 If you are going back and forth on how many educators and administrators to send to the Palmetto State Arts Education Conference from your school or district, I’m here to be your biggest cheerleader and shout, “GO TEAM!” As a former visual arts teacher for 11 years and current principal of a Title I elementary school in my fifth year, I knew sending a team from Fairforest Elementary School would allow our entire school community to reap the benefits from the arts conference. FES is a STEAM School with various “players” having their own strengths and talents. My goal was to get a team to the conference, let them loose to attend sessions they felt would benefit them as educators and to jot down all the ways the sessions they attended would benefit our students in the future. This past year I sent our STEAM Coordinator, Reading Coach, a fourth grade teacher, visual arts teacher, and myself. After sharing about the sessions each of us attended following the conference, I was blown away by the excitement and rigorous discussions on how FES could increase arts integration in grade level classrooms to foster the knowledge, skills, and characteristics of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate.
This year, we are headed to the conference again with a NEW team, full of grade level and visual and performing arts teachers, coaches, and administration as we hope to gain innovative insights, lessons, strategies, and more through the amazing arts sessions offered. If you’re not sure who to send or how to guide your team, no worries! I’ve got you! My first suggestion is to send one-two grade level teachers and at least one-two arts teachers. My next suggestion is to send at least one administrator and/or coach. And last, have a plan for when you get there based on your school’s vision and mission. FES is planning to use the T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More) acronym with a twist for the conference and for when we return. Each teammate will follow the below “T.E.A.M Game Plan.” T - Together: Take notes on how you and your grade level/department can integrate ideas, concepts, practices shared. This will allow you to return to school and work “together” during grade level planning with Leadership on arts integration so students can make connections across content areas and foster the knowledge, skills, and characteristics of the Profile of the SC Graduate. E - Everyone: Create and implement an arts-integrated activity/practice that you learned during the PSAE Conference and present on the session and how you implemented the activity/practice in your class to “everyone” during a faculty meeting. A - Achievement: Brainstorm ways in which you can integrate the arts in your classrooms and how you could assess student achievement in these areas. Rubrics focusing on the 4C’s (creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking) would be a good starting point. Plan to also gather quantitative data from your students on whether they feel having the hands-on, visual or performing arts integration component allowed them to gain a better understanding of the content taught. M - More: “More” encompasses so much for FES as we are always focused on continuous improvement. Following the conference, the team will discuss how we can use what we learned to do “more” for our families regarding parent engagement and education. We’ll share take-aways to enhance our STEAM Nights as our focus is to teach parents how to build their child(ren)’s reading comprehension skills through questioning and how to foster the 4 C’s (creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking) through hands-on STEAM activities. We will also discuss artists-in-residence we met at the conference and share connections made with other schools that we feel we could reach out to for ideas, support, and advice on arts integration. So, “GO TEAM” this year to PSAE’s conference if you can! The benefits of seeing 25+ sessions instead of just 6 by taking more “players” will allow your school to gain many more innovative and engaging ways to serve your school community. By taking a team, your school WINS!
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1. Space for students to gather
As educators, we understand the importance of a thoughtfully arranged classroom. The layout of our teaching space plays a crucial role in facilitating effective discussions, collaborative group work, and dynamic movement activities such as tableaux and dance. Take a moment to evaluate your classroom environment. Consider the following questions:
enhance both your teaching experience and your students' engagement, particularly as you incorporate the arts into your curriculum. 2. Procedures for class management Just as we carefully arrange our classroom space, it's equally important to prepare our students for the integration of the arts. At the start of the year, dedicate time to setting up clear procedures for managing student behavior and fostering a collaborative environment. Establish and communicate classroom norms that support effective group work. Design a structured approach for transitioning students from their seats to areas like the carpet or open floor for discussions and activities. Work collaboratively with students to form diverse partner and group combinations, ensuring a balance of skills and strengths. Additionally, set clear expectations for respectful audience behavior during performances. By planning these elements thoughtfully in advance, you'll facilitate smoother transitions and a more engaged, productive classroom environment. 3. Art materials and recyclables Integrating the visual arts into your classroom requires a well-stocked array of materials. To set your students up for success, ensure you have these five essentials on hand: Sharpie markers (both fine and ultra-fine if possible), colored pencils, watercolors, construction paper crayons, and air-dry clay. Given that art supplies can be costly, think outside the box and consider incorporating recyclables into your inventory. One versatile medium is cardboard—it's abundant and provides a fantastic base for numerous projects. Additionally, items like toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, old t-shirts, and buttons can all be repurposed to inspire creativity. Embrace these resources to enrich your classroom and support your students' artistic exploration. 4. Courage to try new things As arts integration teachers, we often encourage our students to step out of their comfort zones and explore new approaches. Similarly, we must be willing to stretch our own boundaries and incorporate diverse activities into our classrooms. If visual arts are your forte, set a goal to introduce elements of dance or movement into your lessons. If music isn't your strong suit, consider integrating a song or drumming beat into your teaching. By demonstrating your own willingness to take risks and embrace new challenges, you inspire your students to do the same. This approach not only enhances their learning experience but also builds their confidence to explore and experiment creatively. 5. Excitement for a brand-new year Finally, infuse your classroom with excitement and energy. Make it clear to your students that the arts are a vibrant and engaging part of their learning experience. Embrace the fun by laughing, singing, dancing, and exploring alongside your class. Your enthusiasm will not only set a positive tone but also encourage your students to fully engage with the arts throughout the year. Enjoy every moment and celebrate the creative journey that lies ahead for both you and your students. |
AuthorKerrie Kish is the principal at Fairforest Elementary, PSAE’s 2023 STEAM School of Excellence. Before transitioning into administration 9 years ago, she taught visual arts for 11 years at the elementary and middle school levels. Mrs. Kish serves on PSAE’s Board of Directors and avidly supports learners and leaders through STEAM integration. 
AuthorMelody Powell is a 3rd grade teacher at Stone Academy, an arts integrated elementary school in Greenville County. Outside of the classroom, Melody serves on the board for PSAE (Palmetto State Arts Education), works with the ABC Institute as a part of the Teacher as Curator cohort, and is an active teaching partner with the SMARTarts program (a subsidiary of the Metropolitan Arts Council). 
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