Schools are changing, by necessity and through driven educators, but is happening s – l – o – o – o – w – l – y! I’m really itching to see changes occur at a much faster pace at this point in my life! My own children are at an age where I’m incessantly looking for something significantly different. I continuously explore the variety of alternatives available. This post will discuss learning through The Arts in schools — not as a side activity, but actually using the arts as the method to teach. Teaching math, reading, writing, science, social studies, etc. through music, movement, drawing, theater, poetry, etc.
Learning the arts through a specialist is critical to learn each “art” in greater depth. At the same time learning our content through the arts allows us to deepen our learning of all subjects!
Will teaching through the arts fix everything that is missing in education? It’s not likely. But it can vastly improve the experience and results for kids and our communities. According to Linda Crawford in her book Lively Learning: Using the arts to teach the K-8 Curriculum, there are 6 powerful reasons for integrating the arts into the daily curriculum and I will explore each of these below.
1. The arts make the content more accessible
The idea of teaching the school curriculum through the arts to make content more accessible seems to be the most obvious reason for making it a part of our classroom. The arts are able to reach all different types of learners simply because the arts in and of themselves have stemmed from our human desires over the centuries. We weren’t told we had to dance or draw, we were simply given the materials to explore them naturally. We weren’t forced to tell stories or listen to others tell stories, we were just naturally drawn to doing so. In using the arts, drawing might provide students with a jumpstart to writing or math. Students who learn most powerfully through their bodies, kinesthetic learners, might first act out a fairy tale or a story problem to better access a deeper understanding of each. When a teacher provides the opportunity to use the arts within the content area it not only reaches more students’ learning styles but it also enhances the depth of learning for each individual student. It provides them the opportunity to explore through a wider range of experiences. This not only engages more of the brain for easier learning, but it allows students to discover naturally their own strengths and most powerful interests, thus leading to more powerful learning and growth.
2. The arts encourage joyful, active learning
If I were to ask you to remember some of your most joyful learning in elementary school, you’re likely able to easily remember some. When our learning is connected with joyful authentic purposes, it literally changes the chemistry of the brain and has the potential to open up the gateway to our long-term memory. Emotions are powerfully connected to our learning. Learning in a drab, emotionally-devoid environment takes so much more work and energy as compared to learning in a joyful way. It would seem obvious to most that integrating the capacity of the arts, including the positive emotions often elicited through them, provides greater opportunity for learning and growth.
3. The arts help students make and express personal connections to content
When I meet someone and learn their name I do my best to remember it – at least for the time period that I’ll be spending with them. I have found over time that if I make a connection (relate it to something I know) right away I’m more likely to remember. If her name is Mary, I connect it to my sister, etc. If it’s a name I’ve never heard of, I connect the parts of the name to something familiar. Last week I met a guy named Artiaysa (ART-I-ESSA). It took me a moment, but I made three connections to remember it. “Art”, of course. “Eye” in the middle and my niece Tessa for the end. Making connections from the know to the unknown is necessary for learning.
If I was in the classroom and learning new vocabulary, I could draw a simple sketch of the parts of the words. Students could also use poetry, songs, theater/videography to make and express these personal connections to these new words and to their understandings of each. If I can connect it to my life, I can remember it. Additionally if it interests me, it adds extra potential for greater depth of understanding. The arts can add to the interest level of subject matter simply by providing additional avenues for expression of the new concepts. If I have the chance to write a song about photosynthesis, for example, it instantly ups my interest level.
4. The arts help children understand and express abstract concepts
Abstract ideas are those that need to be visualized or imagined as they cannot be illustrated through concrete examples. Learning letters and their sounds is an abstract concept for children. But teaching the alphabet through the arts naturally allows for a deeper level of understanding and use/expression of the letters… aka reading.
One example of using the arts to learn the alphabet is using music, movement and sounds along with the visible letter to transform the abstract shape of the letters to a more concrete understanding. As students repeatedly connect the abstract letters to the concrete experiences they gradually move toward reading… turning those abstract letters and sounds into words and sentences with real meaning.
5. The arts stimulate higher-level thinking
According to Linda Crawford, in the above mentioned book, there are three kinds of thinking we want to encourage in our kids: attending, discerning, and inventing. She says that attending and discerning are more analytical skills, but inventing takes students a step further to building upon what they’ve learned to make new meaning. This, she says, required imaginative understanding.
The arts are a natural way to encourage all three types of learning within our classroom. They can help children move from a more-in-depth understanding of the world as it is, as well as encourage children to imagine the possibilities of what it can be.
6. The arts build community and help children develop collaborative work skills
The benefits of integrating the arts into the content areas is multiplied when students work together to create and learn. When we work in a creative manner and throughly enjoy the process and the final product, the depth of learning and experience is enhanced dramatically. In my kindergarten classroom one simple collaborative creative activity is making up movements to our songs. The movement, music, fun, and collaboration combined work beautifully together to help the children not only remember the song lyrics more easily, but also provides a deeper understanding of the subject matter being shared within the song lyrics.
Learning the arts through a specialist is critical to learn each “art” in greater depth. At the same time learning our content through the arts allows us to deepen our learning of all subjects! Our children greatly benefit from both! So let’s work together as educators to begin giving the arts a try within our curriculum in addition to the critical learning that occurs through the specific arts classes with a specialist. Thank you to Linda Crawford for sharing the basis for this post in her book Lively Learning: Using the Arts to Teach the K-8 Curriculum. And if you’re interested in giving it a shot, this book is a nice resource.
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Do you ever wonder why small children seem to lack coordination and tend to perform tasks slowly and somewhat clumsily? This is due to the fact that they are in the process of building neural networks – “roads” – in the brain.
You have likely heard of the terms cross-lateral movements or crossing the midline. The midlines are invisible lines dividing the body in half. When a leg or an arm from one half of the body crosses over to the other half of the body this is crossing the midline. This helps the brain communicate in greater depth by connecting both halves of the brain via the network of fibers, called the corpus callosum. This integration of the two sides of the brain determines the speed, flexibility, adaptability and depth of the brain’s thinking. When children are allowed to play freely over the years of childhood, they naturally cross these midlines just by being kids and playing in limitless ways.
Sometimes, however, children will show up to school without having had many of the necessary experiences for this to have occurred with the necessary repetition. When the midlines aren’t fully developed, cross-lateral movements might feel unnatural to a child. Educational researchers, educators, occupational and physical therapists have come up with activities to attempt to make up for lost time, so to speak. By getting children to move in specific ways within deliberate activities it can make midline crossing a regular occurrence to help achieve the repetition necessary to help build these roads in the brain. The handout below says “Think of it as doubling up on the brain’s processing speed and power as it draws on the strengths of both the left and right sides to create ‘whole-brain’ thinking.” Authors of A Moving Child is a Learning Child say that crossing the midline not only streamlines movement, it supersizes those superhighways across the corpus callosum. As such it plays a critical role in preparing children’s brains for formal learning.
Kids’ yoga is one of the many activites that can provide cross-lateral experiences for children. And if done regularly, along with other rhythm and movement activities, it might assist in building the brain for optimal development.
The handout below explains midlines in a new way for me. Prior to this learning I only divided the body in two halves, the left and right. But this author divides the body in two additional directions: the top and bottom and the front and back, thus making it midlines – plural. This opens the doorway to many more physical movements meeting the requirements of cross-lateral movements and is worth exploring further. I always love learning new things!
Thank you to Free Spirit Publishing and authors of A Moving Child is a Learning Child, Gill Connell and Cheryl McCarthy, for allowing me to share this handout through Learners’ Edge.
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Getting Kids Ready to Write: Yoga in Schools A teacher question answered: “I was wondering the best combinations [of poses] to use [with my students] for getting ready to write.”
It’s easy to put off beginning new things with your kids. The need for extra time, new paraphernalia, the “know-how”, and the needed space (without extra laundry filling it) can put parents into a temporary frozen state.
Kids yoga is no exception. It might seem as though everyone else is up on the latest yoga pose or the trendiest method, and you’re in no place to get your kids involved in that unknown territory — as though you’re too far removed to catch up.
However, this in not true in most any endeavor. So, here’s a little platform to help you feel comfortable to jump right into kids yoga.
1. There are no rights or wrongs in kids’ yoga
First of all, you can’t get it wrong. As parents we are often afraid that we’ll get things wrong so we hold back from trying. But the most growth occurs, for ourselves and for our kids, when we step outside our comfort zone. Whether you choose to begin with a kids yoga book, a CD, a DVD or an App, you’ll find those that you like and those that you don’t – but none of them will set you off perpetually in the wrong direction. Just jump in and allow your likes and dislikes to lead you to your family’s best fit.
2. Maybe a live kids yoga class is your best first move.
At times going into a class with a real teacher can be a great jumpstart to finding what works best for your family. If one class doesn’t do it for you, another class might be the key. There are heaps of great teachers out there and an increasing number of styles/methods so finding a good fit will be much easier today than it was just 5-7 years ago – when I was looking for something for my little one.
3. No yoga experience necessary.
As a yoga instructor people often sheepishly “confess” to me that they have never done yoga before, as though that’s a bad thing or that they’re somehow behind. Everyone is a beginner when they first begin something. No one comes into the world an expert on anything. We all begin at the beginning. It’s truly that simple. You do not need to know anything about yoga to start kids yoga!
4. No equipment needed to start.
You can begin without a yoga mat and don’t even really need any special clothes. Just give it a shot! Then, if your family is diggin’ it, you might find that a yoga mat and some soft clothing may help up the fun-factor!
5. Any space will do.
No need for a special space to begin kids yoga. Just scoot the toys to the side and begin the yoga fun!
6. Just jump in and get your feet wet.
Whether you begin with a live teacher or a book, yoga poses begin with simply mirroring the teacher. Nothing need be perfect. Just jump in and be guided to your next experience by your likes and dislikes. There are heaps of quality kids’ yoga programs available. I have a biased regard for our program, Sing Song Yoga® which currently has a customizable app and a DVD. So check it out if you wish or locate another that seems a good fit! Either way, have a blast and be easy about it! Yoga is meant to help us lighten up a bit.
We would love to hear from you – either a comment below or through Facebook or twitter.
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A quick peek into what kids and teachers are saying about using the Sing Song Yoga app in the classroom. Kids yoga in schools explored… Highlights from the video clip:
Tell us about Sing Song Yoga®
What I would tell other kids about Sing Song Yoga is that you have to try it because it calms you before, if you do Daily Five in your classroom or writing. ~ first grader, MI
It all started with a simple challenge from our movement specialist in the district to say we’ve got to get our kids moving and that will increase the engagement. And I would say that Sing Song Yoga is our perfect answer to doing that. ~ Kristi Zoerhof, First Grade Teacher, MI
“It keeps you strong and healthy and it really keeps you calm when you’re doing stuff.”
“I would tell other kids that Sing Song Yoga is really fun.”
“It is the funnest thing in the world.”
“It gets your body moving and it makes you exercise.”
“The app is my favorite because it is completely customizable. Whatever you have time to work with, whether its 5 minutes or 20, you can create yoga sequence videos for your kids to do. And it is actually a spot in our lesson plans that we have a spot for yoga.”
“It’s really really fun and it’s relaxing.”
“They love it. They look forward to it. They request it. And it is probably our most popular activity of the day.”
“They should do it ’cause it’s really really fun.”
How does Sing Song Yoga® make you feel?
“Sing Song Yoga makes me feel happy and calm.”
“We find that we are more focused and our work time is more productive.”
“I feel happy from yoga.”
“Sing Song makes me feel happy.”
“Sing Song Yoga makes me feel calm.”
“It’s calming.”
“I like crane pose because it makes me feel steady.”
“Sing Song Yoga makes me feel happy.”
“Sing Song Yoga makes me get happy and excited.”
What would you tell other teachers about Sing Song Yoga®?
“I’m really sure that if your children do it, it’s going to be fantastic.”
“Truly, every minute spent in Sing Song Yoga we have seen the rewards and the benefits in our classroom work. I would recommend it to every classroom teacher who wants to give their students a moment to have intentional movement breaks.”
“The songs are really cool.”
“You can see it on the iPad and you can see it on the screen.”
“Try Sing Song Yoga. You will not be disappointed.”
“I love Sing Song Yoga.”
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Getting Kids Ready to Write: Yoga in Schools A teacher question answered: “I was wondering the best combinations [of poses] to use [with my students] for getting ready to write.”
Sing Song Yoga® is thrilled to partner with Kids Hope for our 2015/2016 Charity of the year. Kids Hope USA is an adult-student mentoring program headquartered in Zeeland, Michigan. Kids Hope USA partners one school with one local church in order to provide screened and trained mentors to students within the elementary school. Students are recommended by school faculty and the principal, and typically need a “cheerleader” in their court. Whether they are struggling academically, socially or cognitively, a Kids Hope USA mentor meets faithfully with this student for one hour, every single week of the school year. Mentors are recruited from the partner church and strictly trained on the “separation of church and state.” These mentors are there for these students to listen, encourage and reinforce their value as an individual. Today, Kids Hope USA celebrates it’s 20th anniversary, along with the accomplishment that every elementary school in Ottawa county is equipped with a Kids Hope USA program.
The need is great. The opportunity is vast. The idea is simple: One Child, One Hour, One Church, One School.
Kids Hope USA is a real chance to make a real difference; not just in the lives of at-risk children, not just in the lives of the mentors who witness real transformation in the children they help, not just for the schools whose burdens are lighter because of the work Kids Hope USA does, but for entire communities, whose connections become stronger, whose futures are brighter, whose children are better equipped to succeed in their own lives and lift up those around them, because someone believed in them and helped them believe in themselves. Yes. It’s that simple to create change.
For more information about this powerful program check out Kids Hope USA. It might just turn out to be the most purposeful hour of your week! Kids Hope USA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible.
Each year Sing Song Yoga® chooses a different charity to whom we donate 10% of our proceeds from our online sales of our DVD. Therefore, instead of having periodic sales to save you a few bucks we will put your extra few dollars to supporting a great cause! Thanks a million for giving us the joy of giving to great organizations!
At the same time learning our content through the arts allows us to deepen our learning of all subjects! Our children greatly benefit from both! So let’s work together as educators to begin giving the arts a try within our curriculum in addition to the critical learning that occurs through the specific arts classes with a specialist. Thank you to Linda Crawford for sharing the basis for this post in her book Lively Learning: Using the Arts to Teach the K-8 Curriculum. And if you’re interested in giving it a shot, this book is a nice resource.
