Art Smarts: Bringing art into the classroom

by Colleen Porter

Its that wonderful time of year again...shopping for glue sticks, crayons, sneakers and lunchboxes, cleaning out closets and pushing back bedtimes to prepare for early mornings. In short, it's time to send your kids back to school. Whether you are a "first timer" or someone who already knows the mix of feelings that comes with waving good-bye to the yellow bus, you can be sure that a new school year full of opportunity awaits your child.

Color Their World
From the minute they step on the bus, children are learning. New experiences, friendships and academic challenges will fill their days from September to June. Their world will evolve at lightning speed, and through my experience as a parent of three, I've learned how important it is to be a part of that process. As an arts educator, I know that the arts can provide the perfect opportunity to create unique communities in our schools, bringing students, teachers, parents and artists together to enjoy meaningful learning experiences.

Studies have shown that quality arts-integrated learning helps to "level the playing field" in the classroom for students of varying intellectual and physical abilities, as well as social and cultural backgrounds, while providing an exciting learning environment for all. Students engaged in the arts develop strong critical-thinking skills and problem-solving techniques and gain greater appreciation and tolerance for new and different ideas and people.

Educators who integrate the arts into their classroom's core curriculum find inspiration for new teaching methods and experience deeper learning from their students. Parents and schools share in the rewards of having their children participate in arts programming. Everything from attendance to behavior to test scores can reap the positive changes arts involvement can bring.

Learning Styles
Children learn in different ways: visual, auditory and kinesthetic are all distinct learning styles. By integrating the arts into teaching methods and making arts participation possible, all children can contribute, be recognized and excel. Imagine a history lesson on the Wright brothers that asks children to write and perform a scene showing the moment that the Kitty Hawk first took flight. The level of creativity, cooperation and literacy needed to achieve that feat can produce the kind of learning that reaches beyond the classroom walls.

Beware Budget Cuts
Deep federal, state and local budget cuts in education continue to strain the ability of individual districts to support programs that help teachers and students learn in and through the arts. It is now more important than ever for parents to be involved in the discussion of how we can ensure that all children have the opportunity to participate in the arts. Field trips, qualified arts teachers and artists in the schools, as well as professional development for educators in the arts, are often the first things to be cut from a budget. I urge you to let your district know that the arts are important to your child's education.

As another school year begins, it's time clear off your refrigerator for all the wonderful artwork that will soon adorn it and to encourage your school to include the arts in the core of your child's day. With today's hectic family schedules, it isn't easy to find time to add one more thing to the day, but volunteering to chaperone a field trip, helping with costumes for the school play or collecting egg cartons for an art project can make an enormous difference in your child's educational experience.