Arts and Arts Education

Where am I heading with the Arts and Arts Education?

The direction I am heading towards with arts education includes trying to incorporate multiple standards from the core curriculum into one lesson plan. When I am given a lesson plan, I am thinking of so much more than, "Hmmm. How was I taught this?" I am thinking about children's books, process dramas, music, creating a dramatic setting in the classroom, making songs, using mnemonic devices, creating visual art to represent deeper thinking, using journals for art expressions or writing expressions, creating newspapers, using hooks to introduce a lesson, incorporating digital stories, using google websites and calendars to organize unit assignments, using backwards design, and so many more things that weren't at all apart of my vocabulary on January 1, 2010. Now, instead of thinking of art as a way to teach kids to make clay pots or color plates for Mother's Day, I am thinking of the Civil War with making a live Wax Museum. I am thinking of the Revolutionary War and the signing of the Declaration of Independence with tea candles, wigs, and an actual voting and signing of the Declaration in my classroom. I want my classroom to come to life with color from creating visual arts, movement from art theater and dance, and rhythm with music and beats. Learning has to be an experience. In order for something to be a memorable experience, it must include more than just basic necessary senses to watch a teacher and lister to him/her talk. A memorable experience will use all the senses to create a lively atmosphere where students can discover how they relate to important events in history, how they connect with music and math, and how they can bring to life their writing with rich detail. Art can bring enduring understanding to the classroom in every subject.