Arts Integration

This article discusses how education trends use Arts Integration to enhance Common Core. Although the most talked about integration approach is STEM, Arts Integration is just as effective. The article highlights the following main points for Arts Integration: Process Produces Product, Access Points, True Equity, and Analytic Practice. The reason that Arts Integration seems to be hidden from view may be because teachers aren’t confident with their artistic abilities. The teachers may also be nervous to facilitate a lesson that includes authentic arts standards. However, there are keys to using Arts Integration successfully. They are: collaboration between arts and classroom teachers to find naturally-aligned objectives, using an arts area in which the classroom teacher is comfortable, creating a lesson that truly teaches to both standards, and assessing both areas equitably. A few quick sample arts strategies are mirroring, stepping into painting, and call and response. “By fostering a community within our schools where authentic Arts Integration is taking place, we can meet and exceed expectations set by the Common Core and move into a culture of true inquiry and learning.”

I found this article to be very insightful. I had no idea that STEM and Arts Integration were so similar. Although Arts Integration is often looked over, it is just as effective as STEM. I have just recently become interested in art this semester. I am taking Art in the Elementary Classroom, and it is one of the most interesting classes that I’ve ever taken. I have already developed this great appreciation for art in this short amount of time that I’ve been enrolled in the class. Furthermore, I think that it is a great idea to use Arts Integration. I agree with the article where it says, “by taking a traditional approach, we are shortchanging our teachers from the true art of their craft.” This certainly does lead to burnout, and this must change in order for students to succeed. Overall, I think that Arts Integration could be a positive thing and be beneficial to students. As the article states, “Arts Integration allows us to build chefs who make choices—not cooks who merely follow the recipe.”