho’s hat. Elementary School Library Collection Recommendation
  
  Sources Recommending My Picturebooks
                                     
  Di Chiara, T. (2007). Voyage of the Dream Weavers: Discovering the American dream and
  the dreams of people of other nations: A shared interdisciplinary curriculum for
  the sixth grade.Retrieved May 12, 2007 from http://www.unm.edu/~abqteach/usa/00-05-04.htm
• National Education Association (2007). 50 multicultural books every child should know.
  Retrieved May 12, 2007 from http://www.nea.org/readacross/resources/50multibooks.html
• Feher, B. (2007). Text Set. Retrieved May 12, 2007 from
  http://paws.wcu.edu/bf15283/textset.html
• Kohl, M., A. (2003). Storybook art: Hands-on art for children in the styles of 100 great
  picturebook illustrators. Bellingham, WA: Bright Ring Publications.
• Anderson, N. (2002). Elementary children’s literature – The basics for teachers and parents.
  Upper Saddle River, NJ: Allyn & Bacon.
• Cohee Manifold, M.  (1997) Picturebooks as a social studies resource in the elementary
  classroom. Retrieved May 12, 2007 from http://www.indiana.edu/~ssdc/pkbkdig.htm
• Grammatico, J. (1997). A close look at Mexico. Retrieved May 12, 2007 from
  http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1997/1/97.01.04.x.html
• Gillespie, J. T. (1998) Best books for children: Preschool through grade 6. (1998). New
  Providence, NJ: R. R. Bowker.
• Thompson Gale(1995). Something about the author. Vol. 81. Farmington Hills,
  MI: Thompson Gale Publications.

  For a complete vita including filmography, conference presentations, and fine art exhibitions
  click here