_I am not just a teacher. I am an initiator
of curiosity, a mentor, and, most of all, a facilitator of learning. A
classroom must first be a learning community driven by respect, equity, and
consistency. This classroom environment should hold high expectations for every
student while encouraging students to take risks, make mistakes, and ask
questions. As a facilitator of learning, I must design and implement learning
experiences for students that are engaging and meaningful. Effective teaching integrates curriculum
standards with hands-on activities in interdisciplinary units. I believe that a
successful teacher deeply knows every child in the classroom to understand and
appreciate each child’s uniqueness. Classroom activities should be student-led
and driven by students’ interests, passions, and strengths. Students must be
given opportunities to develop critical thinking and problem solving skills by analyzing
authentic, real-world situations. I passionately believe that arts-integration is
the most effective inclusive educational practice. Arts-integration enables all
types of learners to make comprehensive connections, producing creative and
innovative thinkers, while increasing self-efficacy. Students who are engaged
in authentic, experiential activities will learn to love learning. As a
teacher, I have the invigorating and challenging honor to inspire and influence
the innovators and leaders of tomorrow. Therefore, a teacher must embody many
roles to ensure that every child is provided with a meaningful education that
empowers the pursuit of their goals and ambitions.
Why Arts Integration?
_The Kennedy
Center’s Changing Education through the Arts Program defines arts integration
as “an approach to teaching in which students construct and demonstrate
understanding through an art form. Students engage in a creative process which
connects an art form and another subject area and meets evolving objectives in
both.” The arts bring academic subjects to life to engage and motivate
students. Children are naturally curious and want to explore with their hands.
The arts provide an outlet to utilize children’s natural traits.
Arts-integration is beneficial for teaching to multiple intelligences and fosters
higher-level learning by forming connections (Appel, 2006). Research shows that
arts-integration in general enhance cognitive engagement, enables more students
to feel successful, and encourages a safe-haven for inquiry learning, while
igniting divergent thinking through creativity development (Appel, 2006). The
specific genres of art: visual arts, dance, drama, and music each provide their
own particular individual benefits as well. Visual arts allow students to make
strong connections, dance enables students to experience learning
kinesthetically, drama brings academic curriculum to life, and music stimulates
the brain to provide unique learning experiences. Arts-integration enables
students to “apply and appreciate (in and out of the classroom) newly acquired
knowledge” (Gullatt, 2008). Science is a complex subject, but arts-integration provides
students with various perspectives to view and grasp the concepts.
Resources
Appel, Morgan P. "Arts Integration across the Curriculum." Leadership 36.2 (2006): 14-17. Print.
"Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA): Professional Learning for Educators and Teaching Artists." The Kennedy Center. Web. 23 Apr. 2012. <http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/ceta/>.
"Why Arts Integration." Arts Every Day. Web. 23 Apr. 2012. <http://www.artseveryday.org/WhatWeDo/detail.aspx?id=166>.
Resources
Appel, Morgan P. "Arts Integration across the Curriculum." Leadership 36.2 (2006): 14-17. Print.
"Changing Education Through the Arts (CETA): Professional Learning for Educators and Teaching Artists." The Kennedy Center. Web. 23 Apr. 2012. <http://www.kennedy-center.org/education/ceta/>.
"Why Arts Integration." Arts Every Day. Web. 23 Apr. 2012. <http://www.artseveryday.org/WhatWeDo/detail.aspx?id=166>.