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Nate Polich
Dr. Leifson
CTAR 300

Arts Advocacy Paper

Dear Parents,
As we begin our school year you may notice that some of your childs accounts of our
classroom activities dont sound like learning in the way that you expect. Your child may tell you
of games they played in class, or things they acted out. For math they may have a drawing
assignment, for literature they may be choreographing a dance, and for science they might have a
project requiring them to sculpt something around them. Do not be alarmed. Our current
movement towards standardization brings a chance in what we teach, and how we teach, and one
of the fields that has been left out of the new common core curriculum, and the NGSS is the arts.
This is why I have chosen to integrate the arts into our lessons on language arts, math, and
science.
Some might be wondering why I am integrating arts at all, what is the point of teaching
art in our modern world of technology and science? Numerous studies have been done whose
evidence support the connection between arts integration and improved comprehension of
subject matter. Statistically significant results indicated that the differences between the groups
on the science concept test were due to the integration of the art intervention.(Smilan, vii). In
this study done for a dissertation integrating arts into a lesson on the celestial bodies in our solar
system led to students having a deeper understanding of the movement of these bodies. The

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study also lined up with NGSS standards by requiring students to create a model of a scientific
theory.
The NGSS isnt the only place where the arts can be integrated. The common core state
standards leave lots of room for your children to learn math and English language arts through
integrating arts and many other subjects.
there is evidence in the standards documents that Common Core goals and
objectives are meant to apply to subjects outside of the realm of ELA and math.
The introduction to the Common Core standards for English Language arts
advises that the literacy standards for grade 6 and above are predicated on
teachers of ELA, history/social studies, science, and technical subjects using their
content area expertise to help students meet the particular challenges of reading,
writing, speaking, listening, and language in their respective fields.(Charleroy,
pg.4)
Arts integration can help bring literature to life for students. Sometimes dense readings can be
hard for students to process. By having students turn what they read into a drama or readers
theatre they can process the reading and own it by creating with their knowledge. (Orzulak, pg
81, 82)
This is all justification for why our current standards allow for arts integration, for
a reason why your child should also be learning the arts alongside their regular school work we
only have to look around us. Take for instance scientific study, most think that scientific research
is cut and dry and leaves no space for creativity or art. The NGSS emphasizes teaching the nature
of science, and one of the tenants of the nature of science. Creativity is a source of innovation
and inspiration in science. Scientists use creativity and imagination throughout their

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investigations" (Bell). Knowledge of the arts is essential to being an informed and active citizen
in a democracy. In fact, for a group to be considered civilized there must be progress in the arts.
Students being informed in the arts is vital to our civilization.
I hope this shines some light into the nature of my teaching style, and how your child will
be learning in the classroom. I can assure you that each day your child will have fun in our
classroom, be challenged, and hopefully become more and more creative and bright. Any
questions you may have can be sent to my email, or you may call me any time before 6:00 pm.
Sincerely,
Mr. Polich

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Works Cited

Bell, Randy L. "Teaching the Nature of Science: Three Critical Questions."National

Geographic n.d.: n. pag. Web.

Charleroy, Amy. "Common Core: A Review of Connections Between the Common Core
State Standards and the National Core Arts Standards Conceptual Framework." College
Board (2012): 4. Web.
Orzulak, Melinda Mcbee. "Reviving Empathy and Imagination: Arts Integration Enlivens
Teaching and Learning." English Journal 96.1 (2006): 79. Web.
Smilan, Cathy A. The Impact of Art Integration as an Intervention to Assist Learners'
Visual Perception and Concept Understanding in Elementary Science. Diss. 2004. N.p.: n.p., n.d.
Print.