Handout for the Arts

Handout coming as soon as I figure out how to upload .pdfs from this computer.

Any time we are required to create a handout, I think first of all about the ways in which I can make the information accessible to the different learning styles of the teachers who may read the handout. In the case of advocating for integration of the arts, something which is not wholeheartedly embraced by educators, the information must primarily be compelling and clearly stated and appeal to teachers' fundamental goal of meeting the developmental needs of every student in their care. I also believe it necessary to address the expected concern that integration of the arts requires additional, time, effort, and focus that are not currently available in the standard early childhood classroom.

To that end, I felt the handout had to be visually interesting for “picture smart” people as well as informational and well written for “word smart” people, and present data to appeal to “logic smart” people as well. Each of the other intelligences held by teachers can be covered through careful design of the presentation. By designing this handout and training session in this way, the point being made through the topic itself – the vital way in which the Arts meet the needs of various learning styles in our students – can become internalized by those who may otherwise disagree with the need for the Arts in the classroom.

When creating an introductory pamphlet, there must be a definition of terms. In this case, I used the phrase “the Arts Classroom”to explain an environment in which the Arts hold equal importance with all other content areas and means of learning. Each area within the Arts also was defined, and examples provided on how the environment is affected by their presence, and ways in which each content area benefits from exploring in each art area. There was also the need to support the idea with scientific research, primarily through the work of Dr. Gardner. Although space did not allow me to present a lesson plan of a Project which includes exploration and learning through all areas, a resource link to Education.com in the section “Content Areas through the Arts” provides forty-three web pages of example hands-on arts activities cross-linked to each content area for the preschool level.

Finally, I felt it vital to demonstrate the ease with which the arts can be integrated physically into the classroom environment. Throughout my coursework at Walden I have had many opportunities to design a classroom through the aid of free Classroom Architect software online. At each step, I use my prior classroom layout and adapt it to include the new information I have learned. Initially, the Literacy Center held primary focus. Following a course on projects and integrated learning, I adjusted to re-prioritize the importance of research space and group technology use. After these changes to the layout, I discovered that a new arrangement to balance the Arts into the classroom took nearly no effort at all. Visual Arts shares space with the Writing Center and work tables, which were already positioned near sinks on hard floors for messy Science work. Music shares the space with the Listening Center, and moving one table allowed sufficient space for Movement in the same area. A drama stage was built-in with the addition of a climbing loft (also used for Movement activities) in the Pretend Play Center. In all, rearranging a classroom to encourage the arts took approximately five minutes. Providing the layout in this handout, along with examples and descriptions, helps to emphasize how simply and quickly these adjustments can be undertaken.

Integration of the arts is vital for the way in which children learn today. Not only do they fit perfectly with the developmental level of preschoolers, but today's children have moved from reading books to surfing the internet, television has become more flashy and loud to appeal to shrinking attention spans, and children struggle with real life stresses at much younger ages than ever before. Integrating the arts at every age level reaches out to these kids who fall behind and have no access to methods of learning that allow them to succeed. I hope to have made the vital importance of this concept clear through this teaching handout on the Arts.

References

4Teachers.org. (2008). Classroom architect. Flash software. Accessed November 13, 2010, from http://classroom.4teachers.org/

Edutopia.com (2009). Learning styles: The multiple intelligences redefine “smart”. Retrieved November 13, 2010, from http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-introduction

Gardner, H. (1999). Multiple intelligences. Retrieved November 13, 2010, from http://www.howardgardner.com/MI/mi.html

Kaser, M. R. (n.d.) Multiple intelligences theory by Howard Gardner. JPG Image. Retrieved November 13, 2010, from http://www.evangelchristianschool.org/news/?m=200903&paged=4