Building Paths to Learning
Reaching Students through Arts Integrated Curriculum

Singer, songwriter and visual artist Alden Phelps recently finished an intensive curriculum writing project with Harford County school teachers.

 
We spent five days writing curriculum together, about a dozen really dedicated teachers, four artists and about four arts integration specialists.  This is an ideal situation when writing arts integrated curriculum; teachers, artists and arts integration specialists work together, each bringing their unique skill set and perspective to the table.  The teachers in Harford County came in knowing what topics they wanted to cover.  They had brainstormed earlier in the year to identify all the subjects they wanted to cover and address through arts integrated lessons. They looked at where the learning gaps were, what things they wished students would grasp better. 
 
For example, reading comprehension bookmarks are eight concepts that students have to learn about reading, like connecting, inferring, finding the main idea, etc.  Throughout elementary school, these eight concepts are reviewed every year.  Since teachers cover these same concepts over and over, they really wanted some arts integrated lessons and arts activities to address them.  So we put our heads together and created lessons about them using music as a way to get into the material.  Then one of the teachers said, “I wish we had a theme song for each one.”  So in addition to arts integrated lessons, we also made theme songs for each concept using popular tunes. I recorded each song and placed it on my website, so teachers and classes can learn them.  Last week I visited a class in Harford County, and the students had memorized all of them.  I walked in the room and they broke into “And then you can summarize,” and sang the whole song!
 
Children in schools today have real variation in what they need in order to learn. There are students who are visual learners, who learn by seeing things.  There are students who are auditory learners, who learn songs just like that and learn by hearing.  And there are students who learn by doing things and moving their bodies, kinesthetic learners.
 
So the more teaching strategies you have, the more kids you can reach – and the arts are one of the best ways to get an entire classroom learning in different ways.
 
To read the conclusion of this story, please visit www.yamd.org.

Young Audiences offers many professional development services, including curriculum writing.  For a full list of programs, check out our Professional Development Brochure.  If you have questions, or would like to discuss further, contact our Education Director, Pat Cruz.
 
Be sure to visit Alden’s website to hear all eight reading comprehension songs.


Young Audiences National Conference
Request for Workshop Proposals

Building Creative Connections: The Science of Learning and the Arts
April 19-21, 2012

The Maryland affiliate of Young Audiences is thrilled to be hosting the 2012 YA National Conference  in Baltimore.  We want to feature the great work that artists, teachers and schools are doing in arts and arts integration.  We encourage artists, educators and arts leaders to submit a proposal to lead a workshop session.

To submit a workshop proposal for the 2012 YA National Conference, download the RFP and return by Monday, November 14.  

For more information on conference offerings and speakers, visit the conference facebook group.


Donor Spotlight: Jen and Michael Sachs

Jen and Michael Sachs, busy parents of three boys, recently joined the Sunburst Society by making a five-year, $10,000 commitment to Young Audiences. Jen and Michael first learned about YA when their good friend Tom Sessa, a board member, invited them to Taste the Arts.
 
“As a former teacher I was truly touched by the stories of the children who were affected by the arts programs that were brought into the schools,” said Jen. One story that resonated with Jen was the story of a high school student who looked up “arts education” in the phone book and called YA, because she wanted arts programming in her school for her and her peers. “It amazed me how this program really changed her life and the lives of so many others.”
 
Reflecting on her own childhood, Jen commented that she and her husband had very little training in the arts growing up, which is why she wanted to make sure that her support created opportunities for children to enjoy the arts. “We feel very strongly that by exposing children and helping them find their interests are key to becoming successful in their future.”

Curious about supporting arts experiences for children? Membership in our Sunburst Society begins by making a pledge of at least $1,000 for 5 years, just $83 per month.  By making a multi-year commitment, you are affirming the need for sustained learning in and through the arts for all Maryland students.

For more information, please email or call Director of Development, Jennifer Andiorio at 410.837.7577.