HowCanClassroomTeachersExtendandSupporta.docVIP

How Can Elementary Classroom Teachers Extend and Support a Quality Arts Education? What Counts in Elementary Classroom Teacher Led Arts Instruction? A quality arts education should be spearheaded by certified arts teachers and teaching artists from cultural institutions versed in excellent, sequential Blueprint-based instruction. However, classroom teachers can extend and support the work of these trained specialists in a number of appropriate ways related to the following Blueprint strands: Literacy in the Arts, Making Connections, Community Cultural Resources, and Careers Lifelong Learning. Teachers comfortable with Arts Making instruction should consult the Blueprint for further guidance about goals and activities. Please see the initial questions below and then consider the listing by arts discipline of recommendations for Elementary Classroom Teacher led arts instruction. Five Questions for the Elementary School Leader Does my current arts education program align with my vision for the arts in my school? Do I provide sequential learning for my students in the four arts form? Do my classroom teachers regularly confer and plan with the arts teachers in my school? Do my classroom arts regularly confer with teaching artists who are in residence in my school? Do my students have adequate opportunities to perform, present and exhibit their art for our school community?  Dance: Examples of Instruction that Counts: Dance Making: Leading guided discovery activities in which children explore body shapes, basic locomotive skills, movement qualities, and spatial concepts in response to imagery, stories, themes, music and visual artworks. Dance Literacy: Encouraging children to describe dance movements using expressive language (e.g., “sharp,” “smooth,” “light,” “heavy”). Engaging children in discussions to compare and contrast various styles and genres of dance, choreographers and dance works. Making Connections: Teaching children about the dances of various cultures