Innovative Curriculum, Professional Development, Dance, Visual Art, Theater, Music, Creative Writing Project CREATES is the result of a five-year research program undertaken by a joint venture between Tulsa public Schools, Oklahoma State University and the Barthelmes Foundation. We employ a 3 part model for integrating fine arts into education. Our Professional Development Model:
1.Art exposure -
film, theater, dance and music performances and art exhibits for all students and teachers
2.Art infusion - the focus of our program, hinges on finding authentic connections between core curriculum and art disciplines. It is our belief that all students deserve to learn and that it is the school's mandate to deliver material to students in all the modalities (kinesthetic, musical, visual, etc.)
3.Talent development - small classes for a very few students showing inclination and aptitude in a particular arts discipline on an audition basis
The Art Infusion Process:
1. Co-Planning: The artist, teacher and coach design a unit around specific core standards in math, reading, science and/or social studies. We work together to find an authentic connection between the core subject and the appropriate art discipline.
2. Co-teaching: The classroom teacher and teaching artist teach each lesson together (often with a coach present).
3. Co-evaluation: The teacher, artists and coach maintain communication during the unit and sit down together at the completion of the unit to evaluate it for effective student outcomes. The outcomes:
Project CREATES has been so successful over the last 10 years because we help teachers become better teachers, students become better learners and schools become better communities. Research proven outcomes:
- Teacher's perception of their creativity dramatically increases.
- Students show marked improvement in reading and math skills.
- Parents increase their engagement in the school's activities.
- Everyone increases their participation in the learning experience. We have asked ourselves why our professional development model produces such results. Our best answer is this:
We are able to reach children in a new way. The teachers have successes teaching their objectives and that builds their confidence. Also in the process, the students who are less able to exhibit their intelligence in traditional ways get the opportunity to shine. Thus broadening the way their teachers perceive their abilities and giving the teachers and students more confidence in their ability to learn.
