Of course this particular article jumped out at me, as I of have first hand benefited from music. Educator and musician, Dr. Karin Nolan, works with preparing college music students for their career and found the more often than not, students involved with the arts often times were more prepared for college. "I'm not a gambling person, but if I had to place a bet on one sure-fire method for engaging students, increasing test scores, reaching students who fall below standards, challenging students who exceed grade-level standards, accessing students' creativity and originality, maximizing brain connections formed, applying concepts to new situations, and making the learning process more fun for the students and teacher, I would place that bet on... teaching the core curriculum through the arts." In my music classroom, I strive to incorporate outside learning in my room to aid in making connections to provide a more authentic experience, but how often do teachers include the arts in their own classroom? Most teachers feel unqualified and perhaps uncomfortable with such incorporation; however, Nolan suggests that "teachers must think on their feet, modify plans on the spot, approach content from different angles, support uniqueness, and inspire and foster growth", all of which proves that teachers are capable of such creative thought, and if successful they may build a classroom environment that is enjoyable for both student and teacher and interactive, moving away from the confines of worksheets. "Through arts-integrated lessons, students are engaged and focused on the content because it takes them beyond the confines of "traditional" learning. They get to hear, see, and become the content through the arts." A very cool concept that should be considered by all educators.
Nolan, Dr. Karin. "Artist to the Core: Music and Common Core." Edutopia. The George Lucas Educational Foundation, 23 Nov 2013. Web. 23 Nov. 2013. http://www.edutopia.org/blog/music-and-common-core-karin-nolan.
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