It is through sight, sound, movement, and creative play that we first learn about the world.
Throughout life, the arts remain critical to our balanced development as creative, problem-solving members of our communities. Art not only enriches children's lives, it also has a profound impact on their academic achievement. Research shows students
with an education in the Arts outperform others by virtually every measure.
Moreover, learning through the Arts can help "level the playing field" for youngsters
from disadvantaged circumstances.
The Michigan Department
of Education, Office of School Improvement, works together with partners throughout the state to assure that
schools provide all students with ongoing, sequential education in dance, music,
theatre and the visual arts.
Contact Information: Ana Luisa
Cardona, Consultant for Arts Education, 517-335-0466, cardonaA@michigan.gov
• Critical Evidence Why is it so important to keep the arts strong in our schools? How does the study of the arts contribute to student achievement and success? These and other important questions are addressed in a new booklet published by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies (NASAA) in collaboration with the Arts Education Partnership (AEP). Critical Evidence: How the Arts Benefit Student Achievement responds to the needs of policymakers, educators, parents and advocates for fact-based, non-technical language documenting the most current and compelling research on the value of arts learning experiences.
Critical Evidence updates and expands on the case made for arts education in NASAA's earlier collaboration with the Arts in Education Partnership, Eloquent Evidence: Arts at the Core of Learning, originally published in 1995. "Ten year's after its release," observes Critical Evidence author Sandra S. Ruppert, "the evidence is even more eloquent, and the need to demonstrate the link between the arts and student achievement has grown more critical." 2006, 20 pages.
• Third Space Tells the riveting story of profound changes in the lives of kids, teachers, and parents in ten economically disadvantaged communities across the country that place their bets on the arts as a way to create great schools.
• Joint Task Force on Creativity, Arts and Cultural Education Executive Summary (PDF) Creative Schools, Creative Minds... Cool Cities! Mobilizing, Connecting and Leveraging Michigan's Arts and Cultural Resources to Impact Learning. A report of the Joint Task Force on Creativity, Arts and Cultural Education presented to the State Board of Education on August 10, 2004.
• Michigan Arts Education Content Standards and Benchmarks The Arts Education Content Standards and Benchmarks represent rigorous expectations of what all Michigan students should know and be able to do in dance, music, theatre and the visual arts at the elementary, middle and high school levels. Adopted by the State Board of Education in July, 1998.
• Michigan Curriculum Framework The Michigan Curriculum Framework includes standards focused on content, teaching and learning, assessment, and professional development.
• Architecture: It's Elementary! Developed by the American Institute of Architects Michigan and the Michigan Architecture Foundation, this web-based curriculum guide for teachers includes ten lesson plans for each elementary school year, from kindergarten through grade five. The curriculum introduces children to the study of architecture and the built environment, encompassing art, social studies, language arts, history, science and mathematics.
• Joy2Learn Each Joy2Learn e-presentation is devoted to a single artist who introduces his or her art form, discusses its history, background and spcificity, presents personal insights, and performs or demonstrates.
• MarcoPolo Provides the highest quality, standards-based Internet content and professional development to K-12 teachers and students throughout the United States.
• Courageous Persuaders Competition As early as grade school, kids feel pressure to drink. Sometimes, the courage to say no can come from an older kid. That's what Courageous Persuaders is all about. High school students create television commercials targeted at middle school students, to warn them about the dangers of alcohol use. Students compete for scholarship money and Courage Trophie.
• Gaining the Arts Advantage A report featuring case studies and profiles of 91 school districts throughout the United States athat are recognized for offering arts education throughout their schools. Identifies the critical factors that must be in place to implement and sustain comprehensive arts education. Stresses the essential role of community involvement and partnerships. (1999)
• The Art of Teaching the Arts: A Workshop for High School Teachers An Annenberg eight-part professional development workshop for use by high school dance, music, theatre, and visual art teachers. The workshop examines how principles of good teaching are carried out in teaching the arts at the high school level. Available free through Annenberg's Video on Demand.
• The Arts in Every Classroom: A Workshop for Elementary Teachers An Annenberg video workshop that provides new ideas about working with the arts for K-5 classroom and arts specialist teachers. Learner Teams work through a curriculum unit based on a multi-arts performance piece by Cirque du Soleil. Classroom segments show schoolchildren engaged in the same lessons. Available free through Annenberg's Video on Demand.
• The Arts in Every Classroom: A Video Library, K-5 An Annenberg video library for K-5 classroom teachers and arts specialists.The programs in this video library show classroom teachers and arts specialists using the arts in a variety of successful ways. Available free through Annenberg's Video on Demand.
• TeachArtMichigan.org Is a website for higher education faculty and others involved with the preparation and professional development of visual arts teachers.
• The Michigan Network for Teacher Development in the Arts Provides an opportunity for professional development providers in the arts to share best practices, plan strategically and coordinate their efforts. The Network is a partnership activity of the Michigan Department of Education and the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs. To join the Network, contact: Ana Luisa Cardona, Michigan Department of Education, 517-335-0466.
• The Nation's Report Card for the Arts The National Asessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in collaboration with the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES)
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Throughout life, the arts remain critical to our balanced development as creative, problem-solving members of our communities. Art not only enriches children's lives, it also has a profound impact on their academic achievement. Research shows students
with an education in the Arts outperform others by virtually every measure.
Moreover, learning through the Arts can help "level the playing field" for youngsters
from disadvantaged circumstances.
