Professional Development
Teachers love attending our workshops because the lessons speak to them as much as their students. In our workshops, we train teachers to facilitate our lessons in their classroom. We walk through each lesson's objectives and visual presentation. Afterward, teachers have time to work on their own art project so that they can experience what they will be asking their students to produce. Teachers routinely tell us that they walk away feeling more hopeful, refreshed, and inspired. Please consider joining us or inviting us to present our training workshops for your school or district.
29 Pieces is certified by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to offer Professional Development credit hours.
Educators, we need to see your smiling faces and feel your energy.
YES, IN PERSON WORKSHOPS ARE BACK!
Workshops will be held at: 
Region 10 offices, 400 E. Spring Valley Road, Richardson, TX. 75081.
29 PIECES is pleased to announce the restart of our in-person workshops in partnership with Region 10 Education Service Center in Richardson TX. Workshops are open to K-12 educators and counselors. Each workshop will explore one of the 4 lessons above. All workshops will be presented by Karen Blessen, our Founder and Executive Artistic Director of 29 Pieces, along with 29 Pieces team members. Please note: Each in-person workshop is limited to 50 participants.
Here is a description of each of the four lessons to be featured in our workshops.
Saturday, January 27th 2024 1:00 – 3:30 pm
SEEDS
This lesson centers on the possibilities contained in seeds. Participants reflect on how planting one seed can result in the growth of thousands more beautiful plants. Using plant seeds as a metaphor, students consider their thoughts as “seeds” and ask: ‘What thought seeds do I want to plant in my own heart and mind and in the world? How will I cultivate them?

Saturday, February 24, 2024 1:00 – 3:30 pm
JOURNAL YOUR OBSERVATIONS
This lesson focuses on the skill and reward of looking at things very closely. When was the last time you slowed down long enough to concentrate for a period of time on one thing? Participants will be asked to take two minutes to observe, describe in words or image something in the natural world, and then reflect on that experience. This lesson has a crossover with natural sciences.
Saturday, April 27, 2024 1:00 – 3:30 pm
PRINCIPLES OF FLIGHT
This lesson focuses on the importance of resistance to taking flight. Drawing on the physics of flight, students will consider how their own hopes and dreams “take flight.” Why is it necessary to have propulsion and resistance in balance for their dreams to soar? What does this look like in their own lives? This lesson crosses over with knowledge objectives in physical sciences.
Saturday, May 18, 2024 1:00 – 3:30 pm
IS THIS MIRACLE ENOUGH?
This lesson asks participants to consider the miracles in front of us every day, giving us new eyes to see the world and its phenomena with wonder, awe, and respect. This lesson can cross over with knowledge objectives in biological sciences.
PRESENTER BIO:
Karen Blessen became the Founder and Executive Artistic Director of 29 Pieces after a long career as an artist and writer. 29 Pieces is a Dallas based organization which uses art to awaken, uplift and give voice to the creative human spirit. Through the 29 Pieces Education Program: Artists Making a Kinder World, 29 Pieces has worked with more than 1,500 teachers and more than 250,000 students in 24 states and Washington DC. Karen Blessen was the first graphic artist to be named as a winner of the Pulitzer Prize.
Schedule
Please check back here for our future Teacher Training workshop schedules.
Please notify me of upcoming Professional Development opportunities
Why people believe in us
Birdville ISD art teachers “were simply ecstatic about the day. They got so much out of it and have already implemented ideas into their plans for this year. You had a huge impact on them and we are very grateful.”
