New Arts-Integrated Literacy Program Comes to Georgia

Arts for Learning Lessons

Teachers Learn Strategies for Student Success

Arts for Learning (A4L) Lessons was developed nationally by Young Audiences, Inc. in collaboration with a University of Washington design team led by Dr. John Bransford. The strength of the program is that it educates the whole child by developing the students' ability to learn and process information as they work back and forth between arts and literacy tasks.

Young Audiences, Woodruff Arts Center introduced this program to Georgia in the spring of 2010. Teachers from 7 DeKalb County elementary schools were nominated by their principals to partipate in the Professional Learning experience. During this training, the teachers developed their skill in blending reading, writing and art techniques in order to analyze and interpret their understanding of an assigned book.

Returning to their schools, each teacher pair guided their students through the same process of analysis, critical thinking and creativity. Students demonstrated their new found confidence and communication skills in front of an audience of family and school friends at the completion of the program.

The research components of the Arts for Learning Lessons program were conducted by WestEd and Roanoke College.

The first schools in Georgia to participate in the Arts for Learning Lessons program include:

Glen Haven ES

Jolly ES

Oakcliff ES

Rainbow ES

Rowland ES

Snapfinger ES

Toney ES