Ensuring arts integration is at the forefront of teaching in the region is the mission of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh ArtsCore program.
UW Oshkosh Today
April 17, 2017
Laurie Schlosser
Ensuring arts integration is at the forefront of teaching in the region is the mission of the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh ArtsCore program.
“This program is unique in several ways,” said Wendy Strauch-Nelson, art education professor at UW Oshkosh and ArtsCore co-founder. “First, it is about the arts. Second, it is about teachers. That’s why arts integration emerged as the focus of our efforts.”
During the last couple of years, ArtsCore has established several programs that provide opportunities to learn and share arts integration as an approach to teaching.
“We have put a high priority on building networks of teachers–especially in our rural districts where arts teachers might feel isolated–so they can draw inspiration and strength from one another,” Strauch-Nelson said.
She said some beginning teachers mistakenly believe they need to be an artist or musician to integrate the arts.
“That is not the case,” she added. “Arts integration can take place in any classroom and the grant has allowed us to take that message to lots of different pre-service and early career teachers.”
Special visit
State Superintendent of Schools Tony Evers, along with Julie Palkowski, fine arts and creativity consultant with the Department of Public Instruction, plan to attend a morning session of a professional development workshop Monday, April 24, at Paine Art Center and Gardens in Oshkosh. The two intend to learn more about the ArtsCore focus of working with teacher teams who are interested in teaching through the arts.
Supporting teachers
ArtsCore, a partnership between UW Oshkosh, the Paine Art Center and Gardens, and regional public school districts, seeks to support pre-service and early career teachers in their efforts to teach in and through the arts. The partnership helps develop and implement programming designed to enhance teacher’s competence and confidence to do so.
“It’s a way of teaching that really connects with children at a level where they’re interested and engaged. Most every kid loves singing and acting and drawing,” Strauch-Nelson said. “If we can engage kids at the things they love to do, it makes teaching easier and they learn better.”
Melissa Ebert, instructional coach and ArtsCore coach with the Chilton School District, said students retain information so much better with an arts integrated approach. Ebert said ArtsCore has changed the teaching culture at Chilton.
Read the full article at UW Oshkosh Today.
