With, In & Through the Arts: Blog # 1

To teach with, in and through the arts you have to incorporate different levels of the arts to qualify for each one. Each has a different meaning in which the level of arts is incorporated. Lower grade teachers, teach with the arts every single day. When they have their kindergartners or first graders color a work sheet, that is considered teaching with the arts. Teaching in the arts is a bit different. In order for this to take place a teacher must take this integration to the next level. When teachers plan with arts specialists to teach about the arts, that is when such integration takes place. Teaching in the arts is more meaningful than merely teaching with the arts. It is teaching your students about art. Lastly, we have teaching through the arts. This is the most full integration of the arts that a classroom can hope to have. This type of teaching involves a complete environment change. This includes having an asthetically pleasing classroom while using the arts not only to supplement each lesson but also as the core unit of many lessons. In this type of classroom everywhere you look you can learn from art. I feel that these types of instruction with the arts incorporated heavily are so important. Children can relate to arts and it makes for an enriching experience while they are learning something new. Art often times acts as an ice breaker, or a scaffold to connect old to new material. I am so excited to learn more about arts integration and how to successfully use these methods in my future classroom.