Olivia C Rix

Children have fantastical minds and imaginations. Their creativity is free to run wild, while as they grow up they are unfortunately tamed. We've been taught that art, music, theater, and dance are things that aren't important. That it is really all about learning math, science, and english, as those will get us far in life. But if one of those isn't your passion or something you are good at then the school system leads you to believe that you will not succeed in life. I want to change that approach. I want children to be able to keep up their creativity and imaginations and be able to further explore their passions and make those into top priority. This can be done through arts integration.

 

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 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 and meets evolving objectives." To me art integration means teaching through art. Teaching the core subjects that need to be taught like writing, math, science, and social studies by using art, drama, music, and dance to do more interactive and holistic lessons, explorations, or activities for the students to learn through.

 

While in Reggio Emilia, I got to see atelieristas at work in the classroom and I loved it. An atelierista combines being an early childhood educator with being an artist/art teacher, which is something I would like to be as I love art and working with children. In Reggio, art is such a big important asset in their lives and education. Everything thing they do in the classroom involves exploration with art in learning and it was all very natural. I feel like this integration of art in the classroom is something that would be very natural and easy to do, also not to mention more engaging for the students.

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To me there is a lot of value to arts integration as in enhances the students wanting to learn and also opens up their creativity. Creativity is something that is often pushed aside but it is necessary for students to be able problem solving, inquire, and think through ideas, which as vital in learning. Teaching through art also allows for more meaningful personalized work. When you include things that the children can relate to it increase their interest in the subject. Teaching through art also allows students who have different learning needs to be able to express what they know in nontraditional ways. For instance if you have a student who does not know how to write in English but you want to know if they are understanding a story that you are telling you could have them draw a picture of the story rather than having them write about it or verbally tell you. I find that a lot of students I’ve worked with find it easier to draw a picture and then tell you what it means rather than write a story without drawings. Having them be able to draw allows the children to create something that is more meaningful to them.

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There are many benefits to arts integration in the classroom. For instance it gets students more engaged and interested in learning and working. It accesses a child’s creativity and allows children to express themselves more. The learning experiences become more holistic and personalized. It creates more interaction and communication with students in the classroom, rather than having students just sit and listen throughout the day. It also allows for the students to move and be interactive, rather than sitting throughout the day.