Arts Integration!

Arts integration is a necessity because many students are denied art classes because they are placed against their will in intervention classes for math and/or reading. High stakes tests are driving the arts out of the schools. Bottom line.

In my school we recently rescheduled students out of art, drama, and other electives if they were not proficient on last year's state assessments. Those students now spend would-be electives time in a computer lab doing remedial math and reading online.

Sure, it's a matter of priorities, but why do we so readily ignore the research showing that the arts help IMPROVE standardized assessment scores?

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This is agreed by all. My suggestion is to write letters to Arnie Duncan at the federal, with copies to your senators and representatives level and your state representatives. This testing model is completely wrong, but was embraced by both political parties, encouraged by testing and textbook companies. We will not change the system unless our voice is heard. Each of us needs to write letters, send e-mails etc.

Less than an hour after I posted the above comment I was informed that there is a chance we will not have an art teacher next year. Apparently, so many of our students are scoring below proficiency that administration is considering replacing the art teacher with a parapro who would supervise a computer lab with online remediation curriculum. There you have it.

The question among core teachers will then be, "Who has time to integrate the arts with so many standards to address (in math, reading, writing, science...)?"

I am not surprised. What state are you from?

We are also at or near the bottom in state funding for the arts. I guess our representatives figure we have enough natural beauty that we don't need art. However, and this is especially true for our youth, art is as much or more about process as it is about product.

Hi, I'm new to the discussion but it is one that I have often with my colleagues. We are working to try to integrate arts more with the academic classes in the high school. Partially to increase awareness of what the arts can offer, partially to prevent cuts to the arts and partially to help advance school culture and climate through the arts. We've used theatre to create an award-winning anti-bullying device drama, "Shadows," that has been shown to our students, the middle school and multiple districts in the state (along with universities and others) that the administration is onboard with and excited about. (If you're interested in what that looks like, visit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bl-DXsgrj0) That program was done with the Social Studies and English departments. I'm discussing a possible Science and Theatre integration project for next year with some Science teachers. I do believe art teachers are integral to this integration - we bring our value and expertise and the general ed teachers bring theirs.

Just my two cents...

Arts Education can be used to support General Ed. I have integrated grammar lessons within Theater Arts classes. For example, in a 2nd grade class, I engaged students in Theater Arts activities to teach a lesson about verbs. The class was active, physical, creative, and the grammar lesson was delivered. For a 5th grade class, students participated in Improvisational Acting while learning about English Composition. Arts Education does not need to be delivered in a way that makes it separate from General Ed. It can be used to teach General Ed.

I've heard STEM is now STEAM. Is this true? How did they pull it off?

Science Technology Engineering Art Math

Hello everyone,

I am searching for ways to integrate the arts into my 7th grade Language Arts class. I have been teaching music for 20 years and it is a major switch for me to be using books and worksheets everyday! Thanks for your insights and ideas in advance!

Liz