Arts Integration

Fairview adopted arts integration as a learning model that empowers educators to use the arts as a learning tool to engage all learners. Based on over thirty years of research and implementation with leading educators, researchers, and practitioners of the model, this approach to curriculum is well-established as effective and engaging for all learners.

2nd grade tudents created a musical listening map of, "Happy."

Arts Integration

What is arts integration? Arts integration is a type of instruction that aligns standards in the arts (drama, movement, visual arts, and music) with standards in classroom subjects (social studies, language arts, math and science) while evaluating student growth in both subjects.

Arts Integration Research

Positive impacts of arts integration have surfaced in educational research, ranging from: improved performance in classroom subjects (Gullatt, 2008), classroom attendance (Jensen, 2002), created equity (Appel, 2006), student attendance (Jensen, 2002), academic motivation (Ruppert 2006), social skills (Gullatt, 2008) and family involvement (Delisio, 2006).

Arts Integration at Fairview

Student experiences in Arts Integration tap into science, math, language, and project-based learning alongside arts disciplines: visual arts, music, drama, and movement. The Fairview staff and community committee have witnessed heightened engagement in learning when students are involved in these learning projects while working together as a group. Each grade uses arts-based strategies throughout the year and develops lessons that engage the arts to deepen learning, engage learners, and assess understanding. Units may be based on themes that vary from community to interdependence, perspective to creativity, etc. This theme unites threads of math, social studies, language arts, and science throughout the curriculum.

Artful Learning's History at Fairview

In March 2008, the Fairview principal, assistant principal and music teacher attended their first Artful Learning teleconference and learned of the Model. They came back and shared with the rest of the Fairview staff, MCCSC Administration, and School Board members. Since that time, different members of the Fairview staff, MCCSC Administration, and School Board members have been able to visit schools in Iowa, Illinois, and Florida. Each visit brought excitement and conviction that this was the model the Fairview staff needed for our students.

It wasn’t enough that Fairview decided to choose the Artful Learning Model. The Bernstein Center also needed to choose Fairview. After numerous conversations and interviews, Fairview was able to sign a contract with Artful Learning in the winter of 2010.

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