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Kula Elementary School
From fall 2002 to spring 2005, ten teachers engaged in action research to answer these questions:
Does an arts integrated reading curriculum affect reading comprehension and attitudes towards reading?
Is the effect compounded over time?
Teachers collected test scores, student work, observations, interviews and check lists in order to answer this question.
Their conclusions were:
• An arts integrated reading program does improve comprehension on many levels for most students, particularly those that struggle with traditional methods of teaching.
• The key to this improvement is student engagement and the fact that the arts use many different learning modalities.
• In order to be successful, teachers must be skilled in their use of standards based arts lessons that are carefully adapted to fit into a reading curriculum.
• Professional development in arts integration and assistance from trained artist mentors are crucial components to success.
• Once a teacher discovers the power of teaching through the arts, they are “hooked” and will continue to use this amazing tool to reach all learners in the classroom.
For more detailed information on the Kula & Kihei School Action Research Project, view/download our:
5-Years of Research - PDF file
or
Waking up the Imagination through Image Making - PDF file
For information on national research in arts education,
go to www.ape-arts.org
For more information, contact Susana Browne at susana@mauiarts.org
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