Literacy and the Arts

Elizabeth Denis

Integration of the Arts

Examples of how to implement: 

·  Add music to a shared read, add dance movements as well

·  Using drama to help with comprehension of texts can be very beneficial
 ie. Create a dramatic tableau about a challenging poem

·  Using music to help with a second language


· Play music in the background while students work (you could try to incorporate music from different cultures, genres, eras, etc.)

·  Have students create a work of art related to a story they are reading

·  Have students rewrite a story they have read with new characters and a different ending. Students can then share their script as a dramatic piece (ie. Twisted Fairy Tales)

· Use music to help share their feelings


· Have a student study the lyrics to their favourite song (poetry)

· Take students on a field trip to see either a play or performance related to what they are learning

·  Have students create a poster or advertisement related to a text

Reader’s Response Activities 
More engaging, creative methods, rich in interaction with the text & with inner thoughts, feelings and ideas.


1)  Dramatic monologues (in role describing feelings, retelling, etc.)


2) Oprah’s book club (interview author, characters, background characters [ie/mom of character not actually in book)


3) Interview hot seat (delving deeper into roles)


4) Day in court 

Example - Twisted Fairytales 


5) What-if's?  
Example: Three Little Pigs 
(consequences, cause and effect, new endings, imagination) 
What if the Lord of the Flies had taken place in New York City?

6) Stepping into Stories / Stories within Stories
Example: To Kill a Mockingbird (The story of a character not really developed) 
May include literally jumping in to look around a scene or walk in a character's shoes
When we step into stories within stories, we allow for dialogue to occur that hasn't been written yet.
Students can gain ownership over new ideas and requires critical thinking. 




Video Example of Reader's Response:


Class' interpretation of Little Red Riding Hood 

The Planning Process:


How do you choose a book and reader's response activities?


1) Who should be included?
· individual or whole class?
· are there enough characters in the book?
· is there potential for additional characters?


2) What do you want students to do?
· step in directly or indirectly?
· respond in writing, drama, song, etc?


3) What do you want to include?
· why are you doing this?
· reading fluency, writing form, comprehension, connections, POV?
· what is your curricular and non-curricular focus?
· cross-curricular links? Character education?
· topics/themes/enduring understanding?


4) Unit Planning/Lesson Planning:
· how long will this take?
· prior knowledge necessary?
· sequencing of activities?
· assessment? 

Adaptations of activities:

·  All of these activities can be adapted for specific learners/age categories. 

· Each activity can be modified depending on the text you choose to base each activity around. 

· Weaker students can be paired with stronger students or groups can be given levelled texts.

·  These activities cater to many different types of learners.

Pros:

Integration of the arts into any subject area is very effective. By integrating these subjects into the curriculum you are able keep them intrigued with the lesson. You are also able to cater to many different types of learners. It can be challenging to do at first, but the results are worth the extra effort. 

Resources: 

ArtsEdge
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/
resources to help educators to teach in, through and about the arts

Arts Education Partnership
http://aep-arts.org/a national coalition that promotes the essential role of the arts in the learning

Arts Every Day

http://www.artseveryday.org/WhatWeDo/detail.aspx?id=166

resources to help educators, students and families with arts integration