‘Arts Integration is an approach to teaching in which students construct and demonstrate understanding through an artform. Students engage in a creative process which connects an art form and another subject area and meets evolving objectives in both.’-John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center.

International School of Louisiana Westbank, 4th Grade , Social Studies and Creative Dramatics

KID smART Teaching Artists (TA) and Arts Integration Specialists (AIS) develop a unique relationship with Classroom Teachers (CT) in order to be successful in the classroom. One of the most important aspects of this relationship is scheduling and participating in regular Co-Planning meetings. During these sessions TA and CT share and clarify learning objectives for upcoming arts integrated lessons. TAs articulate an ‘arts objective’ that should/could be achieved during the lesson; the CT shares an ‘academic objective’ that should/could be achieved during the lesson. The TA is the expert in the art form and the CT is the expert in the curriculum. Depending upon availability more than one lesson may be Co-Planned during these meetings.

Mr. Mauricio 4th Grade Social Studies CT at ISL WB has been teaching a unit on The Paleolithic Era. Students have been learning about characteristics of Early Humans. I have been teaching students about the basic elements of Creative Dramatics. During our Co-Planning meeting I will clarify the arts strategy ‘pantomime -to act without using words or sound’, and the CT will identify the academic objective, ‘what is a hunter/gatherer?’ After discussing how we plan to Co-Teach the lesson a final objective for the day might be: ‘Students will be able to utilize pantomime to show how early humans were hunter/gatherers.’

Implementing Arts Integrated lessons are not as successful if the CT and TA are unable or unwilling to Co-Plan before Co-Teaching, and is discouraged. The academic content (early humans, solar system, branches of government etc.) inform the artistic expression (pantomime, water color, collage, etc.) sharing and clarifying this information during Co-Planning is the cornerstone of a successful residency.

Finally, effective Co-Planning helps to develop a substantive and respectful relationship between the CT and TA. KID smART is a leader in the field of Arts Integration because it values educators and artists abilities to effectively communicate, collaborate, and demonstrate understanding through the arts.