Every Day is Arts Day (Professional Services)
As an elementary teacher, I have witnessed first hand the value of an arts-rich education. Experiences in the arts offer many benefits to our students.
As an elementary teacher, I have witnessed first hand the value of an arts-rich education. Experiences in the arts offer many benefits to our students.
Feet shuffling to the beat, fingers snapping, tunes cranking – our students reluctantly stuff their iPods in their pockets as they enter our classrooms. Music is a passion for them: pop, rock, hip hop, and rap. They love the rhythms.
Karen Fisk is the full-time president of ETFO’s Hastings-Prince Edward Local. Today she’s known in her community not just as the head of the 702 member local but also as a playwright and producer.
When Locke’s PS was selected to take part in ETFO’s poverty and education project we were excited by the prospect of having a theatre group come to perform at our school. We hoped to improve our understanding of issues related to poverty.
There is a great deal of research that shows that live theatre touches the children’s imagination with an immediacy that is real and emotional and that its complexities engage students’ critical thinking.1
When a former student came to me with an idea to make an impact on the environment I jumped at the chance.
“We will never obtain the high results in literacy that we are seeking in Ontario until strong arts programs and teaching are in place in elementary schools.” Bob Barton, a teacher and language consultant for more than 30 years, shared this view at a drama workshop for teachers taking their&
Juliette, Kiera, and Michelle, 11-year-old students from Barrie, are online asking their new friend Rawa what it is like to live in Iraq. Michelle asks, “What is it like knowing that there is war so near to you?
This activity was born out of our desire – the Grade 4 teacher and mine– to create a partnership that will blend drama and research skills, writing skills and a love of literature, art appreciation and their social studies unit on medieval times.
As a primary teacher and former literacy teacher on special assignment, I know the importance of making connections in reading – text to text, text to self and text to world. We need to find ways to engage learners, using multiple intelligences.