| Helping you make sense of schooling today |
January 2000, Vol. II - Issue 1 |
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Last month Parent Power! highlighted the role of music in education. This month we turn to the role of the visual arts in influencing the academic achievement of children.
What tool was Jimmy's teacher using to encourage him to pay attention and remember exactly what causes a volcano to erupt? He was using the visual arts, an approach that motivates many students by creating a positive and exciting learning experience. Employing visual arts in teaching offers an alternative way to interact with students that have a variety of learning styles, including students with special needs. Studies show that art encourages higher order thinking skills, creativity, fine motor development, observation skills and more. Most recently, Columbia University's Teachers College found that there are significant and direct relationships between the arts and academic success. Many new schools are turning to the arts as their central theme. In the last few years, 111 charter schools that utilize the arts have started in communities nationally. The School for Arts in Learning (SAIL) in Washington, DC, is one of them. SAIL was founded by Larry Riccio, a professor of Special Education at Trinity College, and a benefactor of Washington Very Special Arts. Riccio believes that art can help even the most intensely challenged child. "All kids, no matter how exceptional, can benefit through or in the arts. Through a single art project, we can teach the benchmarks while accommodating a variety of learning styles. That single activity can be used to communicate ideas, expand aesthetic awareness, and build cognitive skills." The SAIL program develops the student's skills in a variety of academic areas such as reading, math and social studies. Last year, the first-graders were learning math equations and made equation mobiles that hung throughout the classroom. Not just seeing the equation on the blackboard, but being able to create and touch the equation, helps these students understand and remember what the equation means. While drill and memorization work for many, not all children benefit from traditional teaching. How can you use art to help your child achieve?Begin with exposing both you and your child to art museums and books of art. Provide materials that encourage creativity such as pencils, paper, crayons, paper scraps and watercolors. These "toys" are far less expensive than most. Provide a space for your child to exhibit their work (refrigerator, wall, bulletin board...) Write down what your child says about their creations. This may involve guiding questions from you, such as "Can you describe what you created?" Refrain from comments that may contradict what your child has expressed about her creation, such as " That doesn't look like a dog" or "Dogs aren't blue." Use reinforcing comments such as, "I like how you made the dog so colorful." Encourage your child to develop his problem solving techniques by having him draw when he is upset. His drawing will enable him to see what happened so you can discuss ways to solve the problem. A journal provides a place for your child to return to each day to draw out what she did. You can encourage her by adding personal words and dates to their drawings. Let the arts inspire you and open you and your child to a colorful way of seeing and learning! Christine Johnson and Ann Ledo of SAIL contributed to this article |
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